It was nice to hear that people appreciated the way I played in the 3-1 win over Manchester United.

When you have a group of players who are confident and are eager for the ball, instead being tentative because they are under pressure, then it’s a lot easier to be recognised as playing well.

In recent games we’ve gone to Everton and picked up a fantastic win, so the confidence level goes up. That was followed by a fantastic draw at home to Chelsea, which maybe could have been even better — and the confidence rises again.

Then, some of the players who hadn’t been playing regularly beat Macclesfield 8-0 in the League Cup, followed by Manchester United, and all of a sudden the training ground is a completely different place.

As for me, no matter how we’re playing, I’ve always been one to try and get on the ball. Sometimes it might not have worked out perfectly and maybe I’ve sometimes even tried too hard when it’s not been going well.

Last weekend, I think everyone could see the whole team were buzzing, the crowd were buzzing. It reminded me of the first season under Slaven Bilic, where we had games like that and completely dominated.

In the past, I’ve seen comments such as “his legs have gone”, but I’ve never been quick. To be honest, I don’t take too much notice of that stuff. I’d rather listen to someone like Paul Scholes, who said on TV after the game that you don’t always need pace when you have a football brain.

In addition, the statistics tell me I covered the most distance during that game — and I do that most of the time when I play.

But I’m not stupid. I took the compliments after the game against Manchester United and they were much appreciated. I know we’ll lose games in the future, though, and I’ll probably get slaughtered again. Familiarity breeds contempt, I suppose.

I still have plenty in the tank... don’t worry about that. I’m not 32 until next May. I’ll know when I can’t compete any more and, when that happens, that will be it.

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I’ve played 14 years in top football and I have nothing to prove to anyone, other than myself. I’ve lived my dream and I’ve played almost 400 Premier League games for West Ham.

My dream now is to finish at West Ham. I have one more year after this and a further year’s option.

I would like to sign that, finish playing and then perhaps be involved in the academy. My son, Lenny, plays in the under-nines here and I get so much enjoyment out of watching him on a Sunday.

Maverick ‘Arnie’ can often be misunderstood... but it’s because he cares so much

West Ham fans have always loved a maverick player — Billy Bonds, Julian Dicks, Paolo Di Canio — and now, Marko Arnautovic.

Marko, or ‘Arnie’ as we call him, is our talisman and I think everyone can see how much he’s enjoying life here. He is one of those people who can be misunderstood. You need to know him to appreciate his qualities.

I played against him when he was at Stoke and didn’t like him at all. We had some run-ins and I remember even pulling his hair on one occasion, which sparked a reaction, as you can imagine. When he came to West Ham, I saw a completely different side to him. He gives you the impression of having a big persona, but underneath he really cares about the way he plays.

I spoke to him a lot when he first arrived and things weren’t going so well. I said: “Don’t worry about it, things will improve.”

He kept working hard and now I think everyone can see the benefits of that hard graft — and the fact that he feels at home. No one is judging him or his price tag any more.

He’s an integral part of the changing room now, a fantastic person to have around. He doesn’t stop talking — mostly about himself, if I’m honest — but in a funny way. He’s always involved in the banter but, most importantly, he’s our main man.

I like to think I played a small part in his form this season when, against Bournemouth, I made a calculated decision to give him the job of taking a penalty.

That job is usually mine. I remember thinking about it the night before. I wasn’t convinced but, when we were awarded the penalty, I decided to give him the ball because I thought, ‘He’s our main man, we need him to score goals this season’.

For a striker, there’s no better feeling than scoring and to net that first of the season. Thankfully, he did score — and then pushed me away when I went to celebrate. There’s gratitude for you! The fact he’s scored four goals in six games proved it worked, though.

Arnie’s a great lad. He’s funny and good to be around — but that comes from confidence. After the Wolves game, as I said in a previous column, I felt a few home truths needed to be told. Arnie and I argued, but sometimes you do things to get a reaction — and I knew he was the sort of person who would react.

It demonstrated that if I could have a go at him, someone who probably didn’t deserve it, I could dig out anyone. Anyway, he knows I love him to bits!

Jose’s a class act ... I have so much respect for him

I bumped into Jose Mourinho after the Manchester United game and we had a quick hug.

He’s one of the greatest managers of all time in my book and every time we’ve played against his teams — either Chelsea or Manchester United — he’s showed me a lot of respect and said some nice words.

We’ve also seen each other in the referee’s room before games and had a chat.

It doesn’t always go well, even for a man who has done as much in the game as Jose, but I will always have the utmost respect for him.

Ryder win, with Iron Molinari, completed perfect weekend

It was near enough the perfect weekend when, after beating Manchester United, I sat in front of the TV and watched Europe win the Ryder Cup.

It was great to see Francesco Molinari close things out, especially as he is a West Ham fan, and I believe the club are planning to invite him to a game at the London Stadium.

As he played one shot, I heard someone call out “C’mon you Irons!” and I had to rewind to make sure I had heard correctly.

Hopefully, if the manager gives me the green light, I’ll be playing golf with him next week in a pro-am competition, so we’ll have a good chat.

Tragic death of fan was real shock to us

I was really shocked to hear of the death on Tuesday of West Ham fan Mick Ferris, hit by a pane of glass which had fallen from a block of flats in Vauxhall. I can only add that my thoughts, and those of the club, are with his family at this devastating time.