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No player has divided opinion at West Ham for a while like Sébastien Haller has.
I'm going to delve into why Haller was a success at Eintracht Frankfurt, why he hasn't done the same at West Ham, and what our options are.
I'm going to delve into why Haller was a success at Eintracht Frankfurt, why he hasn't done the same at West Ham, and what our options are.
At Frankfurt, Haller was part of one of Europe's best front threes, alongside Ante Rebić and Luka Jović, as part of a sort-of 3-4-1-2/5-3-2 formation.
He was directly involved in 24 (15 Goals, 9 Assists) of Frankfurt's 60 goals in 2018/19. Jović was involved in 22, and Rebić 13.
He was directly involved in 24 (15 Goals, 9 Assists) of Frankfurt's 60 goals in 2018/19. Jović was involved in 22, and Rebić 13.
Haller would be deployed as a striker alongside the deadly Jović with the diminutive Rebić playing centrally, a little deeper in an almost #10 role.
Haller would often move wide or drop off, whilst Jović would stay further forward to feed off of the creativity of Rebić & Haller.
Haller would often move wide or drop off, whilst Jović would stay further forward to feed off of the creativity of Rebić & Haller.
Rebić would often arrive late into the box to join his attacking partners, or drift into the wide areas, meaning that he and Haller would both be as likely to create as they were to finish.
The key here is that this is a shared attacking responsibility between the front three.
The key here is that this is a shared attacking responsibility between the front three.
Haller was supported incredibly by Jović and Rebić, and by the wingbacks as well.
A man of Haller's stature and physical frame looks like he should be an old-fashioned number 9, but Frankfurt got the best out of the Frenchman by giving him this support.
A man of Haller's stature and physical frame looks like he should be an old-fashioned number 9, but Frankfurt got the best out of the Frenchman by giving him this support.
So how did Frankfurt attack?
In defence, their LCB and RCB would push wide, with the central CB launching a long ball towards the strikers.
In this particular case, the ball is played to Haller, who controls and flicks it on to Jonathan de Guzmán, who scores.
In defence, their LCB and RCB would push wide, with the central CB launching a long ball towards the strikers.
In this particular case, the ball is played to Haller, who controls and flicks it on to Jonathan de Guzmán, who scores.
In this instance, Haller has two players breaking forward, attacking the space between the centre-back and the full back.
Haller is very adept to moving out wide, and did so regularly for Frankfurt, knowing that Rebić could push forward, leaving at least one man in the box.
Haller is very adept to moving out wide, and did so regularly for Frankfurt, knowing that Rebić could push forward, leaving at least one man in the box.
What does all this mean?
It means that Haller is not the 25 goal-a-season striker that his £45m price tag might make you think he should be.
His price when signing for West Ham was so high because of his all-round game, not just his goalscoring exploits.
It means that Haller is not the 25 goal-a-season striker that his £45m price tag might make you think he should be.
His price when signing for West Ham was so high because of his all-round game, not just his goalscoring exploits.
So now we have seen how Haller was deployed at Frankfurt in their 3-4-1-2/5-3-2 system.
Supported by two high-quality attacking players, with a shared attacking responsibility, feeding off of deliveries from wing backs, and a proven track record of scoring and providing goals.
Supported by two high-quality attacking players, with a shared attacking responsibility, feeding off of deliveries from wing backs, and a proven track record of scoring and providing goals.
Before we look at how Haller could be a success at West Ham United, we have to look at why he hasn't been so far.
Predominantly, Haller has played for us as the spearhead in a 4-2-3-1 formation, mostly last season.
This is a system that does not suit Haller's style of play.
Predominantly, Haller has played for us as the spearhead in a 4-2-3-1 formation, mostly last season.
This is a system that does not suit Haller's style of play.
Haller's natural tendency is to be involved in the build-up of attacks. As a striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, it's crucial that the striker doesn't do this too often, as he would be missing out on goalscoring opportunities himself.
In our current 3-4-2-1/5-2-2-1 set-up, we have only seen Haller for around 124 minutes in the Premier League this season.
Although this isn't a long period of time, there are suspicions that Haller will not be a success in this role, just as he wasn't when he led the 4-2-3-1.
Although this isn't a long period of time, there are suspicions that Haller will not be a success in this role, just as he wasn't when he led the 4-2-3-1.
So could West Ham mirror the attacking front three of Frankfurt with our current squad? It's possible.
The Rebić role could be a position that could be filled by someone like Pablo Fornals or Manuel Lanzini. A creative player who can play centrally behind the strikers.
The Rebić role could be a position that could be filled by someone like Pablo Fornals or Manuel Lanzini. A creative player who can play centrally behind the strikers.
The Jović role is one which would be harder to fill with our current squad, as we lack an out-and-out striker. Chicharito is someone who I suspect would have filled this void pretty well.
With Antonio out, our options could be Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma or even Yarmolenko.
With Antonio out, our options could be Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma or even Yarmolenko.
We could, in theory, line up with our usual midfield duo, with Fornals tucked in behind a front two of Haller and Benrahma/Bowen, who have both on occassion played as a striker, though not either of their natural positions.
Playing with these two players off of him should allow Haller to drop in and be able to help in the attacking build-up without looking isolated.
This could be even more effective once Antonio returns from injury, although it leaves Bowen & Benrahma without a position.
This could be even more effective once Antonio returns from injury, although it leaves Bowen & Benrahma without a position.
On at least two occasions against Liverpool, Haller managed to control the ball and flick it on well, without a real end result. His support on Saturday, however, was coming from wider positions. Support from two more central forwards would make his link-up play more dangerous.
Unfortunately, it is more complex than just sticking Haller in for Antonio and expecting the same results.
It would be like putting a square peg into a round hole.
We either continue to do this whilst we wait for our round peg to return, or we create a square hole for Haller.
It would be like putting a square peg into a round hole.
We either continue to do this whilst we wait for our round peg to return, or we create a square hole for Haller.
The closest that Haller has come to playing in a system that resembled his Frankfurt days was when we beat Southampton 1-0 last season.
Fornals played with both Haller and Antonio up top, who were both a handful on the night, with Haller scoring the only goal of the game.
Fornals played with both Haller and Antonio up top, who were both a handful on the night, with Haller scoring the only goal of the game.
So what next for Haller?
Either way, we need to find a solution. Either we find a system that suits him, or we let him go. West Ham isn't a club that can afford to have a £45m £110k-per-week striker sitting on the bench for the most part.
Haller's case is not an isolated one.
Either way, we need to find a solution. Either we find a system that suits him, or we let him go. West Ham isn't a club that can afford to have a £45m £110k-per-week striker sitting on the bench for the most part.
Haller's case is not an isolated one.
There are many examples of high-quality players who have been a success at one club, then have failed to fit into the system of another.
Haller is a quality player, and if he were to leave, I am in no doubt that he would find success in the right system at the right club.
Haller is a quality player, and if he were to leave, I am in no doubt that he would find success in the right system at the right club.
P.S. I'm available if it doesn't work out for Moyesey @WestHam
