As the next international break approaches, it is easy to forget the problems Manuel Pellegrini was wrestling with going into the last one.
West Ham hadn’t kept a clean sheet, his expensively-recruited forward line was not sharp or balanced and the result was no points after four games.
Many of Pellegrini’s problems could be traced back to one area; midfield. He was criticised for failing to buy a top-drawer central midfielder in the summer; putting that responsibility on Declan Rice, who was thoroughly outclassed at Anfield on the opening day of the season.
Jack Wilshere’s best position was an issue; he was struggling in one of the deeper roles in a 4-2-3-1, but Felipe Anderson was a more natural fit further forward. The former Arsenal man’s injury issues flared up again to deepen the issue.
Another issue was energy; Pedro Obiang was the likeliest to provide it but appeared to be shunted down the pecking order after a summer flirtation with a Serie A return. Mark Noble was seen as offering leadership but little else on-field.
The response
The response started at Goodison Park last month. Desperate for a win against Marco Silva’s unbeaten side, Pellegrini unfurled a new-look 4-3-3 formation.
In the absence of Wilshere, Declan Rice anchored the midfield solo, flanked by Noble and Obiang. Anderson was shunted wide to offer him more creative freedom; he responded with a contribution at both ends.
Suddenly, the midfield had energy in Obiang, technical quality from Rice and Noble’s leadership on-field.
The shift in shape was a masterstroke; many of West Ham’s midfield issues were swept aside. Further, the system is absolutely perfect for Wilshere, when he returns from injury.
Rice is showing his quality once more, the front three have been liberated and teams can no longer outfight West Ham in midfield.
The upshot
The Hammers got the win against Everton and have not looked back since. The Toffees were unable to match Pellegrini’s men for energy in the centre and that provided the platform for the front three to cause havoc.
Chelsea’s 100 per cent record was then brought to an end. That match required a more defensive approach, but the Hammers midfield matched the likes of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
Saturday felt like the day West Ham’s season finally exploded into life. Jose Mourinho fielded a very conservative midfield in response to the Hammers’ new-found power in there, but it made little difference.
Pellegrini’s side dominated that area and once more, it allowed the attackers to do the damage. That Goodison masterstroke has got West Ham’s season back-on-track.
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