Subtle changes might not be earth shattering news along the path to the ‘Great Escape 2’: Headline grabbing goals or red cards get more publicity than tactical switches or ‘tweaks’.
But there’s something changed at Rush Green that had threatened to get West Ham relegated but now offers hope that redemption might just be within reach.
At the end of October, when Graham Potter’s 27th September departure was still fresh in the minds of West Ham fans, the Irons had already conceded nine set piece goals – in nine games played. The club were notorious for flappy goal keepers and dodgy defending that looked as solid as a soap bubble in a storm.
Flappy goal keepers and dodgy defence: West Ham no more?
Nuno’s arrival and his endeavours to address West Ham’s woeful defence of corners lead to a marked, if not instant sea change: In the following fifteen games, West Ham conceded just four times from set pieces. Putting them third in the ‘set piece concessions’ league table of shame with thirteen this season.
Ironically the Hammers opponents today Bournemouth sit top of the league for concessions from set pieces – with sixteen. Next weekend’s opponents Liverpool are second with fourteen goals conceded -so the next two games could well be won or lost on the basis of who defends corners and free kicks the best.
Axel Disasi’s arrival and Nuno’s assistant Paco Jemez have between them done a pretty good job of building on the head coach’s work last year to make the Irons more resilient.
So much so that a West Ham corner concession is no longer a cue to hide behind the sofa whilst being unable to bear watching another ball get hoisted in under the Hammers crossbar. Ironically it might just be their best way to take points off the Cherries this afternoon.
Bournemouth have won three and drawn three of their last six away games, they will be no pushover and I’ll be surprised if we better than draw. It would be more than useful if we could win though…