West Ham United sit 16th in the Premier League at the World Cup break after a poor term to date. But Declan Rice is among a few to impress to top our mid-season Power Rankings.
David Moyes has struggled to deliver consistent results at the London Stadium this season as they battle on multiple fronts. The Hammers topped Group B in the Europa Conference League from RSC Anderlecht. Yet the Irons have only won four of their 15 league matches.
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West Ham’s nine defeats are also the joint-most by any top-flight team with Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Saints and Wolves parted with their managers, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Bruno Lage, and appointed Nathan Jones and Julen Lopetegui in response.
Only Wolves (8), Everton and Nottingham Forest (11) have hit fewer goals than West Ham (12) this term, too. Yet a strong defence sees them rank joint-fourth with the Toffees (17). Only Arsenal, Newcastle United (11), and Manchester City (14) have conceded fewer goals.
Moyes will hope he can now use the World Cup break to conjure plans to revive the Irons’ top-flight campaign. He will also hope to get his players scoring more frequently with just four Hammers hitting home multiple times and not one scoring more than twice to date.
So, with the Premier League on pause while six West Ham players fly to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, HITC Football has taken a look at the Hammers’ mid-season Power Rankings…
1. Declan Rice: West Ham’s captain has led by example so far this season
Rice has led by example so far this season after taking over West Ham’s captaincy full-time to top our Power Rankings. The Qatar-bound England midfielder has regularly set the tone for the Irons’ performances. His passing, interceptions and will to block have been integral.
The 34-cap Three Lions star has also influenced games at the top end of the pitch in claret-and-blue. Rice has offered the joint-most assists at the London Stadium so far this season with two. He also scored the equaliser away at Southampton for his only goal in 15 games.
2. Lukasz Fabianski: His age is still just a number for the veteran shot-stopper
Lukasz Fabianski is one of four West Ham players to have started each of their 15 Premier League games this season. He has also recorded four clean sheets whilst on the pitch after some terrific displays. Despite turning 37 in April, he consistently pulls off high-level stops.
The 57-cap ex-Poland goalkeeper also takes command of his area after regularly collecting crosses. But it is Fabianski’s saves that see him rank second in our Power Rankings having kept West Ham in many of their games and remained alert in those without much action.
3. Kurt Zouma: The Frenchman’s few errors fail to overshadow his importance
It has not been a perfect season for Kurt Zouma, but the Frenchman has played a vital role in West Ham’s defensive record. Moyes’ £30m signing from Chelsea in August 2021 has at times been caught in possession. Yet his strong moments heavily outweigh the few errors.
Particularly at Aston Villa, Zouma stood out as he led the Hammers’ backline with his ever-resilient style. His positioning and reactions have also been a thorn in many team’s sides so far this season. The 28-year-old also has a host of last-ditch clearances and robust tackles.
4. Lucas Paqueta: The Brazilian has had a stuttered start to his time in England
Lucas Paqueta has endured a stuttered start to his time in England since joining West Ham from Lyon in August. Moyes paid the Ligue 1 side £36.5m, rising to a potential club record of over £50m with add-ons. But the Brazilian stomached a spell out with a shoulder injury.
Yet during his eight Premier League appearances, starting seven, the 35-cap Brazil maestro has created two goals. Paqueta is finding a place in the Irons line-up and space on the pitch to cause problems. The Hammers clearly missed his creative threat whilst on the sidelines.
5. Tomas Soucek: A mainstay of Moyes’ line-up but not at his dominant best
Tomas Soucek has been a mainstay of Moyes’ line-up having started all 15 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures. But the 55-cap Czech Republic skipper has not performed at his dominant best. Yet he has managed to score one goal and create a further attempt so far.
It is defensively where the 27-year-old has enjoyed the most joy. Soucek has anchored the engine room well in most to allow Rice to push forward. His aggression has helped to win many of his midfield duels. Yet his passes going astray has helped ensure he is kept busy.
6. Thilo Kehrer: Moyes’ emergency addition has proven his worth
Thilo Kehrer was effectively an emergency addition when the German joined West Ham in August. Moyes paid Paris Saint-Germain £10m plus add-ons for the centre-half after losing £30m Nayef Aguerd. He required ankle surgery a month after joining from Stade Rennais.
But Kehrer has proven his worth at the London Stadium after 13 Premier League games, all starts. Five of the 26-year-old’s starts have also come at right-back to put another feather in his cap. Yet his attacking traits have occasionally been costly when fielded in the centre.
7. Jarrod Bowen: A low rank in our Power Rankings after a tough term at West Ham
Jarrod Bowen ranks lowly in our Power Rankings after enduring a tough term at West Ham so far this season. The 25-year-old has missed out on a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad having scored just two goals and failed to assist any after 15 Premier League games.
The forward also scored each of his efforts in successive matches in early October. He has played far below the levels shown last season for his 12 goals and 12 assists in 36 outings. Opposition left-backs have regularly been able to mark Bowen out of the action in games.
8. Michail Antonio: A backup role is leaving the forward with limited chances
Michail Antonio provided 10 goals and eight assists in 36 games last term. But he has two goals and an assist in 14 games this season after starting just six. A lack of service into the 32-year-old had a part to play in his lesser numbers when Moyes has turned to the striker.
The seven-cap Jamaica striker has held the ball up well in most when he has stepped onto the pitch. Antonio’s physical presence often offers West Ham an outlet to build their play from. But he has also struggled to retain possession and proven wasteful with his chances.
9. Gianluca Scamacca: Moyes will want more from West Ham’s summer signing
Moyes will want Gianluca Scamacca to provide a more consistent outlet after scoring twice in 13 Premier League games. The nine-cap Italy striker also struck his only top-flight efforts in successive games in early October. Like Bowen, he hit home against Wolves and Fulham.
The Irons’ £30.5m summer signing from Serie A side Sassuolo has often failed to fashion clear chances. Scamacca has battled hard but will look at his missed chances with regret. Per WhoScored, seven of the 23-year-old’s 25 shots have hit the target with 10 sent wide.
10. Aaron Cresswell: The full-back needs to use the break to polish his game
Aaron Cresswell has started 14 of West Ham’s 15 Premier League fixtures this season after a groin injury sidelined him against Chelsea. Yet despite keeping Moyes’ £13m August buy, Emerson, out of the side, the left-back will now want to polish his game during the break.
The 32-year-old’s crossing has not always been as sharp as is expected of Cresswell. He has also been bypassed on too many occasions defensively. But through his volume of balls into the box, Cresswell continues to offer Moyes a known quantity he can usually rely on.
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