Hannu Impressed

Former Hammers defender Hannu Tihinen says he was impressed with the changes made to Upton Park since he was at the Club.

Hannu had a spell on loan with West Ham four years ago before returning to Viking Stavanger from where he went on to Anderlecht, and he says:

"I do miss the West Ham fans, they are different, and the ground has changed a lot - it is a beautiful stadium."

Hannu started the game at centre back alongside Vincent Kompany, who Chelsea had made an enquiry for, and admits:

"It was not very good for the defenders but hopefully good for the supporters - and nice for the strikers."

Hannu was able to see old friends at the weekend and he adds:

"There are three or four players still at the Club from when I was there like Michael Carrick, Christian Dailly, and Steve Bywater who was my room mate, but generally it is a different squad."

Hannu still follows the Hammers and he says:

"In Belgium it is a little bit difficult following the English First Division but I look at the official West Ham United site to see the stories and that is nice."

What wasn't so nice was the sending off of goalkeeper Daniel Zitka for handball outside the box just before half-time. Even Alan Pardew says:

"It was an honour to have them at Upton Park but it was disappointing for their staff to have the goalkeeper sent off."

And Hannu concurs:

"The manager said the referee had to be an Englishman! In my opinion the ball wasn't out of the box."

Hannu is enjoying his time in Brussels, though he made no secret of wanting to join West Ham permanently when he returned to Norway, and he says:

"Anderlecht is a big club and every year they are in Europe so that is good. Our league starts on Friday and we have no free days at all in Belgium."