Journalist makes ‘awkward’ West Ham United v Tottenham prediction as ‘most vulnerable’ verdict shared
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are “most vulnerable” against the tactics that West Ham United utilise under David Moyes.
That is according to Premier League journalist Alex Keble ahead of the meeting between the two clubs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham welcome the Hammers to North London in Premier League action on Thursday (7 December), with the former fifth in the table and the latter ninth.
West Ham are not the type of opponents Spurs will want to face right now,” Keble wrote for the official Premier League website (4 December).
“David Moyes’s deep line of engagement and focus on counter-attacks is the tactical approach Postecoglou’s football is most vulnerable against. Spurs have faced 73 switches of play, more than any other team, while West Ham have played 66 switches, more than anyone else.
“When the ball is turned over, West Ham could quickly play diagonals out to their wingers in search of space behind Spurs’ marauding full-backs. It may be the defining tactical battle of an awkward match for the hosts.”
Intriguing clash
Both Tottenham and West Ham head into the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of draws on Sunday (3 December).
The former played out a thrilling 3-3 stalemate with Manchester City at the Etihad, while the latter were held to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at the London Stadium.
It means both Postecoglou and Moyes should be keen to get back to winning ways then they go face-to-face in this London derby.
The hosts will still be without many key stars for the match amid their current injury crisis, with the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ivan Perisic among others all still sidelined.
The visitors meanwhile have been boosted by the return of star winger Jarrod Bowen, who returned to the team for the meeting with the Eagles after suffering a knee issue while on England duty during the recent international break.
