West Ham claimed a 2-0 victory over London rivals QPR yesterday, with Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho having a major influence on the game.
The 24-year-old scored the second and was also pressuring QPR defender Nedum Onuoha, when the Hoops defender put past his own keeper for the opening goal.
Streak
The former-Metz striker has made an impressive start to his Hammers career having now scored in all four of his Premier League starts and having scored in all five of his appearances in all competitions.
The striker will be pleased with the start he has made to life in English football. He certainly seems to be enjoying it so far.
Unknown
Sakho arrived at West Ham as an unknown quantity. Even Irons boss Sam Allardyce has been surprised by the striker’s quick adaption to life in England. The Hammers boss told Sky Sports: “I would have seen Sakho as being a player, coming from the French second division, playing maybe 10 to 15 games for us and finding out about the Premier League,”
“But he is so desperate to do well and his runs are so good at the opposition’s defences and he seems to have the knack – and that’s the hardest knack of all – of turning up in the right place at the right time.
“So that’s fantastic for him and absolutely outstanding business for us at West Ham.”
When Sakho signed I remember reading on a number of fans forums West Ham fans criticising the club for signing an unknown striker from the French second division. I am sure a lot of those fans have been made to eat humble pie by Sakho’s good start to his West Ham career.
I have to admit I did not have great knowledge of the player prior to his arrival from Metz, but my knowledge of the French lower divisions is not really what it should be!
However, looking at his scoring stats for Metz, they are now too shabby. In 114 leagues appearances for the French side Sakho scored 44 goals, which in any league is a decent record.
Shrewd
In these modern days of over-inflated prices, at a reported fee of £3.5million Sakho could prove to be the shrewdest signing of the summer, especially when you compare it to the massive £28million fee that Everton paid for Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Sakho may be three years older and may not be as high-profile as the Belgian man mountain, but at the moment he is looking like far better value for money than the former-Chelsea star.
Developing
Diafra Sakho has made a bright start to his Hammers career. He has looked like a constant threat in most of the games he has played and has shown pace, energy and skill. However, at 24 he still has a lot to learn.
The biggest part of his game that needs improving is his composure in front of goal. Sakho gets into some fantastic positions and with a cooler head could have scored even more goals this season.
West Ham added former-England striker Teddy Sheringham to their coaching staff this summer as an attacking coach. The former-Hammers striker could be just the man to help Sakho gain that composure.
The striker is currently odds of 50/1 to win the Premier League golden boot, which at his current scoring rate is not a terrible bet, especially if Sheringham can help improve his composure.
Style
Last season West Ham were not great to watch and that led to the West Ham board issuing an ultimatum to boss Sam Allardyce. He was told to improve the style of the teams play or he would be sacked.
The signing of Sakho, Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia has completely transformed West Ham’s style of play. Sakho and Valencia add pace and energy to the Hammers attack, while Zarate adds vision and flair.
The Hammers may still use a direct style of play on occasions, but it is good for a team to mix up their styles of play. The summer signings have certainly helped the team to become more expansive and easier on the eye.
Exciting
As a neutral I dreaded watching West Ham last season. The team lacked any sort of flair and attacking ideas, which led to the Hammers scoring just 40 goals in the top-flight.
However, this season they are exciting to watch and their new Senegalese forward has had a lot to do with that change of style.
Nobody at West Ham will get carried away by the striker’s start to his Hammers career, but Sakho has made a flying start and seems to have the potential to improve yet further. If the goals keep coming then West Ham will have made one of the signings of the summer.
Could Diafra Sakho be the bargain signing of the summer?
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