SAM Allardyce reckons his current West Ham side is better than the Wanderers team he took into Europe.

The Hammers have defied the odds this season in the Premier League to break into the top four in much the same way as Bolton did in their top-flight heyday.

Saturday’s 2-0 win over Leicester City made it their best start to a season since 1985-86, when John Lyall’s side eventually claimed third place in the old Division One.

Unsurprisingly, the current excellent start has evoked memories of leading Wanderers into Europe on two occasions – although Allardyce left the club before they embarked on a second stint in the Uefa Cup in 2007.

And in a comment which is likely to provoke debate among supporters of his old club, Big Sam says the squad he currently has in East London is better than the one he had at the Reebok.

“We were flying at Bolton at that time and were very close to getting where none of us expected,” he said.

“The prospects we have now is that this is a bigger squad than that one and has more strength in depth than this one.

“It has not quite got the experience but we have a lot of strength in depth and in the deeper end of the squad we have a lot of good players to step in when needed.

“That was not the case at Bolton. We had a strong 14 or 15 but nothing more than that. That is why it never lasted at Bolton, sadly.”

But is Allardyce right? Let’s look at a typical line-up from Wanderers in 2007 against the Hammers side currently flying high in the Premier League.

In goal – Jussi Jaaskelainen v Adrian

Adrian is keeping Jussi out of the team at Upton Park but the big Finn in 39 now and not at the peak of his powers as he was in a Wanderers shirt.

The Spaniard is a good shot stopper but he hasn’t yet shown anything like the consistency Jaaskelainen did as he dominated the number one position at Bolton for a decade.

Widely regarded as one of the best foreign goalkeepers to play in the English game, it’s a safe bet Jussi would be the Hammers’ number one if he were 10 years younger.

VERDICT: Sorry Sam, you’re wrong.

In defence – Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Meite, Abdoulaye Faye and Tal Ben Haim v Winston Reid, Aaron Cresswell, James Tomkins and Carl Jenkinson.

Allardyce built a formidable back four at Wanderers with twin towers Meite and Faye arguably the best defensive pairing he created in his time at the club. Nicky Hunt had the best spell of his career under Big Sam and Ben Haim proved such a versatile defender before leaving for Chelsea.

There is a similar steely edge to the defence at West Ham. Kiwi Winston Reid has been a terrific find for the club, alongside another rock in home-grown talent James Tomkins.

But it’s at full-back where the Hammers might just shade it. Cresswell has been a revelation since coming into the top flight from Ipswich Town, while on-loan Arsenal man Carl Jenkinson is now pushing hard for another England call-up.

VERDICT: You’ve got a point Sam.

In midfield – Ivan Campo, Kevin Nolan, Gary Speed and Stelios v Cheikh Kouyate, Alex Song, Kevin Nolan and Stewart Downing.

Is Kevin Nolan a better player now than seven years ago? It’s debatable.

Downing offers some genuine width, which was lacking in Sam’s side at Wanderers. Song and Kouyate offer strength and power while Nolan is still Big Sam’s general on the pitch – although he doesn’t get among the goals as much as he did.

But let’s face it, Campo, Speed and Stelios just oozed class and experience. They may not have had the legs of West Ham’s midfield but with a youthful Nolan in there too, there were plenty of goals – especially when you add the unpredictable El-Hadji Diouf into the mix.

Given youth is on the Hammers’ side, we’d call it a draw.

VERDICT: Level pegging.

Up front – Kevin Davies and Nicolas Anelka v Andy Carroll and Diafra Sako

Carroll is comparable in many ways to Davies but nowhere near as reliable. He has time on his side to rectify that, and Sam may argue that potential sets him above Super Kev. But as impressive as Sako’s season has been, he isn’t Anelka. Not even a little bit.

This one is a convincing win for Wanderers.

VERDICT: Wanderers in front up front and it's even close.

OVERALL VERDICT: Strikers and keeper honours go to Wanderers, Hammers win in defence and the midfield is all square. So, for my money it's 2-1 to Wanderers.