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West Ham Stat Watch: Hammers Rank Low On Some Key Stats

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United holds off Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on September 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United holds off Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on September 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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It is a well documented fact that West Ham have not started the season in particularly great fashion. You may have even noticed there are a few articles on this website about the fact. There are some telling statistics pointing to the decline in the Hammers start to the season. All available on squawka.com.

Defensively

Now it may have slipped your attention, but at the moment West Ham are proving a bit leaky in defence. Some of the goals we’ve conceded make it look like our defence have never met each other before. Or played football.

So it is no surprise to note that we have currently conceded the most goals in the league. In fact there are only three teams that have conceded more goals since the start of the season than we have in the last three games (11). Leaky is a bit of an understatement here.

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We have also received 3rd most yellow cards so far this season, but it’s not all due to defensive actions. 7 of those yellow cards are for ‘other’ offences outside of tackling, usually meaning dissent. That seems a fairly pointless thing to be booked for when you’re struggling at the back.

It’s not all bad defensively, as we currently rank top for the number of interceptions made so far. This shows that when we are defending we do break up play well, but ranking in the bottom half for interceptions and shots blocked probably indicates that we are doing most of our defending too far up the pitch. Not much is being stopped once it breaks through our midfield.

Going Forward

In the offensive side of the game it also shows we are not up to speed. Certainly not like we were last season. We rank in the bottom half of the table in passes attempted and completed, indicating poor movement in the middle of the park when we’re on the ball. Going too direct in the final third is killing our forward momentum.

We are also struggling to convert the chances we create. Last season we had the most shots off target and it looks like we’re heading that way again. Our shot accuracy is currently the lowest in the league, coming in at 27%. That is not even our conversion rate, but simply the ones we are hitting the target with.

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If we’re only hitting the target with 1/4 of our shots, and let’s be harsh on the goalkeeper and say he is only going to save 50% of all shots on target, then we need to be having 8 shots in the game before we’ve scored! That’s a crazy way of looking at how much we’re wasting attacking chances. Chances created is a stat that we excel in, but if we can’t hit the target it’s pointless.

West Ham’s Targets

Defensively it’s all about teamwork. The raw stats are there to say we’re not doing too badly, but it’s the times where we’re cut right open that’s killing us.

Going forward there needs to be more movement. I know why Bilic doesn’t like Antonio on the wing, and that is because he is too direct. Other wingers come inside as well an improve the linkup play, and that will help us keep hold of the ball and move it forward.

Next: Is Bilic Too Soft On West Ham Players?

Strikers need to be put on more shooting practice. Every footballer knows the minimum to expect from a shot is to hit the target. If you do that you give yourself and a teammate a chance. Without that you’re struggling to get anywhere.