West Ham have not lost a Premier League game in which Pedro Obiang has played this season.
Obiang was absence from the team in league losses against Chelsea, Man City, Watford, West Bromwich Ablbion and Southampton. However he played a full role in wins over Crystal Palace and Sunderland as well as the draw against Boro with a cameo role as a sub in the win over Bournemouth.
Obiang has completed 85% of the 103 passes he’s attempted over the last 2 games to cement his position in the first team.
Obiang moved very close to a move to Italy in the closing days of the summer transfer window. A number of Italian clubs were reportedly keen on loaning the midfielder but the Irons asked that any loan deal for the midfielder included an obligation to buy the player at a fixed 5.5 million euros (£4.6m).
Obiang was Slaven Bilic’s first signing after being appointed West Ham manager. He signed from Sampdoria for a reported £4.3m penning a four-year contract.
Although it was said he had become frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities last season he made up his mind to fight for his place in the first team and it appears his efforts have been rewarded.
Great stat, his team mate Fernandes can go even better with a 93.2% pass success rate which when you think there were a number of middle and long distance passes is an astonishing stat 41/44 attempted passes completed, also 3/3 in take on’s and 3/4 out of tackles and 4 shots. Fernandes was playing out of position so we really need to see him starting more matches in position when Cresswell is back, perhaps he could even be the answer to the right wing back position in the short term as Antonio really doesn’t look happy playing there. It’s hard to judge his defensive performance against a very poor Sunderland but with the ball at his feet he looked composed and was as the stats show very accurate.
Fernandez should start instead of Noble. Obiang looks good because he is alongside Noble who is so poor . We need legs and someone who passes forward not a static has been who has to watch as the game passes by. 5 out of 10 successful forward passes is worth more than 9 out 10 safe backwards ones but the stats never show that .