Analysing the tactics behind the success on the pitch is tricky at the time whilst watching and being an engaged and (often enraged) ‘fan’ : Far easier to rely on the experts who write about it during the following days. West Ham’s Burnley triumph has brought forward a mass of plaudits for the new-look midfield with Potts, Fernandes and Paquetá working well to shield the Hammers’ defence and provide supply going forward.
The extent to which Freddie Potts made an impact working ahead of the front four is well documented today by the nytimes.com/theathletic’s daily analysis.
But Potts’ contribution went far deeper, as Conor O’Neill reported:
“Shuttling from side to side in front of his defence, he [Potts] constantly offered an easy out-ball before circulating play quickly and safely.
Potts is not merely a metronome either: he played more passes into the Burnley penalty area (seven) than anyone else in the home side, showing he is able to pierce lines when the opportunity presents itself. But it is out of possession where he has made the biggest difference, shoring up what had been a porous midfield unit.”
Nuno’s midfield allows more attacking down the flanks
ALSO highlighting the way in which West Ham’s new look mobile midfield is working to allow another layer of attacking play, the analysis continues:
“Nuno often likes to build through his full-backs, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf both completed 28 carries against Burnley — the most in the match.
That approach inevitably leaves large gaps on the flanks, which the visitors looked to exploit with long diagonals. Paqueta and Fernandes shared the workload in plugging those holes”
How fast fortune has changed for West Ham. The removal of Soucek (love him), Rodriguez and Ward Prowse from the slowest, least mobile midfield in the Premier League which both Lopetegui and Potter insisted on deploying – with their predictable failings – has been Nuno’s quickest, most remarkable turnaround:
Having Magassa as a solid-looking back-up should ensure that even with a suspension looming for Paqueta, the ‘bad old days’ of West Ham’s slow stodgy midfield are now consigned to the bin. The fast, mobile and tactically aware ‘Nuno- look’ midfield (who knew) highlights how the Hammers will endeavour to keep the momentum rolling when the Premier League campaign continues in twelve days time.
The sheer slowness of JWP, Rodriguez and Soucek was putting excess pressure on the defence who accordingly looked worse than they actually were.
We need to put minutes into George Earthy, he could also break through this season. He was neck and neck with Freddie Potts at the start of the season but his injury meant that he didn’t get the chances that Potts did.
Potts has a starting position now surely, he’s broken through.