Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler says West Ham United provide huge entertainment under Slaven Bilic...
Sunday’s 2-2 draw between West Ham United and the Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City at the King Power Stadium was one of the most frenetic games I have commentated on for a long time.
Leicester and West Ham both played the way they usually play and it made for a fantastic spectacle.
There is always the risk of a team going into their shell when they come into a game on the back of a bad result, but West Ham did not show any ill-effects from their FA Cup defeat by Manchester United at all.
West Ham and Leicester are both taking it to the so-called ‘big’ teams and a lot of people, including me, are enjoying watching them play week-in, week-out.
The decisions may be the main talking points from Sunday’s game, but I hope that does not detract totally from what was a superb game of football between two thoroughly entertaining teams.
We had 90 minutes full of action between two teams that had no other thought but to win the game and it made for a marvellous spectacle.
Every game I commentate on, I prepare pages of notes about the teams and players, but I had no time at all to look down at my papers during the game at all, because there was so much going on.
I have had the pleasure of commentating on some fantastic moments in the Premier League, including Sergio Aguero’s amazing last-minute title-clinching winner for Manchester City, and this season is providing me with some great games and great moments.
I’m a great football historian and I am enjoying the unpredictability of the current season, with Leicester top of the table, Spurs challenging and West Ham up there in the top six.
Back in the day when I started my career, I can remember that this was the norm. Yes, Liverpool won most things, but if you look at the tables, you will see teams like Watford and Southampton finished in the top three, while of course West Ham came third back in 1986.
I am hugely impressed by the job Slaven Bilic has done since he returned to West Ham last summer. He may not be English, but he has great love and understanding for the English game and for West Ham as a club.
Slaven has such passion for the game and it shines through by his actions on the touchline during the game. There was a lovely moment on Sunday when he ripped off his jacket and hung it on the fourth official like a clothes horse!
There have been moments that have tested Slaven this season, but I say he should be congratulated for what he has brought to Premier League and to West Ham United – excitement, passion and entertainment.
Personally, I am going to be commentating on the Hammers’ final home game for Sky Sports against Manchester United and I cannot wait to pay my respects to the Boleyn Ground.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily the opinions held by West Ham United.