Fullkrug 1/10 shocker, Kilman excellent: West Ham United player ratings so far this season
West Ham United’s start to their Premier League campaign under Julen Lopetegui has not gone to plan with the club sitting 12th after seven games.
The former Sevilla boss was named as the new head coach of West Ham in the summer however he has struggled to come to terms with English football as of yet.
With just two wins on the board, The Hammers’ squad have a lot more to offer and the conclusion of the current international break will provide the opportunity for them to showcase it.
With that said, how has each West Ham player fared so far this season?
Alphonse Areola – 6
Areola has had a decent yet unspectacular start to the season for the Hammers having conceded 11 goals so far however his shot-stopping ability has been good in general. Questions have been asked over the Frenchman’s quality of distribution however and as life under Lopetegui goes on, it will be something for the keeper to focus on.
Lukas Fabianski – 6
The Polish goalkeeper has made only one appearance in the Premier League and two in the Carabao Cup but has consistently shown during his time at the club he is a more than worthy backup option.
Wes Foderingham – NA
Foderingham hasn’t featured at the club since his arrival from Sheffield United.
Vladimir Coufal – 5
Coufal has been an excellent servant for the club since his arrival in 2020 however he isn’t suited for the style West Ham want to play nowadays. His experience however is invaluable to the squad and is a reliable short-term option should injuries occur.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8
Wan-Bissaka burst onto the scene when coming through the ranks at Crystal Palace, earning him a big move to Manchester United however it never quite worked out for the fullback. Now at West Ham, however, he has excelled and made a massive impact. His ability to drive forward with the ball whilst being reliable at the back has been crucial to the way West Ham set up.
Emerson – 6
The former Chelsea defender enjoyed an impressive season last time out for the Hammers however hasn’t quite hit those levels so far this season. That said, he hasn’t really put a foot wrong and has been reliable throughout.
Aaron Cresswell – 5
Similarly to Coufal, Cresswell isn’t quite at the level required anymore to be playing for a side with the ambitions that West Ham have. Albeit having only featured several times, his lack of pace has caught him out on occasions but again his experience is invaluable.
Max Kilman – 9
Having impressed massively at Wolves, Kilman arrived at West Ham with plenty of excitement and has so far lived up to it. He has been a solid figure in the heart of the Hammers’s defence and has been crucial to the attempts to kickstart the season with consistently excellent performances.
Jean-Clair Todibo – 7
It has been a somewhat mixed start to life in England for Todibo however his quality is evident. A composed figure at the back with many attributes that make it no surprise as to why so many clubs have been chasing him in the past. There is still much more to come from the Frenchman however.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 4
The Greek international has been poor so far this season in reality, especially for a player that has a lot more quality than has been on display. His often erratic decision-making has cost his side on several occasions.
Guido Rodriguez – 6
The Argentinian midfielder has shown why he was touted as a potential target for many clubs however he hasn’t quite demonstrated that level of ability on a consistent level. Although the quality is there to be seen and he will certainly become a key player in the coming months.
Andy Irving – N/A
The Scotsman has played just a handful of minutes so far this season, albeit looking decent in the few he has had.
Edson Alvarez – 6
The Mexican hasn’t demonstrated just how good of a player he can be so far this season however has remained a solid performer for West Ham. An injury earlier in the year somewhat hampered his development in England however the recent international break may provide him with the break he needs to fully rest and recover and get back to his best.
Lucas Paqueta – 4
Paqueta is an incredibly talented player that has been incredibly frustrating this season. Just two goals in his seven appearances so far sum up his form as of yet. There have been a lot of off-field issues for the Brazillian that will have no doubt played a huge part, however getting him back to his best will be key for the Hammers reviving their season.
Tomas Soucek – 8
Soucek has been arguably the most consistent player at West Ham ever since his arrival. His ability in the air, contributions going forward and willingness to help his team off the ball have all contributed to his name being one of the first on the teamsheet each week.
Carlos Soler – 6
Since arriving from PSG, Soler has been getting to grips with English football and has shown glimpses of quality so far. However, perhaps as expected at this early stage, the consistency and ability to take hold of a game hasn’t been there.
Jarrod Bowen – 7
Bowen hasn’t quite hit the ground running this season in terms of numbers, ultimately leading to the winger being left out of the England squad, however, his performances have still been more than worthy of a place in the starting 11. Similar to many players in this list, there is a lot more to come from Bowen.
Crysencio Summerville – 6
Having been hailed as the best player in the Championship last season by many, Summerville’s arrival was met with much anticipation and he hasn’t had the gametime to really showcase what he’s all about. In the limited time he has had, he has shown an ability to be direct and contribute effectively to West Ham’s attack and will play a big role in the coming months as games pile up.
Mohammed Kudus – 5
Again, Kudus is a very good player but his performances this season haven’t been anything to shout home about. Just one goal contribution so far this season from the Ghanaian is far below what you would expect from someone with such quality.
Danny Ings – 5
Much of West Ham’s deficiencies come from their lack of central attacking threat and Ings, nowadays, is unfortunately not cut out to be the one to change that. He has however only played three times in the league and scored once.
Michail Antonio – 6
Antonio has been West Ham’s go-to striker for many years now and without meaning any disservice to the Jamaican, it explains a lot of the striking issues the club have faced. Antonio will work hard on and off the ball but does not have the cutting edge to be a starting striker for a side that wants to kick on as much as West Ham.
Niclas Fullkrug – 1
The German international earned his plaudits in the Bundesliga last season, ultimately earning him a move to the Premier League but so far it has been nothing short of a disaster. Fullkrug has looked miles away from being capable at this level and with such a heavy transfer fee involved, West Ham really needed him to come in and make an instant impact and he hasn’t managed to do so. His short-term future is now shrouded in mystery due to his injury.
In other West Ham news, Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from football a matter of weeks after talks with West Ham didn’t lead to a deal.
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