Tim, who played 276 times for the Hammers between 1990 and 1999, is part of a backroom team that has lifted QPR to 4th place - two points above West Ham - after getting promotion last season.
"It has been going well recently; we started off a little bit shakily and it took us a little bit of time to find our feet in this division," he says of QPR's re-entry to the second tier of English football.
"And we had a few injuries as well, so all in all we didn't start as well as we would have liked, but then we had a little break for the England international, got ourselves together and a few more people fit, and after that we went straight in and won six on the trot apart from losing to Aston Villa in the League Cup."
Their start to the campaign has, it is fair to say, exceeded expectations and Tim adds:
"From where we have been over my time there we know that finances have always been a problem and we were trying to be realistic, so first and foremost we'd have loved to have thought we could stay in the division and then push on from there, really.
"It soon changes and when you do well all of a sudden expectation changes and people talk about whether you could get into the playoffs and what could happen from there.
"Even at the start of the season we looked at Crystal Palace and said that when it wasn't going so well and they were struggling they then put a good run together, and anything can happen - so that would be our benchmark, if you like.
"The expectation can be a great burden to have, if you like, but I would rather that than people expecting us to get relegated.
"The games have been exciting as well with a few goals and we have come across sides with different styles all the time.
"In the second division we knew pretty much what to expect and what we had to do to get results and in this division it has been different in every game."
So has trepidation been replaced by complacency?
"It is getting a balance; we have to keep telling the players they can do it and hold their own in this division," says Tim, "but obviously we don't want them to get carried away with thoughts of what might be and take the foot off the pedal, if you like.
"It is a long season and there a lot of fantastic clubs in there and great games to look forward to for us - with no disrespect to the teams in the second.
"There are some mouthwatering games from where we have come so we are just looking forward to it, we are going to enjoy it, and we are going to see what happens."
Looking at Saturday, he adds:
"I think it is going to be a very difficult game; I have seen West Ham a few times and we know they have got a team well capable of getting promotion.
"But these are the sort of games we wanted to look forward to by getting promotion and it will be a full house with a good atmosphere - and I hope both sets of fans enjoy it."
Tim saw his former Luton and West Ham colleague Iain Dowie beat, as manager of Crystal Palace, the Hammers in the playoff final and adds:
"With the playoffs I think you never know; one thing you can predict is that they are unpredictable, if that makes sense.
"Palace were on the up and it is normally the team that is on a good run of results and has the confidence that does it - and they had nothing to lose.
"I think the pressure was on West Ham a little bit more than Palace, and in a big game like that it is not easy."
Tim realises that promotion to the top flight would bring its own problems and adds:
"The gap between the Premier League and the Championship is getting bigger and that is dictated by finances.
"It is very difficult when clubs like West Ham get relegated because which way do you go?
"Do you gamble - or do you try and consolidate, and then, perhaps, have a gamble when you know things are going in the right direction?
"At QPR it is well publicised the problems we had for a lot of years and that was because the balance was wrong when we got relegated from the Premiership - money was thrown at something that was heading in the wrong direction and it got worse.
"So there is a definite balancing act there and I think West Ham seem to be in a position where they can invest in the team as they go along.
"Alan Pardew has brought in lads at the right sort of age and I think they will be there or thereabouts."
As for working with Ian Holloway as defensive coach - QPR also have Gary Penrice as a forward coach and Gary Waddock as a midfield coach - he says:
"I really enjoy it; he is a fantastic bloke to work for, very honest and upfront with everybody, and tries to treat everyone in the right way.
"I think that is worth more than anything; if you want to work with somebody you have to enjoy where you work - and right now all of us are enjoying it.
"Obviously we know it is not always going to be like that but we are looking forward to every game and hopefully there will be some good ones at Loftus Road - and I hope it will turn into an enjoyable season."
Tim, who has a sports science degree, paid a visit to Upton Park recently and he says:
"I went over to the League Cup game against Notts. County and did a little bit with Tony Cottee as well as seeing Stevie Potts.
"You bump into old faces now and again and I have some great memories from my time there.
"Because I had been playing and then coaching, I hadn't really had the chance to go back and see the stadium since it had been finished, so that was impressive.
"It is a big club and hopefully they will be back in the Premier League before too long; it would be fantastic if QPR could be as well.
"It is achievable - but whether you stay there or not is a different matter, and that is the hard part.
"When you get up there what do you do - do you gamble, and if you get relegated it is a massive burden, or do you gradually build?
"It is very difficult and that gap is getting bigger, but all we can do is our best and hopefully our fans will enjoy us having a go, playing the right way in the right spirit, and we hope that will make everyone happy - and if we are up there that will be a massive bonus for us."
As for what Tim perceives as West Ham's danger, he adds:
"Up front there is Harewood and Zamora with Teddy Sheringham, different types of players; I see Etherington is injured and from all accounts he has been doing okay.
"It is like a lot of teams in the division, every team has a threat and hopefully we have one as well - that is what makes it quite open really.
"A lot of teams on their day can beat anyone else in their division and hopefully we are one of those."