Formed by Hammers supporters Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth but accessible analysis of their team and its players, Analytics United provide content for the Club's official website, app, Official Programme and social media channels.
For their latest column, Analytics United use performance analysis and data to examine the contribution Aaron Wan-Bissaka could make to West Ham United...
West Ham United have announced the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United. The 26-year-old defender joins as he heads into his peak years after five years in the North West winning both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Born in Croydon in 1997, Wan-Bissaka came through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace before finally making his first team debut in the 2017/18 Premier League season in a 3-1 defeat by Everton that left the Eagles hovering just one point above the drop zone. It can often prove challenging for young players to find their first opportunity at the top level and, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool to play in four of the next five at a crucial stage of Palace’s season, it would’ve been forgivable had Roy Hodgson continued to overlook the rookie right-back. Instead, it spoke volumes of the manager’s trust in the youngster that this was the moment he would get his chance.
Although results weren’t forthcoming, Wan-Bissaka made a good impression and did enough to nail the starting spot for the following season where he quickly developed a reputation for being one of the toughest-tackling full-backs in the Premier League. A reputation that he has maintained right through to his last competitive appearance for Manchester United in the FA Cup final last season, where he did everything he could to shut down Manchester City’s dribbling sensation, Jérémy Doku, in a huge win for the Red Devils.
His excellent anticipation and reading of the game in combination with his flexibility and spidery long legs enables him to continuously produce inch-perfect slide tackles to stop dangerous attacks and win the ball back. He has such trust in his ability in the tackle that you’ll often see him sit off a winger and permit them a burst towards the byline, knowing that he’ll be able to recover and cut out any ball into the box or sustained carrying.
This is backed up by his 73.1% success in the tackle, a figure only beaten by Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies and Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa amongst Premier League full-backs last season. And those two both played in the heart of defence as much as they featured on the flanks. Perhaps this could be instructive for Wan-Bissaka’s future at West Ham as we expect Julen Lopetegui to introduce a back three when in possession at times to ease build-up and improve rest defence.
In these circumstances, Wan-Bissaka could tuck in from his starting position at right-back to sit alongside Jean-Clair Todibo and Maximilian Kilman to complete an imperious trifecta of duel-dominant defenders. This would not only protect against counters, with all three players recording outstanding figures for tackle success, but it would also better enable Emerson to take up more advanced positions and make a greater contribution as a marauding full-back.
If he were to take up a role like this, his reliability in possession would serve both him and the team well in build-up. His 27.24 short passes completed per 90 over the last year ranked in the top 17% in Europe’s top five leagues and he ranked in the exact same spot for his overall pass completion (84.1%). Handily, he’s also astute when it comes to dribbling and, although he might not carry as regularly as others, when he does decide to take the ball past his man he retains the ball more than most, ranking in the top 11% in Europe for keeping possession when attempting take-ons (67.6%). To compare him to some familiar faces from the Premier League, he sits just behind Jack Grealish and above Cody Gakpo in this regard.
Wan-Bissaka’s anticipation doesn’t just serve him well in the tackle but it also helps him to make a gargantuan number of interceptions. Last season, his 2.07 interceptions per 90 ranked second amongst Premier League full-backs behind Antonee Robinson but well out ahead of the next group of players, Valentino Livramento, Emerson Royal, and Pervis Estupiñán, who all recorded between 1.5 and 1.7 per 90. He also tackled opposition players in the middle third more regularly than others, ranking joint-sixth amongst Premier League full-backs who played more than 1,000 minutes last season (1.01 per 90), something that will line up well alongside Lopetegui’s plan to increase pressing intensity in East London.
In summary, Wan-Bissaka is a fantastic addition to the West Ham squad. His peerless defensive qualities will add balance to a team with an abundance of attacking talent while his reliable in-possession attributes will fit well into Lopetegui’s system, simultaneously offsetting and facilitating those effervescent teammates to do what they do best.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Analytics United and do not necessarily reflect the views opinions of West Ham United.
