Saturday 22nd November 2014
15:00
Goodison Park
Everton vs West Ham United
Analysis
It feels like far longer than a fortnight, but finally the Premier League is back after the international break.
Both West Ham and this weekend's opposition, Everton, have fallen victim to a host of injuries to key players over the past two weeks - so much so, that Saturday's game will be something of a who's who of missing players.
Key Player
Whilst West Ham are almost likely to be without key players Stewart Downing, Diafra Sakho, Winston Reid and Alex Song, Everton themselves have an injury list that currently runs to 11 players potentially out of this game.
Fortunately for the Toffees though, the one man West Ham would have hoped to miss the game is fit and healthy. We all remember what Romelu Lukaku did to us in his two appearances against the Hammers last year, but I'll bring it up again just for the sake of being a sadist.
Across two games, the Belgian played just 77 minutes against West Ham, but managed 6 shots, 6 attempted take ons, and scored two decisive goals after the 80 minute mark.
The two images below show Lukaku's heat maps from those two games. Left is the home 3-2 defeat, and right is the away 1-0 loss. You can see in both that Lukaku got heavily involved in both games despite only have short cameos from the bench.
http://epl.squawka.com/west-ham-united-vs-everton/
http://epl.squawka.com/everton-vs-west-ham-united/
How do you stop Everton?
Everton may have had a slightly rocky start to the season, but in the last couple of months they have been getting back to their best, particularly at Goodison Park. As we know from experience, Goodison is not an easy place to visit, and not many teams come away with anything to show for their efforts.
Having said that, in their last home game, Everton could only manage a goalless draw with Swansea City.
People might initially think that there is little point in West Ham looking to Swansea's result for inspiration, giving the differing styles of play the two sides have. We aren't really a long ball side (particularly this season), but Swansea have been championed as the tika-taka kings of Britain.
However, when you actually look at that game, you'll notice that the Swans had a pass completion rate of just 78%, and managed just 40% possession. What Swansea actually did, is defend aggressively - something West Ham are more than capable of!
During the game, Swansea made 42 clearances, 18 interceptions, blocked 5 shots, and - perhaps most importantly - put in 47 tackles.
Under Roberto Martinez, Everton have become known for their slick passing style, running with the ball, and generally being easy on the eye. Any team that likes to knock the ball about struggle when bodies are being flung left right and centre.
The image below shows Swansea's attempted tackles. They only won 34% of their tackles, but that doesn't really matter. It's about disrupting play, closing down ball players, committing fouls if necessary.
http://epl.squawka.com/everton-vs-swansea-city/
http://epl.squawka.com/everton-vs-west-ham-united/
How do you stop Everton?
Everton may have had a slightly rocky start to the season, but in the last couple of months they have been getting back to their best, particularly at Goodison Park. As we know from experience, Goodison is not an easy place to visit, and not many teams come away with anything to show for their efforts.
Having said that, in their last home game, Everton could only manage a goalless draw with Swansea City.
People might initially think that there is little point in West Ham looking to Swansea's result for inspiration, giving the differing styles of play the two sides have. We aren't really a long ball side (particularly this season), but Swansea have been championed as the tika-taka kings of Britain.
However, when you actually look at that game, you'll notice that the Swans had a pass completion rate of just 78%, and managed just 40% possession. What Swansea actually did, is defend aggressively - something West Ham are more than capable of!
During the game, Swansea made 42 clearances, 18 interceptions, blocked 5 shots, and - perhaps most importantly - put in 47 tackles.
Under Roberto Martinez, Everton have become known for their slick passing style, running with the ball, and generally being easy on the eye. Any team that likes to knock the ball about struggle when bodies are being flung left right and centre.
The image below shows Swansea's attempted tackles. They only won 34% of their tackles, but that doesn't really matter. It's about disrupting play, closing down ball players, committing fouls if necessary.
And Swansea aren't the only team to adopt this approach to find success at Goodison. Since the start of last season, Everton have played 24 home games, winning 14, drawing 5 and losing 5.
What is interesting, is that when Everton fail to win, the number of tackles put in by the opposition is greater than when the Toffees do win. The chart below shows the average number of tackles by the opposition team by Everton result.
As you can see, when Everton win at home, the opposition attempt an average of 35 tackles per game, compared to 43 for an away victory. Of course, putting in tackles doesn't mean you're going to come away from Goodison with anything other than a disappointing drive home, but what it does suggest is that the Toffees struggle when they aren't afforded time on the ball.
Weakness
Picking a weakness for Everton is pretty difficult. Martinez's side are a well oiled machine, with each member knowing his job inside out, and executing it very well. What does have the potential to weaken them though, is an injury list as long as your arm.
Lots of their injured players are expected to have late fitness tests, and many will be fit for the game, but the potential absences of Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines and Bryan Oviedo means the only fit, experienced fullback in the squad is veteran Tony Hibbert.
Should Coleman and Baines miss out, the Everton side will be weakened considerably. The flying fullbacks have created 36 chances, collected 7 assists, and scored 4 goals in the Premier League this season. And on top of that, they've also made 89 defensive actions.
Hibbert isn't the worst back up in the world, with 325 Everton games under his belt, and capable of filling in at both right and left fullback. However, he is a significant step down in quality from the two regulars, and has only managed 9 league games since the start of the 2012/13 season.
Conclusion
Everton away is a tough nut to crack at the best of times, but when you're missing a number of your best players, the task gets significantly harder.
The saving grace for West Ham may be that Everton are likely to be missing a least a few of their own key men. Also, the fact that defending with your life is a key part of getting something from Goodison could mean our gameplan may still have the right men to be effective.
What is interesting, is that when Everton fail to win, the number of tackles put in by the opposition is greater than when the Toffees do win. The chart below shows the average number of tackles by the opposition team by Everton result.
As you can see, when Everton win at home, the opposition attempt an average of 35 tackles per game, compared to 43 for an away victory. Of course, putting in tackles doesn't mean you're going to come away from Goodison with anything other than a disappointing drive home, but what it does suggest is that the Toffees struggle when they aren't afforded time on the ball.
Weakness
Picking a weakness for Everton is pretty difficult. Martinez's side are a well oiled machine, with each member knowing his job inside out, and executing it very well. What does have the potential to weaken them though, is an injury list as long as your arm.
Lots of their injured players are expected to have late fitness tests, and many will be fit for the game, but the potential absences of Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines and Bryan Oviedo means the only fit, experienced fullback in the squad is veteran Tony Hibbert.
Should Coleman and Baines miss out, the Everton side will be weakened considerably. The flying fullbacks have created 36 chances, collected 7 assists, and scored 4 goals in the Premier League this season. And on top of that, they've also made 89 defensive actions.
Hibbert isn't the worst back up in the world, with 325 Everton games under his belt, and capable of filling in at both right and left fullback. However, he is a significant step down in quality from the two regulars, and has only managed 9 league games since the start of the 2012/13 season.
Conclusion
Everton away is a tough nut to crack at the best of times, but when you're missing a number of your best players, the task gets significantly harder.
The saving grace for West Ham may be that Everton are likely to be missing a least a few of their own key men. Also, the fact that defending with your life is a key part of getting something from Goodison could mean our gameplan may still have the right men to be effective.
Head to Head
51% Head to Head Win % 28%
65 Won 36
27 Drawn 27
36 Lost 65
219 Goals Scored 148
148 Goals Conceded 219
Recent Form (excl. Friendlies)
W D W D W D Last 6 L W W W D D
10 Goals Scored 10
2 Goals Conceded 6
L W L W D W Home/Away Form L W D L W D
15 Goals Scored 11
10 Goals Conceded 10
Form Player (excl. GK)
(Last 6 League)
Phil Jagielka - James Collins
6 Appearances 4
540 Minutes Played 360
302 Sum Squawka Performance Score 103
50 Average Squawka Performance Rating 26
363 Passes Attempted 122
333 Completed 76
92% Success Rate 62%
1 Chances Created 1
0 Assists 0
5 Attempts on Goal 2
3 On Target 1
2 Goals 0
3 Take Ons Attempted 0
3 Successful Take Ons 0
100% Success Rate 0%
13 Tackles Made 18
7 Successful Tackles 5
54% Success Rate 28%
8 Interceptions 14
45 Clearances 56
4 Blocks 8
10 Defensive Actions Per Game 20
15 Aerial Duels 27
12 Won 22
80% Success Rate 81%
0 Defensive Errors 0
0 Leading to a Goal 0
Last Meeting
01 March 2014
1-0 Romelu Lukaku 81'
4-2-3-1 Starting Formation 4-2-3-1
Tim Howard - Adrián
Seamus Coleman - Guy Demel (80')
John Stones - James Collins
Sylvain Distin - James Tomkins
Leighton Baines - George McCartney
James McCarthy - Mark Noble
Gareth Barry - Matthew Taylor
(73') Gerard Deulofeu - Stewart Downing
(59') Leon Osman - Kevin Nolan
Steven Pienaar - Matt Jarvis (66')
(85') Steven Naismith - Carlton Cole (29')
Subs
Joel Robles - Jussi Jääskeläinen
Ty Browning - Winston Reid (80')
Tony Hibbert - Pablo Armero
(85') Ross Barkley - Mohamed Diamé (66')
(73') Aiden McGeady - Antonio Nocerino
Kevin Mirallas - Joe Cole
(59') Romelu Lukaku - Andy Carroll (29')
Absentees
Injured/Doubtful
Everton: John Stones, Antolin Alcaraz, Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines, Bryan Oviedo, Darron Gibson, James McCarthy, Gareth Barry, Steven Pienaar, Kevin Mirallas, Arouna Kone
West Ham United: Winston Reid, Guy Demel, Alex Song, Stewart Downing, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia
Suspensions
Everton:
West Ham United:
Opposition Last Time Out (League)
vs Sunderland
Goals Scored: 1
Goals Conceded: 2
Starting Formation: 4-3-2-1
Tim Howard
Seamus Coleman Phil Jagielka Sylvain Distin Leighton Baines
James McCarthy Gareth Barry (12')
Aiden McGeady (69') Samuel Eto'o Ross Barkley (85')
Romelu Lukaku
subs:
Joel Robles
Tony Hibbert
Muhamed Besic
Darron Gibson (12')
Leon Osman (85')
Christian Atsu
Steven Naismith (69')
Best Player: James McCarthy(SR: 8.55)
Worst Player: Tim Howard(SR: 6.42)
Top 5's (Min 5 Apps)
Goals Scored
Steven Naismith 4 - 6 Diafra Sakho
Romelu Lukaku 4 - 3 Enner Valencia
Samuel Eto'o 3 - 2 Carlton Cole
Kevin Mirallas 2 - 2 Morgan Amalfitano
Seamus Coleman 2 - 2 Stewart Downing
Assists
Leighton Baines 6 - 4 Stewart Downing
Steven Pienaar 2 - 2 James Tomkins
Ross Barkley 1 - 2 Aaron Cresswell
Leon Osman 1 - 2 Enner Valencia
Aiden McGeady 1 - 1 Mauro Zárate
Passing Accuracy
Phil Jagielka 92% - 86% Mark Noble
John Stones 92% - 84% Stewart Downing
Sylvain Distin 91% - 83% Carl Jenkinson
Gareth Barry 89% - 83% Winston Reid
Kevin Mirallas 89% - 81% James Tomkins
Chances Created per 90
Leighton Baiens 2 - 2.73 Stewart Downing
Kevin Mirallas 1.9 - 1.37 Mark Noble
Aiden McGeady 1.37 - 1.29 Alex Song
Samuel Eto'o 1.35 - 1.27 Aaron Cresswell
Steven Naismith 1.19 - 0.99 Carlton Cole
Successful Dribbles per 90
Muhamed Besic 2.23 - 1.78 Enner Valencia
Steven Pienaar 2.11 - 0.97 Diafra Sakho
Seamus Coleman 1.83 - 0.94 Morgan Amalfitano
Kevin Mirallas 1.63 - 0.86 Alex Song
Romelu Lukaku 1.58 - 0.73 Stewart Downing
Tackles Won per 90
James McCarthy 2.3 - 2.86 Alex Song
Gareth Barry 1.88 - 2.58 Cheikhou Kouyaté
Seamus Coleman 1.7 - 2.29 Mark Noble
John Stones 1.69 - 1.88 Morgan Amalfitano
Leighton Baines 1.64 - 1.55 Carl Jenkinson
Aerial Duels Won per 90
Steven Naismith 2.82 - 5.35 James Collins
Sylvain Distin 2.23 - 3.71 James Tomkins
Phil Jagielka 2 - 3.62 Diafra Sakho
James McCarthy 1.8 - 3.22 Winston Reid
John Stones 1.7 - 3.15 Cheikhou Kouyaté
Manager
Roberto Martínez - Sam Allardyce
13/07/1973 DOB 19/10/1954
41 Age 60
Playing Career
Wigan Athletic Main Club Bolton Wanderers
226 Appearances 231
24 Goals 24
6 Total Clubs 9
427 Appearances 512
31 Goals 43
Spain National Team England
0 Caps 0
Managerial Career
Swansea City First Managerial Role Preston North End
24/02/2007 Start Date 30/09/1992
22y 1m 8d Experience 22y 1m 22d
3 Sides Managed 7
1 League Titles 2
1 Cup Wins 0
39.7% Win % 39.9%
144 Won 354
100 Drawn 232
118 Lost 301
Longest Role (excl. Current)
Wigan Athletic Club Bolton Wanderers
15/06/2009 Appointed 19/10/1999
05/06/2013 Left 29/04/2007
3y 11m 20d Time in Charge 7y 6m 9d
0 League Titles 0
1 Cup Wins 0
28.9% Win % 41.2%
51 Won 153
47 Drawn 104
78 Lost 114
Current Club
05/06/2013 Appointed 01/06/2011
1y 5m 17d Time in Charge 3y 5m 22d
0 League Titles 0
0 Cup Wins 0
50% Win % 39.8%
30 Won 59
16 Drawn 35
14 Lost 54
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