West Ham United have been one of the form teams since football restarted and maintained that with the amazing 3-3 comeback draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
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Things are really starting to come together for David Moyes at West Ham.
The Scot appears to really be building something with the Hammers. On the pitch the team looks bright, full of energy and is getting results against quality opposition.
And the team spirit is excellent, as evidenced by the squad celebrations when Manuel Lanzini hit that unforgettable last gasp equaliser against Spurs.
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Happy Hammers hitting the heights
Moyes’s new formation 5 4 1 has been credited for the quality of West Ham’s performances and results of late.
The three centre-backs make West Ham a lot more solid – bar the opening 16 minutes against Spurs.
One of those who looks infinitely more comfortable in the system is Aaron Cresswell, now featuring as the left centre-back.
In fact Cresswell is blossoming in the role. He has more cover defensively and is less exposed. But he also has more freedom when getting forward and time to pick people out with crosses.
That has led to three assists in the last two games for the Liverpudlian.
But according to the man himself the formation actually gets the best out of one of his West Ham teammates, Arthur Masuaku (whufc.com).
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Cresswell says new formation gets the best out of Masuaku
“I played there (LCB) when the gaffer came in two and a half years ago,” Cresswell told whufc.com.
“We were a bit short of defenders at the time and he asked me if I had ever played there.
“I hadn’t, but we managed to make it work because he kept us up and we played some good stuff. I think I played 22 games on the left side of a three.
“It’s a position I love, and with Arthur playing as a wing-back I think it suits his game even more. He likes to get the ball and carry it and it’s working well for us at the minute.”
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Transformers, fullbacks in disguise
Indeed it is. And both Masuaku and Cresswell are two of its big success stories.
Masuaku lacks the defensive nous and discipline to be an out-and-out left-back.
And Creswell has that, but lacks the pace and energy Masuaku possesses.
Combining them together seems a perfect marriage of their attributes vs their weaknesses.
They are West Ham’s answer to a Transformer.
Long may it continue.