The West Ham Breakdown

By Jack EldertonSports News Sports News Soccer

The West Ham Breakdown episodes

March 24 #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.
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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

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Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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1 hr 4 min
March 17 #110 Viva La Great Escape!
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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.
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Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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1 hr
March 11 #109 Why We're Starting To Believe
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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.

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You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter:
Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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58 min
February 24 #108 1 Point Gained or 2 Points Dropped?
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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.

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You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter:
Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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1 hr 7 min
February 12 #107 Closing Time Blues
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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

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1 hr 2 min
February 03 #106 Old Habits Die Hard
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This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal dissect a gutting 3-2 defeat for West Ham against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, despite dominating for the opening 50 minutes of the game. We break down how Aaron Wan-Bissaka neutralised Garnacho and how the specific roles of Hato and Gusto allowed the Hammers to funnel the game exactly where they wanted it. However, we debate whether the second-half collapse was a simple failure of mentality or if Chelsea’s substitutions exposed a fundamental gap in squad depth.
We debate the tactical changes that forced West Ham back, investigating why Nuno Espirito Santo sacrificed transitional threat to survive a 3-1-6 onslaught. The episode explores the merits of a 5-2-3 setup to protect the last line, questioning if we were destined to buckle under the pressure of seven men crashing the box. Finally, we tackle the goals and refereeing flashpoints, from the Jean-Clair Todibo red card to the Jarrod Bowen penalty shout.

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

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1 hr 10 min
January 27 #105 The Survival Signal
This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Darcy dive into a vital Premier League victory that has the London Stadium dreaming of safety. Following back-to-back wins for West Ham, we ask the big question: is the great escape officially on and who can we actually catch in the table?
Jack and Darcy provide a tactical breakdown of how the goals happened and debate whether this result was down to Hammers’ brilliance or Sunderland’s poor form. We deep dive into the stats, looking at our 74% dominance in ground duels and why our wingers—Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen—completely won the battle out wide compared to the previous fixture.
We also explore the growing on-pitch relationships transforming our season, from the Ollie Scarles and Summerville combination to the clinical partnership between Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos. Finally, we look at game management—how did we handle the lead from the bench and what does the squad need in the final week of the transfer window to stay in control?

Timestamps:
(00:00) West Ham 3-1 Sunderland: Match Review
(05:43) The Great Escape: Is it actually on?
(13:25) Breaking down West Ham’s goals from Summerville and Fernandes
(18:04) Sunderland’s Consolation Goal: Where the defence failed and Todibo's positioning
(20:56) Were West Ham great or were Sunderland just poor?
(28:43) The tactical relationships being built out wide
(30:48) The evolution of Ollie Scarles
(35:34) The New Front Two: Evaluating the Pablo and Taty Castellanos partnership
(42:46) Managing Game States: Stability vs. Chaos when holding a lead
(48:19) Analysing the second-half subs: How Callum Wilson affects the press?
(51:49) Transfer Priorities: What West Ham needs this January
(52:46) What's Freddie Potts' future now Guido Rodriguez has left?
(54:43) The Paquetá Question: Is the team actually better without 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

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1 hr 3 min
January 20 #104 Dr. Tottenham's Miracle Cure
West Ham finally won in the Premier League! This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal celebrate a massive away victory against Tottenham Hotspur. After a prolonged period of struggle, the Hammers turned a corner in North London scoring in the stoppage time to sink Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Jack and Cal take a look at the stark contrast between the two halves, discussing how West Ham didn't just compete but actually dominated the first 45 minutes. The tactical deep dive focuses on the return of the 4-4-2, exploring how Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe performed diligently out of possession to stifle Spurs. They also talk Summerville’s sensational showing and defensive work rate, Pablo's impact on second balls, how Soucek and Fernandes dominated Tottenham's midfielders and much more.
Timestamps:
(00:00) West Ham's Massive Win at Spurs: Initial Reactions
(02:56) Just how bad were Spurs?
(07:25) What exactly were Xavi Simons & Conor Gallagher doing?
(14:00) Just how good were West Ham's midfield?
(15:12) Pablo Felipe's Impact: Physicality & battling Cristian Romero
(20:21) Tactical Masterclass: Why West Ham dominated the first half
(23:52) 4-4-2 is Back: How we neutralised the Spurs 3-2-5 shape
(26:36) Crysencio Summerville & Jarrod Bowen’s defensive shifts
(33:47) The Second Half: How the Hammers dug in to secure 3 points
(43:39) Konstantinos Mavropanos: The Greek colossus
(45:16) The importance of Tomáš Souček's performance
(48:30) The impact Nuno's substitutions made
Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode.

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You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter:
Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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1 hr 1 min
January 13 #103 The Paqueta Paradox
West Ham have finally get back to winning ways against QPR in the FA Cup, but the victory has been overshadowed by the €35 million transfer bid from Flamengo for Lucas Paquetá. This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal navigate the bittersweet aftermath of a cup win and the impossible choice facing the West Ham board: do you cash in on an talisman who wants a move back to Brazil, or is sanctioning his departure now tantamount to accepting relegation from the Premier League.
They also break down the QPR match, analysing the shift to a 4-4-2 and how a front line featuring Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe changed the dynamic and discussing what lessons Nuno Espírito Santo could bring into games against Premier League opposition.
Plus, a deep dive into the underlying data of our midfield and defence—comparing West Ham’s central hubs to our direct relegation rivals to just how our squad stacks up against our opposition. We wrap up by looking at the January transfer window and whether the club should be recruiting for a survival fight or for life in the Championship.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:00) Lucas Paquetá: The Flamengo bid and the player’s motivatio
(12:31) Does selling Paquetá mean West Ham are accepting relegation?
(22:47) West Ham 2-1 QPR Match Review
(28:03) Switching to a 4-4-2: Pros and Cons
(31:38) Midfield struggles: Finding the right combination
(34:54) Winning Gamestate: West Ham's chronic lack of control when ahead
(37:57) Data Dive: How do West Ham compare to the other relegation candidates?
(45:50) West Ham's midfield vs other bottom six midfielders
Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode.
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You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter:
Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytic
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad
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1 hr
January 08 #102 Reforestation
Is the drop inevitable or can West Ham find a route to survival? This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack, Cal, and Darcy navigate one of the most dejecting weeks in recent memory. They pick through a bruising encounter with Nottingham Forest, discussing the good, the bad and ugly from the London Stadium including the officiating decisions that went against the Hammers, what worked tactically against the Reds and what didn't and the impact of Nuno's substitutions.
They also take a deep dive into the underlying numbers behind Jarrod Bowen’s season, exploring why West Ham's reliance on him has become a double-edged sword as his creative output halves, they discuss the unbalanced nature of the current squad, questioning which players truly fit Nuno’s system and highlighting the surprising bright spots from the Academy of Football. Plus, we reflect on the tactical no-show against Wolves and the brilliance of Mateus Mané.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: A horrendous week in West Ham
(08:59) Is survival still possible?
(12:57) The Forest Review: Tactical shifts & VAR controversy
(18:58) New Signings: First impressions of Pablo Felipe & Taty Castellanos
(23:56) Breaking down the positive first half from the Forest loss
(28:48) The Forest second half: The tactics, the goals and the emotions
(42:25) The reliance on Jarrod Bowen: A double-edged sword
(49:12) The Wolves Review: Why did we fail to turn up?
Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode.

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You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter:
Main: @AnalyticsUtd_
Jack: @jackelderton
Cal: @WHU_Analytics
Darcy: @futpysche
Charlie: @ATopLad

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59 min

About The West Ham Breakdown

From the publisher's feed

A weekly podcast exploring the tactics and data behind every West Ham match. Featuring Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall. Brought to you by Analytics United.