This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Manuel Lanzini is a player out of form and his lack of influence when the Hammers visited Goodison Park on Saturday contributed to his team’s defeat.
It has been a long time since the Argentine had a regular run in the team, with injuries hindering his game time over the last 18 months, and there are signs that the rustiness is yet to wear off.
So far this season he has zero goals and just two assists from eight league games, and he is yet to build an understanding with the rest of the front four, with Sebastien Haller often left isolated up-front.
With Pablo Fornals still bedding in and Felipe Anderson enduring a similar run of disappointing form, West Ham have been toothless in attack. That was underlined by their performance against Everton, as well as the fact they have scored just 11 goals in nine league games.
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Despite a fair amount of possession Manuel Pellegrini’s side mustered just four shots on target, with their best chance coming as a result of a corner in the second half which shouldn’t even have been given.
That suggests a lack of creativity in the side, and a lack of support for the striker – both of which fall under the responsibilities of Lanzini.
Once again, the 26-year-old underwhelmed when on the ball, often failing to find a teammate with 73% pass accuracy according to WhoScored, with only three successful passes to the final third, and none to the box.
That meant he failed to make a single key pass in the entire match, and if he continues to display such ineptitude then West Ham cannot expect to score goals, or win matches.
By comparison his counterpart, Alex Iwobi, managed two key passes, which led to the Hammers relying on Roberto to keep them in the match, whilst offering very little by way of a comeback.
From the way Pellegrini has set up this season, it seems he is intent on playing three creative midfielders in support of Haller, and whilst the German has acted as an effective focal point, the service to him has at times been lacking, and that is no surprise when one takes a look at Lanzini’s passing and crossing stats.
The No.10 has to start playing closer to his striker if a partnership is to flourish. He should take more risks, too, as although he was dispossessed three times he will be more effective for his team if he is trying to create openings or work his way into a shooting position, which he also did too infrequently on Saturday.
Despite that, he has proved in the past that he has the quality to act as a pivotal player for West Ham, and if Pellegrini can reassure him of that and instruct him to play closer to Haller, then West Ham could begin to start delivering on the goal front.
