West Ham United: Konstantinos Mavropanos is perfect player to exploit Sheffield United weakness
West Ham head into their home match with Sheffield United on Saturday [30 September] as heavy favourites to pick up all three points.
The Hammers may have lost back-to-back league games, but those losses came at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool.
Sitting seventh in the Premier League, four points off the top four, West Ham are in a healthy position six games into the campaign.
That is far from the case for next opponents Sheffield United, who are rock bottom with one point from a possible 18 since earning promotion.
The Blades shipped eight goals in a chastening defeat against Newcastle United last week, with their inability to defend crosses again clear to see.
Whether it is from open play or assists, Paul Heckingbottom’s side struggle to deal with balls that come into the box.
As per The Analyst, they have conceded a division-high four goals from set-pieces this season.
West Ham have only scored twice via corners and free-kicks, which six other sides can better, but they have a chance to improve that record this weekend.
The quality of James Ward-Prowse’s deliveries is well known, but the Hammers could be doing more to take full advantage.
That is why David Moyes will surely be tempted to turn to Konstantinos Mavropanos for his Premier League debut with the club.
Mavropanos is a defender with an eye for goal, highlighted by the six he scored across the past two Bundesliga seasons with Stuttgart, some of those being belters.
According to FBref, Mavropanos ranks in the top eight per cent of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for goals per 90 minutes over the past year (0.10).
The 3.39 aerial duels he wins per 90, meanwhile, places him in the top five per cent. If there is a ball in the box there to be attacked, Mavropanos will attack it.
With concerns also being raised over the performances of Nayef Aguerd, this may well be the match in which Moyes switches up his central-defensive combination.
If that is the case, summer signing Mavropanos must take his opportunity with both hands – or simply with his head.
In other West Ham news, pundit Darren Bent threw Ward-Prowse’s name in the frame during a debate on talkSPORT.