‘It’s unbelievable’ says Jamie Carragher as he gives West Ham some much needed perspective after the Brighton mauling.
It’s been a few days now since the Hammers horror on the seaside that was the 4-0 defeat to Brighton.
And for many West Ham fans the manner of the performance and result still stings.
Supporters are understandably angry, the pressure has ramped up on David Moyes and the players and rumours abound over unrest at the club.
It does not make for a great combination given West Ham must pull themselves together for three games in a week that will shape what the rest of the campaign looks like.
After the heavy loss Moyes suggested his players were tired after ‘putting a lot in’ to the FA Cup defeat at Man United three days prior (Football.London).
In fairness to West Ham’s players they have not been making too many excuses in the aftermath of the match.
In fact it has been very quiet on the West Ham front with the team perhaps realising it is time for actions rather than words after the club’s hardcore travelling support turned on them and the manager for the first time since Moyes’ return to east London in 2020.
But now Carragher has given West Ham some much needed perspective after their Brighton mauling.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher provided an in-depth analysis of Brighton following their easy victory over West Ham.
And it really was eye-opening.
‘It’s unbelievable’ Jamie Carragher gives West Ham some much needed perspective after Brighton mauling
Carragher, armed with some astonishing statistics, points out that Brighton are the best team in the entire league when it comes to possession with only Man City and Arsenal coming close.
West Ham captain Declan Rice said Brighton played him and his teammates off the pitch and admitted it was ‘demoralising’ (Sky Sports).
Well Carragher also highlights that the Seagulls are doing that to every single team they play and have been all season.
So much so they are the best passing team in the league alongside Man City and Arsenal too.
Carragher’s analysis effectively underlines that Brighton have perhaps been a top striker away from a genuine title challenge.
That’s how good and consistent their style and approach is under Roberto De Zerbi.
“What they’re doing, they’re playing like a top team,” Carragher said in his Sky Sports analysis, which you can watch in the post below.
“Sometimes you look at teams where they’re maybe punching above their weight and you look at the underlying numbers and you think ‘how long can that continue for?’ or ‘Will that be a problem for them next season?’…
“They’re up there alongside the two best teams in the country (in terms of possession and passing sequences)… Their possession (average is 62.4%) is the best in the league, we’ve got Man City (in the league) and yet Brighton are the best, it’s unbelievable the job that these are doing and how they’re going about it.”
Carragher’s analysis certainly gives West Ham some much needed perspective. Brighton may have embarrassed them at the weekend. But they are doing this to most teams.
The Seagull’s have the second most 10 plus passing sequences per game in the top flight and second best average of passes per sequence too. They also are the third best team in the entire Premier League when it comes to big chances created.
So while nobody should be making excuses for the manner of that damaging West Ham defeat at the Amex, the evidence is there to suggest the Hammers are not alone in being taken apart by this remarkable side.