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A short thread on some of the key features of West Ham against Villa, including West Ham nullifying Villa’s left, Lingard's outstanding debut and the organisation and intensity of their press.
Defensive Shape 
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WHU doubled up brilliantly on both sides. Completely nullified AVL threat down their left 1st half.
Coufal & Fredericks in constant communication to deal with the interchanges between Targett & Grealish, while Dawson stuck very tight to Watkins.
:WHU doubled up brilliantly on both sides. Completely nullified AVL threat down their left 1st half.
Coufal & Fredericks in constant communication to deal with the interchanges between Targett & Grealish, while Dawson stuck very tight to Watkins.
West Ham in possession:
Rice drops in either side of the centre-backs to pick-up the ball. Cresswell & Coufal move higher
Lingard roams between the lines. Benrahma drifts inside from the left.
Souček moves forward through the right channel looking to make runs behind.
Rice drops in either side of the centre-backs to pick-up the ball. Cresswell & Coufal move higher
Lingard roams between the lines. Benrahma drifts inside from the left.
Souček moves forward through the right channel looking to make runs behind.
Lingard
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Constantly looked to roam into the pockets behind Villa’s midfield line, & there were some really good combinations with Antonio/Benrahma. His body position when receiving was always great.
His pressing & running in behind was also excellent.
:Constantly looked to roam into the pockets behind Villa’s midfield line, & there were some really good combinations with Antonio/Benrahma. His body position when receiving was always great.
His pressing & running in behind was also excellent.
Problems down Villa’s left: Lack of defensive cover from Barkley & Grealish meant Luis was often pulled over to cover. WHU could create overloads with Coufal, Fredericks & Souček.
The intensity and organisation of WHU’s press was excellent all game. This sequence summed it up best; Lingard’s screening, Benrahma’s workrate and Mings being forced into the long ball.
As you can see below Mings was constantly forced into passes long, and Dawson was particularly outstanding winning his duels high-up against Watkins who is usually so strong back to goal.
Moyes deserves so much credit for the work he is doing at West Ham. He has built a brilliantly balanced and flexible side that can do both sides of the game well.
@danwoff98 @WestHam_Central @WestHam_fl @ExWHUemployee @VillaAnalytics @7500toHolte @TheHList
#WHU #AVL
#WHU #AVL
