FIVE things we learnt against Blackpool

The best team performance of the season, the best result of the season and superior tactics left West Ham fans delirious last night as a gutsy, intelligent performance left the Hammers back on top with a game in hand. A lot of credit has got to go to the manager as once again he was faced with a dilemma on the sidelines as more foolish play resulted in the Hammers going down to ten men for the third consecutive game.

Allardyce’s decision not to select a goalkeeper on the bench looked as if it may have been costly after Rob Green was sent off for hauling down Roman Bednar with over 30 minutes to go. Big Sam had obviously thought about the possibility of a situation such as this and Henri Lansbury was thrown on to do a job between the sticks, but more of him later.

The original team selection made pleasant reading as hard working, goalscoring Nicky Maynard was selected ahead of Carlton Cole; of whom I am not a massive fan; and once again the support from Julian Faubert and Ricardo Vaz Te looked dangerous.

To play a different style away from home took bottle and his substitutions also paid off with Gary O’Neill getting on the scoresheet and Lansbury doing the business, so now the few that had not already been won over by the boss must have seen that Sam’s revolution is the way forward. I don’t think Curbishley, Grant, Roeder, Zola or Pardew would have got that result from that position last night.

The country would have taken note

To win in the manner that West Ham did against Blackpool with a different style, away from home, against a team in the top six of the Championship who were unbeaten in 2012 should have sent a clear message to the rest of the Championship. But not only will the likes of Southampton, Birmingham and Reading sat back and sighed at the result but a whole host of Premier League teams that are looking nervously at the relegation zone will no doubt have looked on impressed.

The 4-1 result only shows how dominant West Ham really could have been this season, but inconsistent spells have made the race for the title a lot more interesting, but inevitably it is one that the Hammers will win. So far the East Enders have gone quietly about their business on the pitch but it may be time to crank it up a notch and really show the country what Big Sam and the owners have done over the past few months and win the league as soon as possible.

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Kevin who?

West Ham have pretty much been without Kevin Nolan for three games now, have they missed him? NO

Every time I write about the Hammers ‘skipper’ it divides opinion, and before his suspension kicked in, a lot of people were fearful that his leadership and passion (he hasn’t showed either yet this season) will be missed in the heart of the Irons midfield.

But it has been quite the opposite; Mark Noble has taken the armband and thrived on the pressure in a season that has made him a real unsung hero with the Hammers fans. James Tomkins has come into the midfield to shield the back four and the West Ham player of the year has adapted brilliantly to his new role, especially when we only have 10 men. The one man who I feel has improved the most since Nolan stupidly got himself sent off against Millwall is Julian Faubert, who is able to get forward a lot more now with the cover of Jack Collison in behind him meaning his support for the lone striker has been superb. Should Nolan take the armband back when he returns? Should Nolan get back in the team at all? In my head the answer to both the questions is the same.

The new signings are looking sharp

The two new January signings Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te seem to have bedded in perfectly in the West Ham squad and it is no coincidence that a more attractive game was provided by the Hammers last night and after struggling to score goals to put us out of sight in games it may now have all changed.

Maynard enjoyed his first West Ham start by notching a typical Maynard goal and he lead the line fantastically without the aerial ‘ability’ of Carlton Cole for the defenders to knock it up to. With support from fellow newbie Vaz Te in attack, it appears to be a deadly partnership with Vaz Te’s intelligence to drift off to the left and attack the full back which he successfully done all game. His goal showed his individual talent, but both lads’ work rate is something not to be underrated as the season gets towards the business end. Good work Mr Gold and Sullivan.

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Lack of discipline has to stop

After a great night, Hammers everywhere will be waking up still smiling this morning so I wanted to save the little moan until the end of this piece. As Sam said last night it was a great performance but his heart can’t take any more sending offs. I agree. When Rob Green was dismissed I was nervous as anything that the rejuvenated Blackpool would come back to at least nick a point.

Thankfully we had too much for the Tangerines, but it can’t carry on as it is. Think how well West Ham can do with the same amount of players on the pitch as the opposition? I am sure that it was a coincidence that we had three sent off in three games, but that has to be the end of it. The work rate that the players are going through is top notch and it may be time to give them an even chance for 90 minutes to really prove what we can do. Starting in front of the Sky camera’s on Saturday lunchtime against Palace.

Let me know what you thought of the Blackpool result on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard

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