‘Comfortable in the half-spaces’ | Crysencio Summerville analyzed

Formed by Hammers fans Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth yet accessible analysis of their team and players, United Analytics provide content for the Club’s official website, app, Official Program and social media channels.

In its latest column, Analytics United uses performance analytics and data to examine the contribution Crysencio Summerville could go to West Ham United…

West Ham United have confirmed the signing of Crysencio Summerville Leeds United. The Dutch winger fits into an already impressive array of attacking options in Julen Lopetegui’s squad, including Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio, adding balance to the group with his natural preference to play on the left.

Having provided four goals and two assists in 12 appearances for Leeds in the 2022/23 season, after initially breaking into the side with six appearances from the bench the previous season, Summerville joins with some Premier League experience already under his belt. And while Leeds may have been relegated that season, The Dutchman used the platform to properly announce himself on the scene with a fantastic winner at Anfield, a delightful curling finish in the 89th minute after slotting past Thiago and between Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk..

Still only 22, the Dutchman then took things to the next level last season in the Championship and made it clear to everyone that he is a star in the making. Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion via the Play-Offs after finishing third in the league, but Summerville finished his campaign with 21 goals and ten assists in all competitions and ranked fourth in the division for combined expected goals and assists.. He certainly can’t be blamed for the Whites’ failure in the end and fully deserves his move back to the top flight.

We expect Lopetegui to change things tactically at West Ham to introduce more of a possession-based 3-4-2-1 formation with the defensive midfielder splitting the centre-backs or one full-back narrowing and dropping back while the other pushes forward. As a result, It is extremely important that the two wide attackers feel comfortable in the half-spaces (the space between the flank and the centre of the pitch) and Summerville, like Kudus, is exactly what Lopetegui will be looking for..