West Ham fifth in Premier League with Champions League qualification | Football News

West Ham were in the relegation arena at this stage last season but are battling for a top-four finish this term – so what’s changed?

The Hammers are currently in fifth place, two points behind Chelsea but with a game in hand. That’s a good turnaround: David Moyes ’side were lamenting in 18th place at the same level last season.

There is a sense of growing inner hope and expectation. Speaking after a 2-0 win over Leeds, Moyes said: “I’m not going to say we’re going to finish in. [the top four], but why can’t we hang in there and see what we can do? “

The path to Hammers ’development has also been steady throughout the campaign and they have remained in the top half of the record since day eight – finally breaking into the highest four at the end of the month.

Drilling down on the team’s success since Moyes returned to the club in 2019, the graphic below shows a broader development.

Locking spark

West Ham have developed more than any other club over the last two seasons since Project Restart – scoring more goals and delivering much less at the other end.

As the interactive card below shows, much of that development comes from a spike in home form – despite playing in an empty London stadium. .

No angst between owners and fans

With Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:

“Sometimes the feeling of West Ham in that stadium can be very unpleasant for West Ham players if they lose.

“The idea of ​​going there understands that they don’t have to go against that – they have a really good team too, and I like the team – but I definitely think they’re succeeding too. since what would be there would not be that angst between the owners and the fans, that element of tension that sometimes exists and allows the players to succeed.

“They have a good spine, good players around that spine too. There are a couple of players who succeed, I think, because they got the opportunity to play with the freedom and the ability that they got. Now you hope that that lives beyond what the fans would return to the stadium. “

Which area is most developed?

The graphic below records the average number of goals scored and conceded over a five-game period and shows that the hammers have improved at each end of the pitch this season. this – despite a mid-season move.

For the first time in recent years, the Hammers have recorded a higher average goal difference for almost the entire campaign – having matched their most progressive scoring climb since January 2018 in October last year.

Expected objective data underscores this leadership and reiterates that current success has not been driven out of luck but by consistently creating clearer opportunities and yielding less than expected. their opponents this term.

Returning to the back of four

Moyes has secured a five-man defense in nine of Hammers’ opening 10 league games this season, but suddenly returned to the back four in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United in early December – and it is he rarely looked back.

Last season’s 4-2-3-1 favorite seems to be the basic system again, with Aaron Cresswell moving back to his familiar left-back role after start the season on the left of three.

So has the system changed since the last term?

West Ham’s average position appears very balanced and symmetrical, suggesting a clear structure and approach. The climbers often let in infield, while the full-backs and midfielders sit key roles.

To that end, little has changed in the real situation since last season – but Moyes has implemented a forward-looking tweak by pushing the attacking midfielder more further up to support the attacker.

Need for distance in ownership

In terms of West Ham’s recent evolution, speed and energy stand out for the most part – seen by several newcomers in Vladimir Coufal, Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma and Jesse Lingard.

In fact, Opta ‘s positive data shows West Ham travel up the ground faster than any other team in the Premier League this term – as well as recording a rise in league in this metric compared to the Premier League. -season.

Savvy moves, finally

It could be said that Tomas Soucek was a bargain this season signing at just £ 15m from Slavia Prague after a six-month loan spell at the London Stadium, and will join the recently announced signings of Coufal, Bowen, Benrahma and Lingard – as well as a loan. center-back Craig Dawson of Watford.

If you scroll through Hammers’ previous transfer deals below, it will be clear that the last club seems to have moved the transfer market – while also getting bargain talent from foreign leagues and the Tournament.

New signs and old guards rule

These recent signings – with the exception of Benrahma and Lingard – and sextet Declan Rice, Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Angelo Ogbonna, Pablo Fornals and Michail Antonio have been picking up the club’s most league minutes. this term.

The influence of these regular starters is evident over a number of league-beating meters.

Soucek’s aerial threat has contributed to the team’s 11 head goals – spurred on by 142 successful crosses from width and speed injections. At the same time, the team has yet to make a mistake leading to a goal and are in third place for interceptions.

The tight back guard has been further strengthened with only five clubs conceding more league goals this term: Manchester City, Chelsea, Villa, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Dawson has excelled when he returns to the top flight, while Ogbonna has made his most famous season to date in a West Ham shirt, while Issa Diop has also shone – but Rice and Soucek have taken key roles in defending the backcountry.

Carra: Soucek and Rice stand out

With Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“Soucek and Declan Rice are square to each other … Those two together as a partnership are the two that stand out to me.

“Speaking of West Ham being the best in the league for set pieces, Soucek is a big part of that. I talked about Soucek defending well, when we talk about midfielders box-to-box pitch, there is no one better in the Premier League right now than Soucek.

“The goals stand out a lot – that’s a big deal for a midfielder and that’s a big reason West Ham are where they are. Winning aerial duels are just off the scale. A midfielder in the last 10 years has not managed much… from Marouane Fellaini!

“And Rice has traveled forward with the ball at his feet more than any other midfielder in the league. He’s not just a midfielder, he’s more into his game. I’m thinking he’s a top player, Declan Rice. I’m a big fan of his. “

It’s also surprising that the pair also don’t cover most of the club’s ground. Soucek is second in the league, behind just James Ward-Prowse with 326.1km covered so far, and Rice is fifth at 302.8km.

But the next hardest grafters are full-back pairing Cresswell and Coufal.

Full pivotal background

If Soucek had won the ‘bargain move’ hypothesis award, teammate and Coufal Importer Slavia Prague would surely claim the award. Costing just £ 5m, the back-up has been a revelation.

The graphic below shows that the main threat of West Ham ‘s attack has come from that right side, despite a slightly higher proportion generated down the opposing wing.

In fact, Cresswell takes most of the risk down the left and has created seven fans this term – only five players in the league have scored more. West Ham’s next most advanced creator? Coufal.

Lingard’s class reinforces a question

While the midfield and full – back duo stand out, so do the climbers and star Antonio, who has once again struggled with the injuries of the season. seo.

But the signing of Manchester United ‘s Lingard in January has been an immediate success and has spilled more fuel on Hammers’ bid for a European qualification.

The 28-year-old seems to have a point to prove and has provided strong evidence with all appearances in claret and blue, while also providing healthy circulation and competition for victories. wide with Bowen and Benrahma.

Unfortunately for West Ham fans, Lingard will not be outnumbered to face his parent club when the Hammers travel to face United at Old Trafford live on Sky Sports this Sunday – but the clubs’ horns remain firmly locked in the bid for Europe.