West Ham boss Graham Potter has been boosted by the news that Luis Guilherme has returned to full training at Rush Green.
The young Brazilian winger impressed during pre-season but saw his competitive game-time cut short by a shoulder injury. The 19-year-old was used as a wing-back on West Ham’s US tour before the campaign began, but he may now find the team’s new shape better suited to his attacking qualities.
West Ham looked like a side transformed when Potter switched to a back four against Nottingham Forest—particularly after the introduction of Crysencio Summerville in the second half. The injection of pace was exactly what the team had been lacking, and Guilherme possesses plenty of it himself. The teenager is widely regarded as the club’s quickest player (though it’s anyone’s guess how that’s measured).
His return is a welcome addition for Potter, especially if the manager sticks with the tactical approach that delivered success at the City Ground. Guilherme’s speed and direct play could provide West Ham with another much-needed weapon if the gaffer sticks with wingers. .
I could see Potter playing Bowen up front and Guilherme on the right wing. Bowen spends much of his time cutting in to the middle or even on the left anyway so contrary to the myth that Bowen is only effective on the right wing I think it doesn’t really matter where his starting position is. If he’s in the middle he can go left wing, right wing, or through the middle.
Apparently Usain Bolt’s 100m time of 9.58 works out at an average of 37.6km/h (although peaks at 44km/h). Apparently Guilherme was clocked at 36.4km/h in hte u17 Copa Brasil in 2022… if that’s right then he’s very quick, although this is only slightly faster than Kudus, but you might expect Guilherme to have got quicker since 2022 of course.
“Fastest player but anyone’s guess how that is measured?”
I’m only guessing but I would have thought all players do plenty of sprint work, and the player that runs the distance in the shortest time, I would imagine is the fastest.
Sorry for being facetious, and love your content!
Comparisons may have also been made at times when Cry and others were not in full training. Maybe he only had Cresswell, Coufal, Soucek, Fabianski and Ward Prowse to beat. Who knows, Rush. Not facetious at all. Loving the content too. COYI
All of this of course assumes that Potter doesn’t revert back to his obsession with a back 3, god forbid.
Almost as if I wrote it was written the piece Rob 🧐 “especially if the manager sticks with the tactical approach that delivered success at the City Ground”