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Fornals, Antonio and Bowen provide West Ham with dynamic attack

By Scott Johnson

West Ham United's English striker Jarrod Bowen (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with West Ham United's French striker Sebastien Haller (C) and West Ham United's Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Southampton at The London Stadium, in east London on February 29, 2020. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's English striker Jarrod Bowen (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with West Ham United's French striker Sebastien Haller (C) and West Ham United's Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Southampton at The London Stadium, in east London on February 29, 2020. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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West Ham recorded a much-needed win over Southampton at the weekend. What was most amazing though, is that we really deserved it, and our new look attack was to thank.

After fans had been crying out for a dynamic attack supported by incisive passing and running West Ham’s much-needed win came after switching to a dynamic system supported by incisive passing and running. Crazy, right? The attack, which pivoted on Haller, was transformed by allowing Antonio to play closer to the Frenchman, and deploying Bowen and Fornals as the wider midfielders, knowing they would make runs towards goal rather than into the corners.

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Whilst Haller looked a completely different player, acknowledged by Louis Pye earlier in the week, it was the change in supporting personnel that really helped. Whilst many sites will list us as having lined up as a 4-2-3-1, we actually reverted to a favored Pellegrini shape of 4-2-2-2. Declan Rice and Noble remained our base, and whilst Fornals and Jarrod Bowen took up wide positions, they attacked the box from the top rather than the side.

Bowen did this with 6 dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch except for Haller, and Pablo Fornals with incisive passing and sharp follow movement, freeing space to pass, shoot or move into. But it was arguably Antonio who was the most eye-catching.

By playing Michail Antonio as a free striker, able to run either side of Haller, he was able to drift and follow the ball into dangerous areas as he pleased, meaning no single defender could get comfortable. His goal was well taken, and he should have had another, but he also grabbed an assist and led the match stats with 3 key passes.

Rather than being a one-dimensional threat out on the wing, he was able to influence all areas of the game. When we had the ball he was constantly on the move, creating space for others. When we didn’t have much of it he was our outlet and able to punish the Saints on the break. His speed also helped us win the ball far higher up the pitch than we had done recently as well.

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This change has been needed for a long time, and I would gladly see us line up line this against all sides, be them, Liverpool or Norwich. We need to play our game and understand how we’re going to damage others. This is modern football, and I hope we see a lot more of it in the coming matches because momentum like this won’t come along again too easily.