As West Ham gear up for the ‘El Sackico’ on Monday night time, Julen Lopetegui shall be conjuring a plan to defeat Wolves and look to stay in a job. The Hammers sit 14th within the Premier League after 14 video games, while Wolves at present sit nineteenth, conceding 4 targets in each of their final two video games.
Whichever aspect loses would possible see a change within the managerial sizzling seat, as each coaches are underneath immense strain, making this an actual six-pointer.
Wolves have conceded probably the most targets within the Premier League this season, already transport 36 instances in simply 14 video games. Nonetheless, they’ve nonetheless proven a capability to seek out the again of the web, scoring 22 targets, and one man particularly has been a key determine in that.
Matheus Cunha’s kind for Wolves
Matheus Cunha has made 15 appearances this season for Wolves, scoring seven targets and offering three assists, totalling 1,177 minutes on the pitch up to now.
The 25-year-old Brazilian is clearly the primary man for Gary O’Neil’s aspect, and by stopping him, you’ve an excellent probability of halting any progress they attempt to make.
Fortunately for Lopetegui, he has the right participant to deploy towards Cunha, with a purpose to cease him from taking on the sport on that left flank.
That participant simply so occurs to be one who was as soon as described as “the very best one-on-one defender on the earth” by James Maddison.
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How West Ham might cease Matheus Cunha
West Ham made the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United final summer season, becoming a member of the Hammers for a price of round £15m. Since becoming a member of the membership, the defender has made 14 appearances, scoring two targets and contributing to 4 clear sheets.
On Tuesday night time, Wan-Bissaka was moved over to left-back, permitting Vladimir Coufal to start out at right-back towards Leicester Metropolis. Nonetheless, with Cunha beginning predominantly on the left, it’s key that Lopetegui deploys Wan-Bissaka again on his pure aspect with a purpose to nullify their largest menace.
|
Wan-Bissaka vs Coufal comparability |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Wan-Bissaka |
Coufal |
|
Targets + Assists |
0.15 |
0.09 |
|
Progressive Carries |
3.06 |
1.39 |
|
Progressive Passes |
4.96 |
4.17 |
|
Photographs Complete |
0.53 |
0.26 |
|
Key Passes |
0.74 |
0.56 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
3.14 |
1.67 |
|
Tackles |
2.07 |
1.11 |
|
Blocks |
0.91 |
0.56 |
|
Interceptions |
1.76 |
0.78 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
When analysing the important thing metrics between Wan-Bissaka and Coufal, the previous comes out on prime in each single metric, offering extra development, higher output, and the next quantity of defensive actions for the aspect.
Up to now this season, the previous United man has managed so as to add an additional degree to his sport, usually recognized for his defensive qualities, however exhibiting he may have an effect on the sport going forwards, scoring in back-to-back Premier League video games.
With Cunha usually ranging from the left this season, seeking to drift between broad areas and the half-spaces, the presence of Wan-Bissaka shall be wanted to take care of this menace down the left flank, forcing Cunha to both give it as much as his teammates or vacate into different areas of the pitch to have an effect on the sport.
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