West Ham progress not reflected in the stats
West Ham United are flying high. Nestled comfortably in the Premier League’s top seven and battling in the Europa League quarter-finals, the Hammers are enjoying a period of undeniable success. However, a recent world ranking has thrown some cold water on their hot streak, leaving fans perplexed.
Opta, the renowned data analysis company, has devised the Power Rankings. This system utilizes complex data to rank over 13,000 football teams globally. Assigning a score between 0 and 100 (with 100 being the best), Opta aims to settle fan debates with an objective metric.
Despite their recent triumphs, West Ham finds itself ranked a surprising 33rd globally with a score of 87.8. This means they trail teams like Stuttgart, Bologna, and even some Premier League rivals like Brighton, Newcastle, and Chelsea.
West Ham have made progress but are ranked only 33rd in the world
This ranking is bound to spark questions amongst West Ham fans. Here’s what to consider:
The Model’s Focus: Opta’s ranking might prioritise factors like recent domestic performance and historical data, which may not always reflect a team’s current potential.
European Influence: While in the Europa League’s quarter-finals, it’s a secondary competition compared to the Champions League, which could influence the ranking.
Strength of Schedule: Opta’s system might not account for the difficulty of opponents faced. West Ham might have a strong record against weaker teams, which wouldn’t necessarily translate to a high world ranking.
West Ham’s on-field success deserves recognition, regardless of this ranking. However, it highlights the limitations of data-driven models in capturing the full story of a team’s journey. The Hammers will undoubtedly strive to maintain their impressive form and potentially challenge the Opta rankings in the future.