West Ham United legend Julian Dicks is convinced the club is now heading in the right direction.

Dicks says Sam Allardyce's approach is just what the club needs and is delighted to see the manager's renowned work in the transfer market deliver Andy Carroll.

"To be honest I don't think it matters how you play as long as you're getting results, says Dicks.

"Football's a results business and if you're getting the ball in the net that is all that counts. I think he's done brilliantly since he's been there."

On Carroll, who arrived on transfer deadline day on-loan from Liverpool, Dicks added: "I think he's a brilliant player, he's amazing in the air, he has a great touch and also brings others into play. He's everything you need in a centre forward and I think he'll be really good for the club."

Dicks played for West Ham under Harry Redknapp and is convinced the former Tottenham manager will soon be back in management.

Redknapp is currently working at Bournemouth - for free - and Dicks says the Hammers hero is a true football fanatic.

"Harry was one of the best bosses I've ever had and I still think he is one of the best to this day. He was great at organising and motivating the team and his career since has proven how good he is."

Dicks bristles over claims Redknapp didn't bother with tactics and was caught out in Europe during his time at Spurs.

Asked about his tactical approach at West Ham, Dicks insists it was always on the agenda for Redknapp: "He did yeah, he had the team organised and the every player knew what he had to do when he set foot on the pitch. We also knew where we had to be for set pieces and certain match situations."

After two years in charge of Grays Athletic, where he worked under chairman and former Hammers teammate John Moncur, Dicks recently declared interest in the Shamrock Rovers job in Ireland.

Like Redknapp, the former Liverpool defender believes some modern day managers are over-complicating the game with 'football-speak' and '70-page dossiers'.

"I'd have to say that I agree with him on this one. In my opinion you can only really give a player so much information before it gets too complicated.

"All players are professionals, they know what is expected of their position; a winger knows he has to beat the full-back and cross, a striker knows he has to score goals."

While under Redknapp, Dicks played at West Ham just as Joe Cole was breaking through and is disappointed with the way he's been treated at Liverpool.

"Yeah, I don't think the Liverpool thing is his fault, Brendan Rogers doesn't seem to fancy him at all. It's a shame really because he is a fantastic player and hopefully he moves somewhere else in January," he says.

These days, Dicks is keeping his hand in with coaching, touring the country working with teams at various levels. But he still keeps a close eye on West Ham results.

"When I was growing up I never really supported a team as I just wanted to play football, but I do consider myself a West Ham supporter nowadays. I still go to a lot of Non-League matches, but unless I'm doing some work for BBC London I can't really get to the ground as much anymore."

Julian is currently touring the country coaching local teams of various levels. If you are interested in him coaching your team then he can be found on Twitter at @JULIAN3DICKS

Thanks to the co-operation of Football Blogs at footballfriendsonline.com.