West Ham United vs Manchester United

Saturday 22nd March 2014

17:30

Boleyn Ground

West Ham United vs Manchester United

Analysis

So our recent good form appears to be over after two consecutive defeats. And with the reigning champions rolling into town this weekend, it'd be sensible to expect the worst.

However, Manchester United haven't exactly been in the best of form this season, and we've recently recaptured our home form with three home wins on the bounce.

So maybe we should be a little optimistic?

Danger Man

Though Manchester United have been below par under David Moyes so far, they still possess and array of talents who West Ham should be mindful of.

Robin van Persie has made a nuisance of himself against West Ham in the recent years, Adnan Januzaj grabbed a goal in the opposite fixture back in December, as did Danny Welbeck & Ashley Young, and Juan Mata is a challenge for any side to deal with.

But the main man for United this season has been Wayne Rooney.

We at West Ham should be all too aware of Rooney's abilities already, with the forward scoring (9) or creating (4) 13 goals in his 15 career appearances against the Hammers.

The England striker has been a talisman for his club this season, leading both their scoring and assist charts in the Premier League. In his 24 league appearances this season, Rooney has bagged himself 11 goals, and put a further 10 on a plate for his team mates. In fact, he's been such a force this season that he either creates a chance or has a shot on goal once every 18 minutes.

The images below show the goals Rooney has scored in the league this season, and the chances he has created..

http://www.squawka.com/players/wayne-rooney

How Do You Stop Them?

The key to stopping United this season seems clear: force them wide.

United have struggled with creating goals from wide positions on a number of occasions this season, with many sides dealing with their relentless crossing with relative ease.

To date, United have put in more crosses (28) per game than any other team in the league, but have relatively few assists from their widemen and fullbacks. Of those players, only Patrice Evra (3), Antonio Valencia (2), Rafael (2) and Adnan Januzaj (1) have managed league assists this season.

And adding Luis Nani and Ashley Young to that group doesn't improve their accuracy much either. Between them, the six players have attempted 436 crosses this season, with just 91 reaching a team mate.

In recent times, both Fulham and Stoke City have managed impressive results against Manchester United by adopting a similar approach. By congesting the middle of the park, United are unable to get players like Rooney and Mata involved in dangerous areas, so end up going wide more regularly than they would like.

The image below shows the average positions of both the Fulham and Stoke XI's in their performances against United. You can see that Fulham played a very congested, tight game, with a number of bodies in the middle of the park. Stoke played a slightly more expansive game than Fulham (as would be expected from a home team), but still kept Glenn Whelan (#6) and Charlie Adam (#16) deep in the middle of the park, whilst their centre halves and right fullback stayed very deep.

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/720721/MatchReport

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/720733/MatchReport

You'll also notice that Stoke's left side was an important attacking outlet against United with Erik Pieters (#3) playing almost as a winger alongside Marko Arnautovic (#10). This option becomes viable against United when they play Juan Mata on the right flank. The Spaniard is not a traditional winger, often drifting into the middle of the park.

Against Stoke, Whelan and Adam were in the space that Mata wanted to occupy, meaning he struggled to be an effective creative force. He also left Pieters unoccupied for large portions of the game, allowing the Dutch fullback to press high up the pitch.

Weakest Link

United's weakest area this season has been abundantly clear. For a side with such success over recent times, their central midfield is woefully inadequate. Other than defensive midfielder Michael Carrick, all United's central midfielders have struggled to find form this season.

In terms of creativity, it has been appalling. Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Marouane Fellaini and Ryan Giggs have shared a paltry two goals this season, and have failed to register a single assist.

Only Giggs averages more than one chance created per 90 minutes, and the foursome have only managed to muster 52 shots between them - at a rate of one shot every 66.6 minutes.

http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix

Manchester United are never an easy side to take on. After a good midweek result, they may just be buoyed into a positive performance against West Ham on Saturday evening. But if there was ever an opportunity to beat the Red Devils, this was it.

 Head to Head 

34% Head to Head Win % 46%

43 Won 59

26 Drawn 26

59 Lost 43

168 Goals Scored 236

236 Goals Conceded 168

 Recent Form 

W W W W L L Last 6 D W L W L W

10 Goals Scored 8

5 Goals Conceded 5

  

D L L W W W Home/Away Form L L D W L W

11 Goals Scored 7

10 Goals Conceded 7

  

 Form Player (excl. GK) 

 (Last 6 League) 

Kevin Nolan - Michael Carrick

6 Appearances 6

498 Minutes Played 540

  

195 Sum Squawka Performance Score 240

33 Average Squawka Performance Rating 40

  

118 Passes Attempted 460

86 Completed 414

73% Success Rate 90%

  

7 Chances Created 5

1 Assists 0

  

8 Attempts on Goal 7

7 On Target 3

5 Goals 1

1 Take Ons Attempted 2

0 Successful Take Ons 2

0% Success Rate 100%

  

22 Tackles Made 18

10 Successful Tackles 6

45% Success Rate 33%

  

3 Interceptions 16

14 Clearances 14

2 Blocks 1

3 Defensive Actions Per Game 5

  

9 Aerial Duels 10

2 Won 5

22% Success Rate 50%

0 Defensive Errors 0

0 Leading to a Goal 0

  

 Last Meeting 

21 December 2013

1-0 Danny Welbeck 26'

2-0 Adnan Januzaj 36'

3-0 Ashley Young 72'

3-1 Carlton Cole 81'

  

4-2-3-1 Starting Formation 4-2-3-1

Adrián - David De Gea

Guy Demel - Rafael

(75') James Collins - Chris Smalling

James Tomkins - Jonny Evans

George McCartney - Patrice Evra (80')

Mark Noble - Phil Jones

(62') Matthew Taylor - Tom Cleverley

Mohamed Diamé - Antonio Valencia

Ravel Morrison - Wayne Rooney

(71') Matt Jarvis - Adnan Januzaj (69')

Modibo Maïga - Danny Welbeck (52')

 Subs 

Jussi Jääskeläinen - Sam Johnstone

(75') Rǎzvan Raţ - Alexander Buttner (80')

Joey O'Brien - Ryan Giggs

(62') Jack Collison - Ashley Young (69')

Alou Diarra - Darren Fletcher

Joe Cole - Shinji Kagawa

(71') Carlton Cole - Javier Hernandez (52')

 Absentees 

 Injured/Doubtful 

West Ham United: Joey O'Brien, Marco Borriello

Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Luis Nani

 Suspensions 

West Ham United: n/a

Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic

  Opposition Last Time Out (League)

vs Liverpool

 Goals Scored: 0

 Goals Conceded: 3

 Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1

  David De Gea

  Rafael  Phil Jones  Nemanja Vidic (77')  Patrice Evra

  Marouane Fellaini (76')  Michael Carrick

  Juan Mata (87')  Wayne Rooney  Adnan Januzaj (76')

  Robin van Persie

 subs: Anders Lindegaard

  Rio Ferdinand (87')

  Ashley Young

  Tom Cleverley (76')

  Antonio Valencia

  Shinji Kagawa

  Danny Welbeck (76')

  

 Best Player: Wayne Rooney

 Squawka Rating: 19

 Worst Player: Nemanja Vidic

 Squawka Rating: -50

  

 Top 5's (Min 5 Apps) 

 Goals Scored 

Kevin Nolan 7 - 11 Robin van Persie

Carlton Cole 6 - 11 Wayne Rooney

Joe Cole 3 - 9 Danny Welbeck

Ravel Morrison* 3 - 3 Adnan Januzaj

Mohamed Diamé 3 - 2 Ashley Young

 Assists 

Kevin Nolan 5 - 10 Wayne Rooney

Andy Carroll 3 - 3 Juan Mata

Matt Jarvis 3 - 3 Robin van Persie

Mark Noble 3 - 3 Patrice Evra

Stewart Downing 2 - 2 Javier Hernandez

 Passing Accuracy 

Mark Noble 82% - 90% Juan Mata

Jack Collison 81% - 90% Tom Cleverley

Stewart Downing 81% - 89% Darren Fletcher

Joe Cole 80% - 89% Marouane Fellaini

Joey O'Brien 79% - 89% Rio Ferdinand

 Chances Created per game 

Stewart Downing 1.7 - 2.9 Juan Mata

Mark Noble 1.6 - 2 Wayne Rooney

Matt Jarvis 1.1 - 1.4 Luis Nani

Kevin Nolan 1 - 1.2 Patrice Evra

Andy Carroll 0.8 - 1 Adnan Januzaj

 Successful Dribbles per game 

Mohamed Diamé 1.8 - 2.8 Luis Nani

Mark Noble 1.1 - 1.6 Adnan Januzaj

Guy Demel 0.9 - 1.5 Wayne Rooney

Stewart Downing 0.8 - 1.2 Antonio Valencia

Matt Jarvis 0.6 - 0.9 Rafael

 Tackles per game 

Mark Noble 2.8 - 2.7 Marouane Fellaini

Mohamed Diamé 2.3 - 2.7 Phil Jones

Matthew Taylor 2.1 - 2.4 Patrice Evra

James Collins 1.9 - 2.4 Rafael

Kevin Nolan 1.8 - 2.2 Tom Cleverley

 Aerial Duels Won per game 

Andy Carroll 6.7 - 3.9 Nemanja Vidic

James Tomkins 4 - 3.1 Marouane Fellaini

James Collins 3.5 - 2.2 Chris Smalling

Carlton Cole 2.7 - 2.1 Patrice Evra

Winston Reid 2.4 - 2.1 Jonny Evans

 Manager 

Sam Allardyce - David Moyes

41.2% Current Club Win % 54.5%

52 Won 24

32 Drawn 8

42 Lost 12

  

39.9% Managerial Career Win % 44.5%

346 Won 355

231 Drawn 205

289 Lost 236

7 Sides Managed 3

2 League Titles 1

0 Cup Wins 1

  

Preston North End First Managerial Role Preston North End

30/09/1992 Start Date 12/01/1998

21y 172d Experience 16y 69d

Manchester United vs West Ham United

Saturday 21st December

15:00

Old Trafford

Manchester United vs West Ham United

Analysis

I think it's safe to say that most West Ham fans are looking forward to this game a little more now than they were on Wednesday morning.

Whilst we might usually expect a tough game with little to show in terms of points from a visit to Old Trafford, the Capital One Cup quarter final victory over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek has seen a surge of optimism come back to most Hammers.

Manchester United also progressed through to the semi finals on that night, but it seems that now could be a good time to face United. Okay, so they've now won their last three games on the spin having recorded back to back home league losses against Everton and Newcastle, but they certainly haven't been at their best recently.

And the champions, like ourselves, have a number of key players missing. It's possible that Wayne Rooney may feature, but the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie are definite absentees.

Whilst both sides have players missing, one area that West Ham are far better stocked than the Red Devils is in the middle of the park. The expected midfield triumvirate of Mark Noble, Mohamed Diamé and Ravel Morrison are ably backed up by the trio of Jack Collison, Matthew Taylor and Alou Diarra, who showed on Wednesday that they have the capability to step in if required.

On the other side, United have just Tom Cleverley and Ryan Giggs fit as recognised central midfielders - although Phil Jones could well step into the middle of the park again.

This area is the key.

After last weeks bore draw with Sunderland, I wrote about the importance of Mo Diamé to the middle of the park. He attempted 11 take ons last weekend, continuously picking up the ball and driving at the heart of the opposition. This style of play could be crucial on Saturday, as the core of United's midfield is undoubtedly their weakest area.

The table below shows a breakdown of key information for the main central midfielders used by United this season. As you can see all of them are more than able to keep the ball - Ryan Giggs posts the lowest pass completion rate with 81%. However, there are obvious areas in which they struggle. Only Jones (who has also played in defence on a number of occasions) and Shinji Kagawa have a tackle success rate of more than 50%. The absent Michael Carrick is the only one to have created more than a chance per game for team mates, and Tom Cleverley's goal last weekend is the first time any of the six have managed a league goal this season.

This is a very ordinary Manchester United midfield, and an area that West Ham must look to expose, and attack.

Despite possessing a rather ordinary midfield, United are more than capable of hurting any team they come up against. West Ham will hope that Wayne Rooney will sit this one out alongside Robin van Persie, but that's not to suggest there aren't dangermen in their side.

Danny Welbeck bagged a brace last week, and I hope it's him who lines up against us tomorrow. Although he has quadrupled his goal tally from last season, the England forward isn't a prolific forward. Since the start of last season, Welbeck has made 37 Premier League appearances, scoring 5 goals (four of those came in two games, so he's failed to score in 34 of his last 37 appearances). In that time, he has attempted 1.1 shots per game, and has a conversion rate of 13%.

Compare this to the other striking option, Javier Hernandez.

Chicarito has played in 30 Premier League games since the start of last season, and scored 11 goals - particularly impressive when you consider that he started just 12 of those game. He takes slightly more shots per game than Welbeck (1.4), but his conversion rate is twice as good, sitting at 26%.

The image below shows the goals that Hernandez scored last season. As you can see, all of them came from within the penalty box. If the Mexican has a glimpse of a chance in the box, he usually takes it.

http://www.squawka.com/players/javier-hernandez

As we saw at White Hart Lane in midweek, West Ham are capable of taking the game to big teams away from home. The chances are, we won't get any points from this game - that's what the bookmakers are saying, anyway - so why not go for it? Why not attack? Let's expose Manchester United for what they are, a team in decline.

Cup wins are great, and the mood has certainly been lifted around the place. But we need points. When better to start than now?

 Head to Head 

46% Head to Head Win % 34%

58 Won 43

26 Drawn 26

43 Lost 58

233 Goals Scored 167

167 Goals Conceded 233

 Recent Form 

D L L W W W Last 6 L W L L D W

8 Goals Scored 6

4 Goals Conceded 9

  

W W W L L W Home/Away Form D W L L L W

9 Goals Scored 6

4 Goals Conceded 9

  

 Form Player (Last 6 League) 

Wayne Rooney - James Tomkins

5 Appearances 6

444 Minutes Played 506

  

182 Sum Squawka Performance Score 151

36 Average Squawka Performance Rating 25

  

182 Passes Attempted 199

147 Completed 149

81% Success Rate 75%

  

13 Chances Created 2

3 Assists 0

  

14 Attempts on Goal 1

7 On Target 1

3 Goals 0

15 Take Ons Attempted 2

7 Successful Take Ons 1

47% Success Rate 50%

  

12 Tackles Made 18

5 Successful Tackles 11

42% Success Rate 61%

  

7 Interceptions 8

6 Clearances 73

3 Blocks 4

3 Defensive Actions Per Game 14

  

14 Aerial Duels 48

6 Won 38

43% Success Rate 79%

0 Defensive Errors 0

0 Leading to a Goal 0

  

 Last Meeting 

17 April 2013

1-0 Ricardo Vâz Te 16'

1-1 Antonio Valencia 31'

2-1 Mohamed Diamé 55'

2-2 Robin van Persie 77'

4-2-3-1 Starting Formation 4-2-3-1

David de Gea - Jussi Jääskeläinen

Rafael da Silva - Guy Demel

Rio Ferdinand - James Collins

Nemanja Vidic - Winston Reid

Patrice Evra - Joey O'Brien

Michael Carrick - (67') Gary O'Neil

Phil Jones - (82') Mohamed Diamé

Antonio Valencia - Ricardo Vâz Te

Wayne Rooney (71') - (82') Kevin Nolan

Shinji Kagawa (79') - Matt Jarvis

Robin van Persie - Andy Carroll

 Subs 

Ben Amos - Stephen Henderson

Jonny Evans - Emanuel Pogatetz

Ryan Giggs (71') - (82') Jack Collison

Luis Nani - (67') Mark Noble

Tom Cleverley - (82') Matthew Taylor

Javier Hernandez (79') - Carlton Cole

Danny Welbeck - Modibo Maïga

 Absentees 

 Injured/Doubtful 

Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie

West Ham United: Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Stewart Downing, Ricardo Vâz Te, Mladen Petrić, Andy Carroll

 Suspensions 

Manchester United: n/a

West Ham United: Kevin Nolan

  Opposition Last Time Out

vs Stoke City

 Goals Scored: 2

 Goals Conceded: 0

 Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1

  David de Gea

  Rafael da Silva  Chris Smalling  Jonny Evans  Patrice Evra

  Phil Jones  Anderson (58')

  Antonio Valencia  Tom Cleverley  Ashley Young

  Danny Welbeck (82')

 subs:

Sam Johnstone

  Alex Buttner

  Luis Nani

  Darren Fletcher (82')

  Shinji Kagawa

  Wilfried Zaha

  Javier Hernandez (58')

  

  

 Top 5's (Min 5 Apps) 

 Goals Scored 

Wayne Rooney 8 - 3 Ravel Morrison

Robin van Persie 7 - 2 Ricardo Vâz Te

Danny Welbeck 2 - 2 Joe Cole

Adnan Junzaj 1 - 1 Carlton Cole

Javier Hernandez 1 - 1 Winston Reid

 Assists 

Wayne Rooney 6 - 2 Matt Jarvis

Robin van Persie 2 - 2 Ravel Morrison

Antonio Valencia 2 - 2 Kevin Nolan

Patrice Evra 2 - 1 Stewart Downing

Javier Hernandez 1 - 1 Mohamed Diamé

 Passing Accuracy 

Tom Cleverley 89% - 86% Ravel Morrison

Marouane Fellaini 89% - 84% Mark Noble

Rio Ferdinand 89% - 83% Jack Collison

Michael Carrick 87% - 82% Stewart Downing

Jonny Evans 87% - 81% Joe Cole

 Chances Created per game 

Wayne Rooney 2.1 - 2.1 Stewart Downing

Luis Nani 1.4 - 1.9 Mark Noble

Michael Carrick 1.2 - 1.2 Matt Jarvis

Patrice Evra 1.2 - 1 Kevin Nolan

Antonio Valencia 1 - 0.9 Rǎzvan Raţ

 Successful Dribbles per game 

Luis Nani 2.8 - 2.5 Mohamed Diamé

Adnan Januzaj 2.1 - 2.2 Ravel Morrison

Wayne Rooney 1.6 - 1.7 Mark Noble

Antonio Valencia 1.4 - 0.9 Stewart Downing

Robin van Persie 1 - 0.9 Guy Demel

 Tackles per game 

Patrice Evra 2.7 - 2.8 Mohamed Diamé

Phil Jones 2.5 - 2.7 James Collins

Tom Cleverley 2.3 - 2.6 Mark Noble

Chris Smalling 2.2 - 2 Kevin Nolan

Antonio Valencia 1.9 - 2 Winston Reid

 Aerial Duels Won per game 

Nemanja Vidic 4.1 - 6.5 Modibo Maïga

Marouane Fellaini 2.9 - 4.9 James Tomkins

Patrice Evra 2.3 - 4.3 James Collins

Chris Smalling 2.2 - 3.2 Winston Reid

Jonny Evans 1.9 - 2 Carlton Cole

 Manager 

David Moyes - Sam Allardyce

56% Current Club Win % 40.5%

14 Won 45

6 Drawn 30

5 Lost 36

  

44.4% Managerial Career Win % 39.8%

345 Won 339

203 Drawn 229

229 Lost 283

1 League Titles 2

1 Cup Wins 0