The West Ham Breakdown

#111 All Gone to Potts

Jack Elderton and Cal Goodall break down West Ham 0-2 Aston Villa, discussing the pre-match Todibo injury and it's impact on the team, why the 4-1-4-1 system failed, individual errors at Villa Park and much more. Support the podcast and get TWHB Extra Time + much more here: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited While a 2-0 defeat in the thick of a Premier League relegation battle is hard to swallow, especially after the recent upturn in form, Jack and Cal discuss the encouraging strides made in our in-possession play and the high-quality situations created in the final third. They break down the schoolboy errors that led to John McGinn and Ollie Watkins’ goals, the immense burden Nuno Espírito Santo’s system placed on Freddie Potts and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Adama Traoré’s positive second-half cameo and much more.   Timestamps: (00:00) Villa 2-0 West Ham Review: Performance vs result? (06:10) – Tactical Shift: Todibo injury & the 4-1-4-1 failure (12:30) Decision-Making Overloads: Potts & Wan-Bissaka’s impossible task (15:42) Individual Errors: How Watkins was allowed to score (19:28) Set-Piece Madness: The NFL-ization of blocking (25:41) Adama Arrives: Traoré’s sets the bar for himself (27:27) Spurs Struggles: Tottenham get demolished by Forest (28:56) The 23-Minute Mess: Why the 4-4-2 delay? (35:44) Pablo Felipe: Why moving him centrally was vital (41:52) Out of Possession: Adaptability vs Stability (53:25) Sustaining Momentum: Refinding form after a big loss Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#110 Viva La Great Escape!

Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited The Great Escape is well and truly alive as West Ham United earned a massive point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Jack and Darcy here to break down exactly how Nuno and the Hammers pulled it off. In this episode of The West Ham Breakdown, we dive into the tactical changes that saw West Ham switch to a back five to neutralise Pep Guardiola’s attacking threats. We discuss how the art of defending the box is changing and where Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo used physical blocking and aggressive contact to frustrate Erling Haaland throughout the match. We discuss the Summerville-sized hole left in West Ham's counter-attack, how Pablo stepped up in a hybrid role to balance the midfield and look at the massive impact of summer signings Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa, whose recovery pace and physicality provided a level of protection the squad has lacked in previous seasons. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#109 Why We're Starting To Believe

Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited With West Ham United are looking unrecognisable compared to the first half of the season, Jack and Darcy dive into a packed episode of The West Ham Breakdown to cover a vital triple-header. We discuss the huge FA Cup win against Brentford, the crucial 3 points vs Fulham in the Premier League and the recent test against Liverpool at Anfield. In this episode, we break down why West Ham's tactical improvements are finally showing in our league form and whether this momentum is enough to survive the relegation battle. We also compare our current form against rivals like Tottenham and look ahead to the remaining Premier League fixtures. With only two defeats in the last 11 games, the Hammers are in their best run of form since 2023. While the result at Anfield was disappointing, the overall performance levels remain high as the team fights to climb out of the drop zone. Jack and Darcy discuss why the mood at the London Stadium has shifted from hopelessness to positivity and how the squad has built newfound resilience. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#108 1 Point Gained or 2 Points Dropped?

Get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited [https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited] With West Ham United battling to maintain Premier League status, is a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Bournemouth enough? Is it a point gained or two points dropped? This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Cal and Jack dive deep into the tactical nuances of a game that was more than just a bore draw. They discuss why this performance was a symbol of West Ham’s evolution from leaky to resolute and explore how the Hammers managed to completely neutralise one of the league's most aggressive pressing sides, limiting Bournemouth to the fewest high regains they've achieved so far in 2026. Cal and Jack break down how West Ham’s rotations affected Bournemouth, highlighting Mads Hermansen's role in disrupting Bournemouth's man-to-man press, and how the midfield flexibility of Mateus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa and Tomáš Souček left the Cherries looking lost. They also discuss West Ham's relegation rivals, including a look at Spurs' recent struggles and why the underdog narrative might just be the catalyst Nuno needs to carry the Hammers to safety. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#107 Closing Time Blues

Unearth the hidden gems of the beer world and claim your free case here: www.beer52.com/ANALYTICS West Ham United are currently three points from safety, but taking 10 points from the last 15 has fundamentally changed the feeling around the club. This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal map out the tactical path forward following the high-intensity, high-pressure, and at times highly frustrating, performances against Manchester United and Burnley. While it was gutting to drop points to a last-minute equaliser at the London Stadium, Jack and Cal discuss why the Hammers are starting to look more than good enough to survive and are currently putting ginormous pressure on the teams above us. They discuss West Ham’s seeming inability to kill off games after being robbed of 2 points against Man Utd, why bringing on Callum Wilson in a winning gamestate might be the worst possible option and whether Jarrod Bowen could be the answer. They debate Adama Traoré’s cameo appearances so far since joining from Fulham, how Leny Yoro changed the game in favour of Man United and where Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa fit into West Ham’s a midfield unit carrying Nuno to safety. Timestamps: (00:00) West Ham 1-1 Manchester United: A frustrating draw (02:33) 10 points from 15: Putting pressure on the teams above us (09:20) Why we failed to hold on: Defensive solidity vs Inefficient chance conversion (14:40) West Ham’s Forwards: Why subbing on Callum Wilson didn’t work (17:39) How can West Ham hold onto winning positions? (25:56) Adama Traoré: Minutes vs Efficiency (29:26) Why did we have no counters in the first half? (33:43) Midfield Balance: Who should start in the middle? (42:02) Axel Disasi & Mads Hermansen: What they bring to West Ham’s backline (49:25) Burnley 0-2 West Ham: Mastering control (52:42) Freddie Potts: How best to utilise him Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]