The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, October 28 issue, featuring West Ham United, the surprise of the Premier League after 10 matches.
After a weekend win over Chelsea, West Ham sit a shocking third in the league table, with wins over some of the Premier League’s most serious title contenders, including Arsenal and Manchester City.
Greg Lea writes about the West Ham phenomenon so far this year:
“he two major surprises can be found at either end of the table, with West Ham United flying high in third and Chelsea languishing in 15th place.
“The pair of expectation-confounders met at Upton Park on Saturday, with the reaction to West Ham’s 2-1 victory dominated by discussions of the champions’ meltdown and Jose Mourinho’s banishment to the directors’ box.
“While Chelsea were poor and continue to look a pale imitation of the side that won the title so convincingly last term, Slaven Bilic’s outfit deserve great credit for another excellent performance and result.
“It has certainly been a remarkable start to the campaign, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all vanquished by a side who are clinical on the counter-attack.
“Despite all that, a place in the top four remains highly unlikely, even with Chelsea in crisis and Liverpool continuing to struggle.
“For now, though, Bilic and his charges can simply enjoy their lofty league position. With the table starting to take shape after 10 matches, West Ham fans will relish what they see.”
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
