West Ham United are statistically one of the worst sides at pressing in the Premier League this season.
As shown via statistics from The Analyst, West Ham’s passes per defensive action (PPDA) total of 16.3 makes them the third worst pressing side in England’s top-flight, with the lower the number showing which sides are the best at pressing, with Chelsea (9.5) ranked at the best pressers.
Only relegation-threatened rivals Nottingham Forest (16.9) and Bournemouth (17.3) have worse PPDA values, suggesting that sides who are not as strong at pressing are often at risk of relegation, with the five teams at the bottom based on these statistics all currently involved in the Premier League’s nine-team relegation battle.
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However, while statistically, West Ham are not often pressing high, instead absorbing pressure and adopting more of a low possession and quick passing approach when they do have the ball, when they do press, it often provides a good source of goals for them.
West Ham have scored five goals from the 28 shots they have had in situations where they have regained possession via high turnover. Although West Ham have had the joint-fourth lowest number of attempts off high pressures, they sit-joint sixth for most goals from high turnovers, with only Brentford scoring more goals from fewer chances from high turnovers.
In total, West Ham average a goal for every 5.6 shots they have off high turnovers. That conversion makes them the fourth most prolific side when shooting at the end of high turnovers.
With a proven success and with 20.8% of the Hammers’ league goals coming via taking chances after high turnovers, if they pressed in line with the rest of the league, or even at a higher rate, it could lead to more goals.
The average of the league is 33.45 shots off high turnovers, with West Ham having just 28 shots off high turnovers. If they had an average pressing total closer to the league average, it may have bought at least one more goal by now.
The league average for PPDA is 13.13, significantly lower than West Ham’s total of 16.3. Had West Ham pressed closer to the league average and far more often, it could well have proved to be a golden source of regular goals for them.
West Ham are, therefore, good at getting goals out of pressing situations. The problem is, they just do not do it enough compared to the rest of their Premier League rivals and it could prove to be the way forward for the Hammers’ final 12 games of the Premier League campaign.
Shots per goal when taken after high turnovers :
Brentford 4.33
Manchester City 4.75
Tottenham Hotspur 5
West Ham United 5.6
Leicester City 5.71
Newcastle United 6.5
Leeds United 6.6
Arsenal 7.14
Fulham 10
Crystal Palace 10
Manchester United 10.25
Aston Villa 10.67
Bournemouth 11
Brighton and Hove Albion 13.67
Chelsea 16
Nottingham Forest 28
Liverpool 31
Everton 32
Southampton 32
Wolverhampton Wanderers N/A (42 shots off high turnovers without scoring)
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