West Ham were utterly abject throughout the majority of their encounter with West Bromwich Albion last weekend which led to the Hammers being knocked out of the FA Cup. The Premier League side failed to register a shot on target against the Championship leaders until a 90th-minute long-range effort from Declan Rice. Though there was a player for the hosts who showed moments of promise and that was Manuel Lanzini.
The Argentine playmaker was West Ham’s leading creative threat by a substantial margin, making six times the number of key passes than any of his teammates managed. However, due to some woeful finishing from the rest of his squad, the diminutive attacking midfielder failed to add to his two assists for the campaign. Lanzini was partially to blame for the loss, failing to hit the target with both his shots, but he is still a little way off his best having missed 42 days of action over the festive period.
However, West Ham manager David Moyes will have been pleased with the 26-year-old’s work rate off the ball, as the midfielder got back to reclaim possession by making two tackles. Only Aaron Creswell and Rice made more tackles for the Hammers, with three each, and it highlights how committed the Argentinian was to turning over possession in the heart of midfield.
Of the players who started the match, only Rice boasted a better pass accuracy than Lanzini’s 89.8 percent, while again only Rice attempted more passes than the 26-year-old’s 59. Rice and Lanzini have contrasting attributes and could be the future of West Ham’s midfield if Moyes can find the right balance. Furthermore, Lanzini attempted the second-most crosses (three), of any Hammers player and had the most which reached a teammate, one.
Overall, it was a thoroughly disappointing afternoon for Moyes, reflected in the fact he made three substitutes at half time, insinuating he was not best pleased with West Ham’s first-half display. Although Lanzini may have lacked the finishing touch, there were visible signs he is getting back to the form which won him five caps for Argentina and could be key in keeping the Hammers out of trouble in the Premier League.
