Premier League: Sam Allardyce pleased with West Ham's improved form
Saturday 27 September 2014 10:00, UK
Sam Allardyce is delighted with the reaction his West Ham players have put in following a recent "kick up the backside".
The Hammers boss was upset by their performance in the 3-1 defeat by Southampton, when they lost a second successive game at Upton Park, but things have started to look up since the international break.
Allardyce has been pleased with the turnaround, which sees them go to Manchester United on Saturday in good form having drawn at Hull and beaten Liverpool.
"We were off form but Southampton were a good team on the day and every game since," he said. "I think we have had the kick up the backside and the lads have responded brilliantly to that disappointing performance.
"We had to wait a long time to put that right - we had to wait 16 days before we played Hull City away after the international break.
"Players like Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouyate played two games in that time so our response has been very good.
"It has been a good reaction. We have looked at the players and changed the system and it looks like they are very adaptable to different ways of playing which is nice for me.
"I think it is good if you can change the shape of a team in any stage of the game or have it for one game and different for the next, there's an old thing about why change it, but you have got to accommodate the opposition you're playing when you're in my position.
"Certain ways of playing have to be adjusted sometimes if you want to get the best out of your players against that team to try and win."
