West Ham Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Mads Hermansen · Maximilian Kilman · Jean-Clair Todibo · El Hadji Diouf · Aaron Wan-Bissaka · Lucas Paquetá · Jarrod Bowen · Mateus Fernandes · Soungoutou Magassa · Tomáš Souček · Niclas Füllkrug

West Ham look to play a vertical brand of football with this 4-3-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball back high up the pitch and hit opponents in behind through quick transitions. The team relies on a high press to force long balls from the opposition and use the pace of the attackers to move the game forward.

Mads Hermansen operates between the posts as the goalkeeper. The back line consists of a flat back four where Aaron Wan-Bissaka acts as a defensive wing back to provide cover on the right. Maximilian Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo form the central pair, with Kilman acting as a ball playing defender while Todibo uses his strength to win the header and cover the space behind. El Hadji Diouf provides width on the left, often staying wide to stretch the opposition. The defensive unit functions to squeeze the space between the lines and keep the team compact when they do not have the ball.

In the middle of the pitch, West Ham utilize a three-man midfield with a single pivot. Tomáš Souček sits in the holding role to shield the defence and win the second ball. Soungoutou Magassa works as an inverted eight, helping to connect the defensive and attacking lines by carrying the ball forward. Mateus Fernandes plays as the other side of the midfield three, looking to arrive late into the box and link play with the front three. This group works to press aggressively in a mid-block to disrupt the opponent.

The attacking unit features three players across the front. Niclas Füllkrug acts as a target man, holding up the ball to allow others to join the attack. Jarrod Bowen operates as an inverted winger on the right, looking to cut inside and find space in the box. Lucas Paquetá plays on the left as an inverted winger who will often drop deeper to help the midfield and pick up runners. The team looks to use combinations in tight spaces and use the width provided by the full backs to deliver early crosses into the box.

One major advantage for West Ham is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front three to trigger a press. The formation also offers strength in the air due to the presence of Tomáš Souček and Niclas Füllkrug. This allows the team to win aerial duels and regain possession quickly in the middle third. The speed of transition when Jarrod Bowen or Lucas Paquetá break quickly can also catch defences out of position.

This 4-3-3 formation is a high intensity setup designed to dominate the transition. It is best suited for games against teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.