Another superb victory for West Ham on Saturday showed that the Hammers can adapt their game to beat teams now that Andy Carroll has returned.
Chelsea’s stubborn defence was proving a difficult barrier to break down as the Hammers looked to play their usual quick counter-attacking play against the Champions. The introduction of Andy Carroll changed the game for the Hammers as Bilic’s side adopted more of a direct approach, aiming for the big number nine in the middle.
The fact that the Hammers managed to change their approach to the game and for it to work so effectively is an excellent sign that this team can maintain their excellent form so far this season.
As well as Carroll’s introduction, another player that deserved his man of the match award was Cheikou Kouyate. It was always going to be a tough afternoon for West Ham’s central midfielders as Mark Noble and Kouyate have had to work hard this season to keep the Hammers solid in the middle when teams attack them.
Although Chelsea were down to 10 men for the second half, Kouyate was superb in his positional play. Looking at the stats, the Senegalese man does not stand out in terms of individual achievements but it was his relentless energy and positional awareness in the middle of the park that was vital to disrupting Chelsea’s play.
Kouyate’s selfless midfield performance was one of his best in a West Ham shirt so far. He was vital in blocking the supply to Diego Costa and also nullified Chelsea’s three-pronged attacking midfield in the first half.
The excellent thing about Kouayte is his ability to run box-to-box for the whole match. His engine is undoubtedly one of the best in the league and the Hammers certainly have two very hard-working central midfielders in Noble and Kouyate. The 25-year-old was also excellent in bringing the ball forward, showcasing his strength and pace to get West Ham out of trouble.
Kouyate is the ideal player to have behind the likes of Payet, Lanzini, Moses/Zarate as he puts in the hard graft but he can also play as well. His dashboard shows that he barely made a mistake against Mourinho’s side and was solid in his duels throughout the game.
Kouayte barely put a foot wrong against Chelsea. Image via statszone
A lot has been said of West Ham’s creative sparks (Payet & Lanzini) so far this season but a special mention must be reserved for the midfield train that is Cheikou Kouyate.
The more he plays in this system, the more he offers the effective midfield energy and solidarity West Ham so desperately need in this attacking side. His performance against Chelsea was a real indication of what Kouyate can continue to bring to the Hammers and in big games like Saturday’s, his presence is priceless.
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