It is indeed ironic that just twelve months ago we were all writing about how West Ham’s huge set piece weakness would cost them dear in the Premier League.
Mads Hermansen’s ‘flapping’, combined with Kilman and Mavropanos between them failing to clear corners and long throws meant that the Hammers had the worst record for goals conceded from corners in the top flight – seven goals from corners in their opening five games, if memory serves me right.
Shocking it was, and a big contributory factor to their early season dive into the relegation zone, from which they never recovered.
Twelve months on and the irony is that West Ham, whilst it seems hard to believe, have become the set piece masters of their division, with four goals scored from corners and free kicks in their opening seven games.
Engels – fast becoming a threat as West Ham’s set piece expert
Largely thanks to ‘world class‘ (according to the thescottishsun.co.uk) delivery from former Celtic star Arne Engels, Konstantinos Mavropanos is fast is becoming one of the Championship’s top five goal scorers.
Fulham tonight will have to stop the supply of wicked, inswinging corners from Bowen on one side and Engels on the other, assuming he starts -and the towering Greek Centre back will be looking to add to his season’s tally.
Don’t bet against Mavropanos being on target again as the Hammers’ number 15 seems to be growing in confidence and stature as the season progresses, with the delivery provided now offering him the chance to take his goalscoring prowess to new heights.
He’s finally scored a few but he misses so many, not even on target a lot of the time. He’s way too inconsistent to be called a threat.
Ohh come on agent 😂
I dont see any change in Mavropanos other than he’s scored more goals. Still has an error in him. Undoubtedly errors don’t cost as much in championship as in premier league though and maybe it’s a bit easier to score against championship defences. I think that’s the difference.
It’s good to watch and for morale But it’s the cship so take one day at a time. Look at Coventry. great in this league but rock bottom in prem So lots to improve
The teams that dominate the Championship with that passing, possession kind of football are usually the ones that get relegated from the Prem the following season – Burnley, Ipswich, Norwich, Coventry, they learn the technique well enough but don’t have strong enough players for Prem opposition.
In fact, this is pretty much what got us relegated – everyone was moaning about Moyes ball (which was dead boring) but that’s what suited the squad we had – switching to building from the back possession ball with many of those same players was just asking for trouble.