Player Focus: Allardyce's Tactics Complimenting Carroll's West Ham Return

Due to its timing, the Africa Cup of Nations presents fringe players with the perfect opportunity to stake a claim for a regular starting berth for teams whose players will participate in the tournament. Andy Carroll was one of those hoping to leapfrog a striking rival in the pecking order earler in the camapign. The Englishman’s ankle injury sustained in the summer meant his first appearance of the season for West Ham came in the dying embers of an uneventful 0-0 home draw with Aston Villa. Up until then, summer arrival Diafra Sakho had been the man of the moment for the Hammers, netting in 6 successive league appearances leading up to the stalemate with the Villans. At the time, Sakho was deservedly the first choice frontman under Sam Allardyce. 

Carroll knew his time would come at some stage or another, though, with Sakho picked to represent Senegal in Equatorial Guinea, despite injury meaning he was unable to turn out for the Lions of Teranga at the competition. Nevertheless, the Englishman was presented with the chance to re-establish himself as the number 1 striker at Upton Park prior to the tournament, and he has not disappointed. Only James Tomkins (7.53) has earned a better WhoScored rating of all West Ham players in the Premier League this season than Carroll, with 7.44 representing a rise from last term (7.23). 

The 26-year-old recently played a vital part in West Ham’s progression to the 5th round of the FA Cup, clearing off the line from Matt Smith’s goalbound header in the first half, before providing the assist for Sakho’s winner with 10 minutes remaining in the 1-0 win at Ashton Gate. His overall performance saw him awarded the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.87, his third competitive accolade of the campaign. A 4-month injury layoff, coupled with the form of Sakho and fellow summer arrival Enner Valencia, could well have seen Carroll forced to settle for a backup role with the east London side, but the frontman has returned to action with aplomb and made himself all but undroppable to Allardyce. 

Indeed, the initial ankle problem has perhaps contributed to Carroll’s development as a more capable, well-rounded striker. Previously thought of as just a route one frontman, his spell on the sidelines saw Allardyce move from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-1-2 to accomodate Sakho and Valencia, with Kevin Nolan’s injury also playing a part in this change. The club’s owners demanded a more aesthetically pleasing brand of football after last season’s relegation threatened campaign, though it remained to be seen whether Carroll would have as big a part to play following his return. 

Carroll has altered his game accordingly and is no longer the stand-alone target man tasked with knocking down long balls to provide for Nolan, nor are West Ham as predictable in their build up play. The onus previously was on funnelling the ball out wide for the wingers to cross for Carroll. The full-backs - Aaron Cresswell and Carl Jenkinson - are expected to provide the width for the Hammers, allowing Stewart Downing to flourish in a more central role. The acquisition of the technically gifted Alexandre Song means play goes through the middle rather than straight to the wings, especially when Downing is deployed behind the striker.  

With Song dropping deep, the centre-backs are offered an alternative route out from the back rather than being forced to pump the ball forward. This then benefits Downing, who can utilise the creative side of his game in a more central position, where he is not required to cross as frequently from wide, but rather exploit his WhoScored strength of ‘key passes’ in the final third. With this change of tack, West Ham are averaging more possession this season (46.6%) than last (42.7%). However, that is not to say Allardyce has not looked to exploit Carroll’s aerial prowess when needed.

Before his full return to action - a 2-1 defeat at Everton at the end of November - West Ham were averaging considerably fewer long balls per league game (63.8) than they are from that match up to the present day (72.1). With Carroll in the starting XI, the temptation is still there to play the long ball up to the England international, though he is still using his physical attributes to the team’s advantage, with his assist against Bristol City a case in point.

Carroll is winning more aerial duels per game (9.3) than any other player in the Premier League this campaign. The difference this season, however, is that Carroll now more often than not has a strike partner, which means his aerial ability is not going to waste. Paired with one of Sakho or Valencia to run in behind the defence, the burly frontman can knock the ball on for either to attack the opposition, rather than rely on Carroll not only winning the initial headed battle, but also attempting to win back possession if the ball is subsueqnetly lost. 

His general hold up play has benefitted his teammates this season, with those around him in the final third thriving from his ability to bring others into the game. This has seen the former Newcastle and Liverpool man average marginally more passes per league game this term (28.7) than last (26.9). While West Ham have at times reverted to the long ball approach, it’s more an evolution rather than a revolution at Upton Park with Carroll slotting in seamlessly when, following his return from injury, many may have assumed he would have been a square peg in a round hole. 

Carroll’s ankle problem was a blow, of that there is no doubt. Coupled with the demands of the owners, the injury, however, forced Allardyce to re-think his approach at Upton Park, which has helped West Ham progress to the 5th round of the FA Cup and 7th in the Premier League. "People looked in from the outside and gave him a lot of stick and I hope they are starting to eat their words now," West Ham captain Nolan said after Sunday’s win over Bristol on Carroll, and his displays following his return to action have silenced the critics. A more fluid style of play in east London suggested the England international may struggle to re-establish himself as Allardyce’s go-to striker, especially with Sakho and Valencia impressing, but Carroll is once again heading the pecking order at Upton Park.

How impressed have you been with Andy Carroll following his return from injury? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below