West Ham fans have long debated the effectiveness of their team’s long throws, often doubting their value despite David Moyes’ reliance on set pieces. The predictable routine seemed to offer little in terms of scoring opportunities.
However, a surprising revelation from WhoScored, a football statistics website, challenges this perception. They revealed that Vladimir Coufal, the team’s right-back, has created more chances directly from throw-ins than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season – an impressive accomplishment among thousands of players from nearly 100 teams.
This news came as a shock to many, including myself, who had previously dismissed the team’s long throws as ineffective. The data suggests that these throw-ins are indeed creating valuable chances; the issue lies in converting them into goals.
Coufal’s success sheds light on a potential strategy behind West Ham’s often criticized long throws. While frustrating, they undeniably create scoring opportunities. The team now needs to focus on improving their finishing to fully capitalize on these chances and add a new dimension to their set-piece tactics.
Coufal’s outstanding performance, with seven assists to his name this season, demonstrates his value beyond just his impressive long throws. He deserves recognition for his contributions to the team’s success.
