It was one in, one out for West Ham as the transfer window shut on Monday night, with midfielder Morgan Amalfitano coming in and Mohamed Diame leaving for Hull City.

There were a few eyebrows raised following the departure of Diame, who on his day could be as exciting as any player around. It was just the frequency with which those days came around which was of concern.

The fact is, if Diame was that good a player he would not have been playing for West Ham in the first place – nor would he be signing for Hull City.

The transfer window has been a busy one for the Hammers and I can’t recall the club ever having signed so many players during the transfer window previously.

In total, Sam Allardyce added nine players, which is a clear indication the owners realised that the club had fallen way short in terms of quality last season and as a result, had to remedy the issue.

Just before the deserved 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton, it was announced Alex Song had been signed on loan from Barcelona – a signing I can only describe as exciting.

Without being too cynical, if he had been brought in on deadline day, accompanied by the fanfare Sky Sports News employ, his would have been a much more heralded signing.

Song is genuinely a quality player, the likes which we have not seen brought into the club for quite some time.

Arguably any hype surrounding the signing of Song quickly disappeared due to the dreadful performance and result against Southampton on Saturday.

The Saints were impressive, it has to be said, but West Ham looked poor and Allardyce knows he needs to start picking up results quickly.

For me, the opening fixtures were not what I consider games that were “unwinnable”.

Two home games, one against a side the Hammers had beaten three times last season (Spurs), the other against a side in turmoil and without a manager (Crystal Palace) and the other against a Southampton side shorn of many of their best players.

To lose two of the first three games only serves to strengthen the anti-Allardyce, mantra which many of the supporters continue to take.

Last season the excuse, injuries, could have – understandably – been made.

Those excuses cannot be used this season. The squad looks strong, the options for a change in system are available and there is competition for places all over the squad.

The centre of defence looks the most problematic area but with Cheikhou Kouyaté and Song able to cover, I do not see this being a problem. Certainly not a problem that the manager can make excuses about if positive results are not forthcoming.

With the international break there is not another game for a fortnight, which gives the manager time to work out who exactly will be starting at Hull City.

Without being a doom merchant, if West Ham fail to beat the Tigers, the pressure on Allardyce is going to move up another level. With Liverpool and Manchester United to follow, is it so unimaginable West Ham might be propping up the table come the end of September?

Allardyce has mocked Hammers fans who complain about his style by reiterating he is a manager who knows how to get results.

I am sure there are managers out there who are able to provide results and good football but Allardyce needs to do something to try and bring the fans back onside.