Guest Post by James Hirlehey
The £45 million club-record fee for Frankfurt’s Sebastien Haller has raised hopes for the Hammers ahead of the new season. There were growing concerns after the departure of Marko Arnautovic that the club could be set for a Premier League season lingering in the bottom half of the table. However, according to Compare Your Odds, Westham are now 11/10 to finish in the top 10. The Hammers needed a proven goalscorer and Haller fits all the credentials that are needed.
There is no doubt that the squad has increased in quality immediately. The Frankfurt man had been touted to join a Champions League team this summer, so it is a massive sign of intent by the Hammers to get the deal over the line. West Ham have been on the hunt for a striker for the past three summers, but they could have hit the jackpot.
What Does Haller Bring?
Standing at 6 ft 3 inches he immediately will be an imposing figure to lead the line. He possesses the quality with both the ball in the air and at his feet to bring in the quality players such as Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini around him. His hold up play could be pivotal in how the Hammers approach games last season as he could free up space for the influential players around him, while Mark Noble and Declan Rice will ensure that the Hammers aren’t left vulnerable.
The 25-year-old can score an array of goals and is as strong with the ball on either foot. That is highlighted by his 15 goals last season being divided between right-footed, left-footed and headed finishes. He is far more comfortable on his right-foot, with ten of his goals coming on that foot. However, his ability to find the right areas of the box to be in for when the ball gets there is the type of striker that the Hammers have needed for many years.
He has been described as an effective striker, and that is exactly what the club needed. He has already scored over 100 goals in club football, so it isn’t hard to see why the Hammers have been happy to part ways with the best part of £40 million.
Where Will He Fit In?
With Manuel Pellegrini seeming desperate to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation it is likely that Haller will be playing in the lone striker role. Behind him, there will be the influential trio of Lanzini, Anderson and the returned Andriy Yarmolenko. There will also be a chance of rotation with the arrival of Pablo Fornals and Robert Snodgrass. There is an abundance of talent in the forward areas that will present the manager with many questions. Regardless, all of these are good problems to have.
Instead, he could opt to change the system and play a 3-5-2; something the Chilean did attempt last year. However, this season could reap benefits from this change in formation. The five in midfield can be anchored by Rice, with Fornals and Lanzini either side. The wingers of Yarmolenko and Anderson and the forwards being Haller partnered with Javier Hernandez. There will be an interesting dynamic to that system, but Pellegrini will need to find the right balance, so the team aren’t caught on the counter-attack.
Expectations
The hopes for the new season are the highest that they have been for many years now. There had been signs that positive things are ahead at the back end of last season, but the need for a striker was something that everybody connected with the club knew that they needed. The arrival of Haller means that the Hammers could have hopes of finishing in the top six now. If Haller adjusts to the Premier League quickly, then there is no reason that couldn’t happen.