Statistics on their own only tell half a story. In the end, points on the board are everything however well sides or players look on a laptop display. But taking evidence from on the pitch combined with the analytics can provide a pretty in depth picture and confirm the suggestion: West Ham appear to have an ‘unstoppable game changer’ emerging from the shadows at London Stadium.
Whilst disagreeing with the summary that ‘West Ham have found their ‘new Payet’ – anyone who saw him play would realise the two are very different – footballfancastcom’s article on Crysencio Summerville’s statistics makes pretty impressive reading.
Analysing the Dutch speedster’s performance -including his man of the match display against Everton on Monday night, the report underlines the talent that new boss Nuno Espírito Santo has on his hands:
“FBref ranks him [Summerville] in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions coming from fouls won, the top 4% for penalties won, the top 7% for shot-creating actions coming from take-ons and more, all per 90.”
West Ham have a match winner on their hands
The clear challenge for West Ham is to keep him fit. Hamstring injuries meant he missed all bar Potter’s first game and last games in charge. The impact of a resurgent Summerville meant that West Ham’s one win this season came when he was introduced as a late substitute; his assist and penalty-win single handedly rescued the points against, ironically, Nuno’s Nottingham Forest.
So the new Portuguese head coach saw first hand the potential which the Hammers’ number 7 possesses.
No wonder, then, that Nuno substituted Summerville against Everton. Quite possibly he’s done his own backroom analysis and realises just how much West Ham’s fortunes this season may be linked to keeping the young winger fit and firing over the next thirty-odd games.
Take him away, wrap him in cotton wool and bring him out again for the next game. Manage him well and get the same team who looked after Mikey Antonio’s dodgy hamstrings on the ‘phone again. West Ham and their new manager need Summerville available and not on the treatment table.
And that’s the simplest stat of all.