Villa show the Irons ‘fear factor’

I never believed it would be easy against Villa and we will now have to get used to the idea that teams will come to Upton Park determined to sit and defend – a bit like we did at Chelsea last season!

And the fact that’s going to be the approach of many teams shows just how far the Hammers have come – we are now a team to be feared.

However, the weekend match also showed us that there will be periods when our style of play will allow teams into the game and we could leak the odd goal.

When you play the type of attacking free-flowing game we are seeing from  this Hammers side that’s going to happen at certain times in the game.

It’s not that the opposition has suddenly worked out how to play against us, just that a few gaps appear – as they did at the start of the second half on Saturday when Villa took advantage.

It was good to see Andy Carroll back in the side after so long and silencing those who claim he will struggle to get past those strikers in possession.

I’ve said over and over again that this is a squad game and that managers have to be ready for all sorts of eventualities. I really can’t remember a West Ham team with so many options.

To even think of selling Andy or anyone else at the moment is utter madness.

Sam Allardyce’s Christmases have all come at once because he will win far more games than he loses. This is a very good time to be a hammers player and fan!