As we prepare to face our former manager Alan Pardew on Saturday, there is one player who knows him more than most and can appreciate the tough challenge that is going to face the Hammers at Selhurst Park.
Matthew Etherington made 195 appearances for West Ham United during his memorable six-year spell at the Boleyn Ground and spent the majority of that time playing under Pardew.
The talented winger enjoyed one of the best periods of his career as he reached two Play-Off Finals at the Millenium Stadium and was part of the team that successfully gained promotion back into the Premier League when they beat Preston 1-0.
Etherington was also part of the team that reached the FA Cup Final back in 2006 and suffered heartbreak right at the death when Steven Gerrard scored with just seconds left on the clock.
The 34-year-old will never forget the impact that Pardew had on his career and feels he has carried on his success as a manager and is now getting the best out of the Crystal Palace players.
The south London Club have also enjoyed a superb start to the campaign winning five of their opening eight game and are sitting fourth in the table.
Etherington feels the Hammers could be in for one of their toughest games of the season and knows Pardew will be extra determined to get something from the game.
Etherington said: “Even when Alan was having his harder times as Newcastle manager, I have always said that he was one of the best managers I played under.
“He is tactically astute and I think people under-estimate just how good he is. He is proven in the transfer market and has bought some fantastic players over the years.
“I am not surprised to see how well Palace are doing this season. It will be a very tough game for West Ham at the weekend, but I am sure they will go there with a lot of confidence.
“As a man-manager he is fantastic. One of the first things he said to me when he came to watch the team was 'I didn't really fancy you as a player when I was at Reading'.
“But he said he could not have been more wrong and that he wanted to build the team around me.
“For him to say that to me when he first joined the club, I thought I want to play for you.
“It is little things like that as a man-manager which can make a difference. A lot of people have got things to say about him, but he is not that way in any shape or form. He is just a very good Premier League manager.
“You look at West Ham's results this season and they are set up to play away from home this season and they are devastating on the break. If they can keep things right they have a major chance of winning.”