3. Build Around Andy Carroll
He might not be scoring for West Ham just yet, but Andy Carroll remains an important part of the puzzle for the team doing well. His style of play means he will happily drop quite deep to pick up the ball from long balls out of defence, controlling rather than looking to flick on and looking to launch attacks for his midfielders, either down the flanks or through the middle to link up with Kevin Nolan. Against Stoke, Carroll's physical presence might well be even more valuable than it was against Newcastle - a game in which he helped his team retain the ball, rather than allowing it to bounce back down the field from the strikers, as that day's opposition have been guilty of this season. Carroll forms an important focal point for the team, and his ability to chest the ball and take it down with his feet, rather than simply knocking it on blindly into space means his team can play two-phase attacking football, bringing the midfield into play and allowing Carroll and more importantly Kevin Nolan to make runs into the box to take up dangerous positions. He's likely to enjoy a battle tonight, but if Carroll continues to work hard for his team, his team-mates, and Nolan in particular could well benefit once more.