As the saying goes, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics—but in West Ham’s case, the latest data reveals exactly what many fans suspected: Julen Lopetegui’s team is far too easy to play against.
The damning evidence comes from Statsbomb, who have cleverly analysed how much space each Premier League side allows opponents in possession. They’ve illustrated their findings with a graphic dividing the pitch into 24 zones, highlighting how quickly teams apply pressure.
Zones range from dark red, indicating aggressive pressing or immediate tackles, to dark blue, which signals a team as relaxed as if they’re enjoying a tea break and a fag before engaging. The results for West Ham? Alarmingly blue.
The Hammers rank worst in the Premier League for pressing or closing down, as evidenced by a graphic that starkly contrasts our lack of intensity with teams like Spurs and Bournemouth, who press aggressively across the pitch. Newcastle United, for example, wait until their half to engage, while Aston Villa and Brighton defend from the front.
West Ham’s tactic, if it can be called that, seems to involve giving opponents a carte blanche after you Claude cunning tactic. The statistics and the eye test align perfectly: the Hammers routinely allow opponents ample time and space to pick out unchallenged passes.
It’s a depressing indictment of the team’s lack of defensive basics. Either the players are ignoring instructions and being bloody lazy, or worse, they are deliberately being told by Lopetegui to avoid contesting possession urgently. Whatever the reason, the data paints a worrying picture of a team in tactical disarray
