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West Ham’s Haller: Lazy Lost Cause or Statistically Sublime Number Nine?

By Jonathan Wren

West Ham's Sebastien Haller. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
West Ham's Sebastien Haller. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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West Ham record signing Sebastien Haller arrived during the 2019 transfer window with great expectations.

While Sebastien Haller so far has failed to live up to the price tag’s expectations at West Ham, a valid case can be made that the French striker is only as good as the system he plays in, and the service that he receives.

Eintracht Frankfurt received £45 million for a striker who lit the Bundesliga on fire while combining for 24 goals during the 2018-19 season (15 goals, 9 assists), second only to Robert Lewandowski.

The 1.9 meter Frenchman comes with broad shoulders and inspires an equally broad range of opinions among Hammers fans.

Green Street Hammers West Ham Group Chat:

Scott: I’m not Hallers biggest fan, but the level of slander he’s getting in Twitter is crazy. The more I read, the more pro Haller I get haha.

Henry: The way people talk about him it’s like they would prefer Carew or Piquionne.

Jonathan: I rather enjoyed 40-year-old Carlton Cole’s testimonial this past weekend, can’t wait to see how CC does against Fulham.

Scott: …. The man has 5 goals in 6 competitive games this season. Granted he’s scored those against lower league sides, but apart from that he’s had two-minute cameos and faced the champions /league leaders. What more is he supposed to do?

Jonathan: Goals shmoals.

Scott: Touché?

Jonathan: He had 7 in 34 last season…. As for more, how about break a sweat? The £45 million price tag poisons the pot a bit as well. I’d probably be talking about “potential” too if he was bought on the cheap, but I just expect more.

Scott: Not his fault about the price tag!

Jonathan: I’m just a big Antonio guy, big Vardy guy, strikers who help the team. I can’t stand watching him trot around. I feel like every closeout he’s just checking a box.

Scott: Just because he isn’t as quick or tireless as Antonio, doesn’t mean he isn’t working. But that’s never been where his impact has come from.

Jonathan: I don’t like his body language.

Scott: Some of the best players in the world don’t always look involved, doesn’t mean they’re not or that they aren’t capable.

Jonathan: It’s almost more frustrating because you know he has more to give, and for whatever reason isn’t giving it

Scott: Haller did more per 90 than Vardy/Antonio outside of goals last season in terms of mucking in. He struggled in the system regarding his playstyle but still won challenges and got involved on the sticky end.

Jonathan: Touché, but I feel like this is a great example of how the stats lied. We didn’t start winning until he saw fewer minutes.

Scott: Well stats don’t lie, they just don’t tell the whole story. We started winning because we played a system that suited the squad, and Antonio is a much much better fit for us in this current style. But Haller’s doing the same thing he was doing when we bought him for 45m! It’s not his fault we overpaid.

Jonathan: Also check out Haller’s poor stats from last game regarding service. Not doing my greater anti-Haller agenda any justice, but this also furthers the argument that stats can lie, as I bet half those passes to him were goal kicks and Allardici-Esque CB hoofs.

Scott: He didn’t have a good game, certainly, but he’s been given so little time in this system and team, which doesn’t play to his strengths at all, so I just don’t think it’s fair to judge him as useless. I certainly wouldn’t have bought him! I just don’t think we’ll ever see the best of Haller at West Ham, and I would like to sell/replace him, but that doesn’t make him a bad player or worthy of fan anger.

Jonathan: 1. Fan anger is never about worthiness.

Jeff: Guys. This is good content!  It should be formatted into a point-counterpoint article.

Jonathan: 2: Shut up Jeff, you’ve ruined my list. 3: Don’t hedge your argument Scott.

Scott: You mean avoid nuance at all costs? The guy isn’t missing sitters or failing to do what he did before he joined. We’re just telling a striker that we paid 45m for that he needs to do things completely differently to the way he’s done it all his life.

Jonathan: 4: To your point, according to my Eye Test, the potential is there. But for it to manifest, we may have to rework our system. That would be a painful test run because I feel as if, with the wingbacks, we have FINALLY found a formation that fits our personnel.

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Scott: 100% agree, I like this system and don’t want to change it just to suit Haller because of the rest of the squad suits this style.

Jonathan: I’d settle for some Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as long as it resulted in more Soldier from Haller and less Tailor – a model for the throwback uniforms is all he’s been good for lately

Jeff: Me shut up? I’m making dinner and you’re doing a live “Old Man Yelling at Clouds” Meme.

Jonathan: All football arguments will eventually include a T-Rex impression – an angry dinosaur yelling about how stats are useless and killing football.

Scott: So you admit I’m right.

Jonathan: I’ll be watching the West Ham vs. Fulham game with my eyes. Have fun refreshing your spreadsheets on Saturday.

Scott: As someone with a masters degree in Financial Mathematics, I most certainly will. Maybe Benrahma is the key to unlocking Haller’s use against sides that aren’t champions of the league?

Jonathan: I’ll let you know next week after applying my Masters in Ophthalmology.

Everyone: *Crickets*

Jonathan: Get it! It’s an eye test joke!

Scott: …. On that note, hope you enjoyed the first and last insight into the Green Street Hammers Group Chat.

Next. West Ham Must Be Prepared for Declan Rice Bids. dark

So as you can tell the Green Street Hammers group chat is full of expert analysis on current topics such as Haller’s position in the West Ham squad.