Shift In Strategy I Learning The Lopetegui Lessons

In the short space of time which Julen Lopetegui has been working with the West Ham squad, changes have taken root and the fruits were clear for all to see yesterday. The result is a very satisfying, cohesive team performance which began with West Ham beginning on the front foot for the first time in as long as we can remember. Gone was the reactiveness, taking the whole 45 minutes of the first half to get started, the ‘slow and sideways’ play which we all came to dread being consigned to the ‘history’ file.

But looking a little deeper, how did this change actually occur? What was different? Same personnel. Actually, if we are honest, many will have uttered the same sigh when the squad was announced.

The foundation yesterday was the defensive base. A rejuvenated Emerson Palmieri who’d clearly spent a week at a health spa being pampered and prepared and had his Duracell batteries replaced. The defensive partnership centrally of Kilman and Todibo looked well rehearsed and drilled.

From Aston Villa ‘s visit on 17th August, in just seven weeks the stats tell a story. Against Villa, the whole defensive unit of Emerson, Kilman, Mavropanos and Coufal managed – none – that’s zero dribbles and had a pass accuracy of 85 – 86%. Suddenly, Subtly, yesterday against Ipswich the pass accuracy percentage had shot up to the mid nineties.

Ten dribbles between the four shows also shows a  mammoth change in approach, our back line being confident and prepared to bring the ball out from the back instead of hoofing it long. Plaudits have been received by Todibo especially but in truth, the whole back four performed significantly better in keeping and distributing the ball.

The ‘diagonal ball’ when it was used by Todibo and Kilman became a surprise weapon instead of the standard kick it long tactic which was so infuriating to watch early in the season: ‘Hoofball’ as we christened it – when it just passed possession back to the opponent and invited them to begin another attack was awful to watch and ineffective. Yesterday only three of Todibo’s 57 passes went astray, compared with Mavropanos giving the ball away three times as often during Aston Villa’s visit.

The stats then tell a tale. Defensively, there is more than blocking, tackling and preventing the opposition from scoring but it is the way West Ham progressed out from defence which was a very satisfying watch. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, one victory doesn’t create a crusade up the table. But as a taste of tactics to come, it put down a very satisfying marker. Lopetegui, it seems, is getting his message across. And it made very satisfying viewing.