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Irish Hammer 12:43 Sun Oct 31
West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

I’m getting so much positive feelings being a Hammer at the moment. Long may it last ! Have a great weekend all. Enjoy the match to everyone going tomorrow ! ⚒️

Believe the data: West Ham are the best they have ever been

It would have come as a surprise to many to see Said Benrahma step up to take the fifth and decisive penalty against Manchester City. But for one member of David Moyes’ backroom staff, a goal must have felt like an inevitability.

When Benrahma dispatched his kick past Zack Steffen he was embraced by his team-mates and fans in the lower tier of the West Stand. The playmaker has started the season in promising form, scoring three league goals in nine appearances. The contributing factors for Benrahma’s shift in confidence are mainly due to the support he has received from Alan Irvine.

In May, it was announced Irvine would step down from his full-time role as assistant manager to become the club’s technical advisor. These days, he is tasked with providing scouting reports on the opposition team — he attended Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw at Leeds United last week, with West Ham set to face the Midlands club in a few weeks.

The former West Bromwich Albion manager remains a valued member of Moyes’ backroom team. When Irvine was in his previous West Ham role, he regularly had one-to-one sessions with Benrahma. Together, they set about a plan of how the playmaker would force his way into the starting XI. In January, the 26-year-old was struggling with the transition of playing in the Premier League following his permanent move from Brentford.

west-ham
West Ham are flying high in the league and Europe (Photo: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
He was yet to score and had a poor return of two assists in 13 league appearances going into the second half of the season. Yet Moyes and his coaching staff were confident Benrahma would become an integral player. He just needed time to adapt. In a one-to-one session, Irvine referenced how Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill and Phil Jagielka initially struggled to force their way to Moyes’ plans at Everton. But once they got into the team, they stayed in the team.

Those words of encouragement have had the desired effect. This season, Benrahma has started 10 of West Ham’s 13 games in all competitions and has only been taken off before the 85th minute once in the Premier League.

After every training session, Benrahma and Irvine would regularly study video clips. Irvine showed the playmaker every chance he had in games and where he was getting them, what was happening and where things were going wrong. They would then recreate those chances on the training ground. The duo would go away with a bag of balls and some mannequins, and Benrahma would attempt shots in those areas at young goalkeeper Nathan Trott.

Now Benrahma is the second-highest scorer at West Ham this season (four goals in all competitions, behind Michail Antonio on seven).

This special bond between Irvine and Benrahma is just one example of how Moyes and his coaching staff have transformed the culture at West Ham.

The club are flying. They are fourth in the Premier League, have won their first three matches in the Europa League and have been granted permission to increase the capacity of the London Stadium to 62,500.

Yesterday, The Athletic revealed how owners David Sullivan and David Gold are in talks to sell a 27 per cent stake in the club to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, with the option of a full takeover in the future. Kretinsky’s planned investment is understood to value West Ham in the region of £600 million.

West Ham have kept clean sheets in their last four matches and are unbeaten in their last nine matches away. After missing out on a fourth-place finish last season by two points, they are again threatening to break down the door. They have knocked out Manchester United and Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2017-18.

To get an understanding of just how much West Ham have improved under Moyes, we can turn to Club Elo, a measure of team strength. The model works by teams earning points the same way they would in a normal game but they get more points for beating tougher sides and fewer for overcoming easier opponents.

Below shows how West Ham’s Elo rating has changed over time, from 1946 to 2021. Currently, their rating is higher than it was at its previous peak under John Lyall in 1986.



Lyall spent 15 years as manager and is fondly remembered for winning the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980. He also guided the club to their second European Cup Winners’ Cup final and a League Cup final in 1981.

Now, however, the Elo model ranks West Ham as the sixth-best team in English football, displacing Tottenham (22nd) from the supposed Big Six. Their rating (1,835) ranks 15th in all of Europe, sandwiching them between Sevilla and Juventus, just above the average of 1,800 for a Champions League-quality side.

When Moyes and his staff arrived two years ago for his second spell as manager, West Ham were in 17th, one place above the relegation zone. They have changed the culture at the club. For example, if a player arrives late for training at Rush Green, they won’t be fined by Moyes — it is left to the players to decide the appropriate punishment.

Many have highlighted the personalities at the club — Declan Rice, Antonio, Tomas Soucek and Pablo Fornals — as reasons for the positive mood around the club.

But West Ham have arguably one of the best coaching teams in the league. All of Moyes’ backroom staff have been managers, barring goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero. First-team coach Paul Nevin managed New Zealand Knights, who competed in the Australian A League. Stuart Pearce had managerial spells at Manchester City, England Under-21s, Team GB’s Olympic football team and Nottingham Forest, and had a caretaker role with the England senior side.

Kevin Nolan has held player-manager roles at Leyton Orient and Notts County. Billy McKinlay had brief spells at Watford and Norwegian side Stabaek. It is a hugely experienced coaching staff.

They have enjoyed little time to savour the penalty shootout victory over Manchester City on Wednesday — they held a meeting the following morning to start preparations for today’s game at Aston Villa. It is Moyes’ preference to have discussions with his coaching staff soon after games as it gives them the opportunity to look at what they need to do in training sessions.

Legendary manager Lyall rebuilt West Ham with good additions such as goalkeeper Phil Parkes, full-back Ray Stewart and forward Frank McAvennie. He also gave young players opportunities — Steve Potts, Kevin Keen, Alvin Martin, Paul Ince and Tony Cottee made their debuts under him.

Moyes has done likewise. Since returning to the helm in December 2019, he has given first-team debuts to Daniel Chesters, Harrison Ashby, Emmanuel Longelo, Jamal Baptiste, Trott, Oladapo Afolayan, Aji Alese, Mipo Odubeko and Jeremy Ngakia.

It is well documented that West Ham’s recruitment has also markedly improved too, with signings such as Benrahma, Soucek, Jarrod Bowen, Craig Dawson and Vladimir Coufal all proving value for money.

west-ham
Antonio celebrates scoring the winner against Leeds United (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Moyes is building a team that is capable of being perennial challengers for the top four and the prospect of winning silverware isn’t outlandish considering how impressive West Ham have been in cup competitions this season.

The club have a generational talent in Rice, an in-form striker in Antonio and an exciting emerging talent in Ben Johnson. By plenty of measures, West Ham are the best they have ever been.

Steady 12:47 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Nice positive read Irish

epsom 1:00 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

thanks Irish

gph 1:18 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Thanks, Irish.

Let's cement our place in the top four later today.

Can't do better than that, unless we win by more than 7.

Where's Abou when we need him?

Capitol Man 1:20 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

As long as,we,remember this and don;t get all wobbly when we have a bad run or two.

Jaan Kenbrovin 2:32 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

You're always wobbly, you gigantic nauseating lard faced fuckwit.

Darby_ 2:39 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Come on Benrahma has been a bit quiet lately.

jfk 4:01 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

I can’t be arsed to read the whole thread but my answer is yes.
Had some fantastic times with the late great John Lyall the seAson we were promoted and went on to beat Arsenal in the FA cup final was sublime but I was 12 back then .
This is as far what’s at stake now the best team I can temember I’m not going tomorrow unfortunately but a win will see us will see us steying in the top four.
Moyes had done a brilliant job and demands a team ethic which sees players fighting for places in the starting 11. Can’t praise Moyes and his staff highly enough.
Moyes has made incredible signings Dawson for example has been brilliant especially of late he cost a couple of million quid a fucking bargain.
Think we’ll beat villa tomorrow because we’re a much better team.

arsegrapes 5:00 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

What a lot of horseshit, no mention of FA Cup winners 64, European Cup winners 65, Moore, Hurst, Peters 66?

Disrespectful to Lyall's achievements 3rd 86, 2 X FA Cup winners, League cup and European cup winners cup finalists.

I'm happy for long suffering West Ham fans for our current good form me included but we need to win some Silverware before we run ahead of ourselves.

Thanks Irish 5:37 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Thanks Irish

legrandefromage 6:11 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Too early to tell.

We have had a few seasons of feast before only for them to be followed by long periods of famine. Some great times under Greenwood and Lyall but some quite poor ones as well, include a number of relegations.

Only time will tell how long we keep up the current momentum. Enjoy it while we can without the need to make unnecessary comparisons with bygone eras.

british is best 6:53 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Since the start of the premier League the answer is obviously yes. But as everyone knows in the eyes of some in the media football began in 1992 . Until we win something statements like that are an absolute insult to greenwood and lyalls teams .

Mex Martillo 8:24 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

True British, the stats need to bring silverware to make the statement correct and the silverware needs to be both domestic and European.
Shame we could not have that figure included.... mods?
Thanks Irish

CARTERS 9:56 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Brilliant piece Irish,
Disregard some of the Pricks on here and read other posts commenting on your Post.
I have been supporting WHU since 1965 and at 74 years young I never thought I would see all this happening.

Long may it continue.

SLAINTE

wd40 10:00 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Them dam owners have got alot of explaining to do!

Darby_ 10:46 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

He's got a long way to go before he surpasses former great manager, but as far as I'm aware, he has the best win ratio of any West Ham manager in the top flight. So either way, it's been a good first 110 games in charge.

On the other hand, this thread has probably jinxed us against Villa, so..

boleynkid 1:43 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Current team is excellent and Rice is right up there with the best of them as far as potential goes. Whether he goes on to fulfil that potential and whether it is with us (quite possibly not) remains to be seen.

The sixties team had some great players of course but there were a few who were maybe not quite up to the standard to take us further. Bonzo says the 80/81 team is the best he played in but the 85/86 team is the best so far. The final league position that year confirms that and don't forget with just a couple of games to go they had every chance of winning it.

I think most people would accept Liverpool, Chelsea & Man City are better than us at the moment but West Ham were as good as any team in 85/86.

BillC79 2:31 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

If we can finish top 6 again, then maybe. The 85-86 team were brilliant - but for just one season. We followed up a title challenge with a relegation battle.

Everyone would take a cup win over a good league position (first aside) but they’re one off games - a league is the sign of quality and consistency

balders 2:54 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

The best ever period we ever seen

What a load of bollocks

VirginiaHam 3:37 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

Our name is very much out there.

The lad and I flew back from London on Monday after the Spurs game. I was wearing my WHU mask as we went through US immigration, where the customs agents are the most miserable of any I've met on my travels.

We went through the standard passport and retina scans, masks down bollocks and Mr. Miserable handed back the passports. As he did so, a huge grin broke out on his face and he said "You'll be forever blowing bubbles then"?

The lad and I burst out laughing.

gph 4:09 Sun Oct 31
Re: West Ham are the best they have ever been ⚒️

The author makes it quite clear in what sense "West Ham are the best they have ever been".

I think there are better measures, and Greenwood and Lyall's best teams were better on my subjective feelings.

And, of course, winning something is quite a good measure too.

But Moyes is just beginning, I hope...

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