THAT'S more like it.

Yes, West Ham threw away a seemingly unassailable two-goal lead against a Newcastle team they were giving the runaround.

However, any suggestion that the Irons' players had packed up early for the summer was dismissed as Alan Curbishley's men produced their most complete display in months.

For more than 40 minutes the Hammers literally tore apart a Magpies outfit who had not lost in their last six matches - and not conceded a single goal in the last three.

Indeed, the only criticism of Curbishley's team was that they did not turn their almost total dominance into more than two well-worked goals.

In the end, that failure to score a hatful cost the Hammers two points, but it is the bigger picture - the future - that is what really matters.

With a handful of his big-name summer signings - Scott Parker, Julien Faubert, Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton (who missed the whole of last season through injury) - back and firing, Curbishley's side were a real force to be reckoned with.

Without the pedestrian Hayden Mullins in central midfield, the effervescent Parker and Mark Noble reduced Nicky Butt and Joey Barton - England internationals both - to virtual anonymity.

In front of them, Ljungberg was at his incisive best in an advanced free-role behind the strikers.

And on the right flank, the pacey Faubert was a constant thorn in the Magpies' side, demanding the ball and repeatedly surging for the by-line.

All that evidence suggests that, despite his side's recent struggles, Curbishley's team could be a force to be reckoned with once all his big-name signings are fit and firing.

Just whisper it, but 2008/09 could be everything that 2007/08 was not.