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West Ham United’s midfield: The controlling factor away at Brighton

By Jeremiah Carson

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United avoids Bruno Salter of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United at American Express Community Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United avoids Bruno Salter of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United at American Express Community Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /
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A Midfield that attacks

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United is challenged by Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on August 10, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United is challenged by Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on August 10, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

The amazing part about how Pellegrini and Co have set up this midfield is that they have been trained to both attack and defend, and well. The before mentioned Wilshere and Anderson as with anyone else that’s playing on Saturday will have to step up once more to be able to cover back and then get right back up the pitch on the counter.

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Just as world-class that Declan Rice is, so are the like of the before mentioned Anderson, Lanzini, Fornals, and Wilshere all having international play under their belts. Not far off from them are Antonio, Yarmolenko, and Snodgrass. Like a well-oiled machine, once it’s running, lookout.

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90min.com did a study back during the 2016/17 season to see who ran the most distance during a match. The top ten were all either wing-backs or midfielders. With that being said, West Ham’s midfield cannot stop at just defending.

The majority of the preseason saw the Hammers scoring in groves which left the defense vulnerable but the fans happy with the balls going into the back of the net. West Ham tried to continue that play against Man City but it was stifled. However, that must still be the way ahead for the attacking side of the midfield.

The Hammers will have to be leery of Brighton’s formation moves on and off the ball as they go from a 5-4-1 in defense to a 3-4-3 in attack meaning Anderson and whoever is on the right, Fornals or Antonio will have to match with the wing-backs most of the game.

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That will leave Lanzini and Wilshere to cover the midfield and be ready to set up a counter when prompted.  This game will be won or lost on the play of the midfield but more importantly, the play of the wingers and how they can help defend and yet attack almost simultaneously.