Happy Meal Time At West Ham

So tell me, why has Neil McDonald suddenly stepped out of Big Fat Sam's shadow? Have the powers that be decided it's time for a less belligerent approach to the press and fans, offering a more caring, sharing, humble face in the person of McDonald?

If I'm honest, I'm not even sure when McDonald joined. Did he come with Allardyce, with Sullivan & Gold thinking they were buying big gob a celebratory burger and finding they had a new employee instead?