Football is a game which lends itself to clichés, and the one which says ‘it is all about the players’ seemed particularly apt at the weekend.

Last season, games at the Boleyn Ground were often played in an odd atmosphere; the crowd so tense and frustrated, it was possible sometimes to hear individual shouts from the crowd.

This irritation often transmitted itself to the pitch, where the players looked unsure of what was expected of them, mindful that if they made the wrong decision the fans would get on their back.

Goals were in short supply, the midfield seemed lost and the pressure grew on the defence as the ball kept getting lost further up the field. The result was a series of lacklustre performances from a team that looked short of ideas and bereft of confidence.

Against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, you could often again hear individual shouts from the crowd, the fans again at times seemed quiet – but the reasons this season are completely different.

With Stewart Downing putting in a shift of England proportions, Alex Song covering every inch of the pitch, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho working their socks off – constantly looking dangerous and predatory – and with Morgan Amalfitano constantly finding space, the silence was simply one borne from quiet confidence.

It appeared that Harry Redknapp had come with a plan to stifle the midfield and stop West Ham from playing, once behind after only five minutes though, the west London side looked lost and there was never any sense they could find a way back into the match.

Even after the break and with old favourite Bobby Zamora introduced from the bench, allowing QPR getting forward more, the Hammers killed the game off thanks to Sakho’s strike and you could see heads drop amongst the opposition.

You sensed the defence didn’t think they could handle the Hammers’ front pair, while the forwards didn’t think they could score enough to overhaul the home side; for a supporter it was a heartening feeling.

If the change from last season seems staggering then, it’s all down to the quality of the players now available. The work rate has trebled and the confidence is flowing.

The clean sheet will help the defence too – with respect to the players who have covered the position previously, the sight of two effective full-backs has given the team a balance they lacked previously. Dangerous going forward and tight in midfield, Sam Allardyce now takes his team into an international break they can feel comfortable in.

There will be bigger games coming up against more successful teams, where the crowd can help raise the atmosphere and help spur the players on but, for now, West Ham look like a team that can keep the fans quiet for a different reason.