The messaging around West Ham at the moment could not be louder: the squad are closer and more united.

It is a familiar theme which seems to be repeated every time a player is interviewed, and with so many now saying the same thing, it is difficult to ignore.

But it does beg the question — just how bad was it before?

Julen Lopetegui’s reign was littered with reports of in-fighting and dressing room disputes. On one occasion it was even suggested the Spanish coach and Mohammed Kudus had to be physically separated following a heated confrontation.

Fast forward to Graham Potter’s tenure and there was a very public fallout involving Jean-Clair Todibo, along with numerous murmurs that all was not well behind the scenes at the London Stadium.

West Ham Finally Look Like a Proper Team

Now, however, the players appear to be exactly that — a team.

I’m only guessing, but perhaps Lucas Paquetá was a far more toxic presence than many realised. That may be far too simplistic an explanation, and it was also evident that an unhappy Niclas Füllkrug lingering around the club was doing nobody any favours either.

Whatever the reasons, something has clearly...