Amongst some of the less successful Nuno Espitiro Santo ‘experiments’ this season at West Ham, you’d have to list pretty near the top the the ‘inverted full backs’ dèbacle which arguably cost points against Leeds and Brentford. Alongside the choice of Andy Irving and Tomas Soucek as midfield starters, the decision goes in the ‘failed attempt at change’ circular file – hopefully now never to be repeated.
I’m sure Ollie Scares hopes to return to his normal left-sided duties at some stage in the future once his collar bone and his pride has recovered.
However one less evident but significant change in positioning has brought about a welcome improvement at West Ham:
The ‘repurposing’ of Kyle Walker Peters.
Joining on a free in the summer, it was assumed that ‘KWP’ would merely offer left and right full back & wing back cover for the manager. However he’s excelled when called upon as either first choice ahead of Aaron Wan Bissaka or most recently as a left wing addition late-on to add some bite and pace in midfield to help close down games.
Twice Nuno has brought Walker-Peters on for a flagging Crysencio Summerville in the latter stages of games when the Irons were ahead.Both times, the repurposed full-back has added his impressive pace and tackling ability to help strengthen an Irons midfield.
Being at the head of the queue to force in Tomas Soucek’s parried shot in the closing stages against Burnley, shows Walker Peters is happy to get in advanced positions and anyone who can out-sprint Bowen has certainly some pace about him.
Unassuming, and if not starting games, like Soucek, KWP is evidently just happy to contribute:
“Everyone’s together. You know, I said it earlier, you look at Tom, you look at myself, we both want to be starting games and at the moment we’re not. But when we come on, we’re doing our best to make a difference.
“Tom has done it two weeks in a row and I have this week. So, there’s really real togetherness in the group.” (whufc.com)
Indicative of the ‘team’ ethos Nuno is building. KWP will have more minutes in his preferred full- back role when the AFCON rolls around in December: For the time being, great repurposing from Nuno and a ‘player out of position’ switch that seems to be working out just fine.
How about ‘Tom’ at centre forward?
Great enthusiasm and speed. Every time he has played, he gives 100%; probably one of those players the manager knows he can always rely upon.
From the start NES said he needed time to really understand his players and know what makes them tick, much more than others I would say. You always have to make the most of what you have and NES does this way better than our previous managers in my opinion.
Glad to see the manager looking at the squad from every angle, trying everything he can to eke out more from players, make them enthusiastic ready to play for each other, test them a bit. Apart from inverted fullbacks that is😁
Yes, Kyle Walker Peters deserves some recognition for the unassuming way he goes about his business in helping our team do better. He is a valuable member of the squad and it’s great that he can be depended on to cover a few different roles. Thanks for your excellent contribution, Kyle!