West Ham: Alex Song's Premier League Return Boosts Hammers' Ambitions

West Ham United currently sit proudly in fifth place in the Premier League table, and manager Sam Allardyce must be chuffed—because he knows it's his transfer magic that's been the catalyst for success.

The Hammers are sitting level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal, and former Gunner Alex Song has plenty to do with this newly acquired status.

Of course, there are others who are new in East London who've put in a shift to get West Ham where they are now. 

Free-scoring Senegal international Diafra Sakho and compatriot Cheikhou Kouyate have impressed, but it is the Cameroonian who has been most instrumental. Song has only made seven appearances so far in claret and blue, but his impact has rippled throughout the club.

In each appearance—but especially in the famous 2-1 win against Manchester City—his key attributes have shone through.

The Cameroon international has always been a physical presence blessed with technique and vision, even since his days playing for Arsene Wenger.  With increased experience and maturity from his time at Barcelona added to the mix, he's become a leader on the field, as Allardyce has noted.

"When you have got quality players, quality players look forward to the big games," he said following the match. "Alex Song led us as a team and the rest of the lads responded."

Crucial to the win against City—and to the current four-game unbeaten streak the Hammers are riding—has been Song's hunger for the ball.

In possession, his range of passing is in the spotlight and his vision is the best in the squad. Without the ball, he motors back to dispossess opponents—but without controversy and recklessness, as was displayed in Brazil this summer.

Additionally, he's already established a rapport with his colleagues.

The communication with Sakho and Ecuadorian forward Enner Valencia has been apparent, and his sumptuous rabona cross to Stewart Downing shows Song's selflessness.

This newfound fluidity is a real change of scenery for the Hammers and their fans alike.

Through their most recent days in the Championship, and even since securing Premier League status once more, Allardyce's side have a reputation for "route one football". That is, to employ direct long balls early and often to a target man and bring colleagues into play.

The manager chalked that up to utilising what he had at his disposal at the time, per The Telegraph's Henry Winter:

"

You work with what you’ve got and get the best out of it.

It’s like now. People are saying, ‘Sam’s made this unbelievable change at West Ham’ but the change has been evolving from day one. We’ve given ourselves enough time to evolve this team.

"

Indeed, Allardyce is working with what he has—and he has Song. Getting the best out of him is truly allowing the club to flourish, and their ambitions are growing as a result.

For Song, too, it's a tale of rebuilding a reputation.

Left out in the cold by Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, he joined West Ham on loan this summer with mixed memories of different regimes at Camp Nou.

According to Transfermarkt.co.uk, he saw more time playing under the late Tito Vilanova than he did under Gerardo Martino. 

34 appearances in all competitions in 2012/13 was diminished to 31 last campaign, and when it became clear Song couldn't dethrone Sergio Busquets under new boss Enrique, a move back to London seemed appealing.

Song discussed his situation with the club's official website:

"

West Ham is looking to be a very, very big Club in the future. The Club has a great project and it is a very big project with very big ambition. I think it's great for the fans that the Club wants to be one of the biggest in England. That's why I chose to come here. ...

For me, when I was in Spain, I always said that if I was to leave one day I would return to the Premier League.

"

Whether he predicted it or not, Song is proving to be integral to these great ambitions, and Allardyce sees him as the man to build his team around.

With a slate of fixtures coming up that includes hosting struggling Aston Villa and visiting inconsistent Everton, the future's rosy at Upton Park.

With Song, it's very rosy indeed.

What do you make of West Ham's start to the season, and how has Alex Song contributed? Let us know with a comment below or chat with Callum on Twitter.