The West Ham Breakdown

Jack Elderton
  • 5.0 (9)
  • FOOTBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A weekly podcast exploring the tactics and data behind every West Ham match. Featuring Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall. Brought to you by Analytics United.

  1. 4D AGO

    Closing Time Blues

    Unearth the hidden gems of the beer world and claim your free case here: www.beer52.com/ANALYTICS West Ham United are currently three points from safety, but taking 10 points from the last 15 has fundamentally changed the feeling around the club. This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal map out the tactical path forward following the high-intensity, high-pressure, and at times highly frustrating, performances against Manchester United and Burnley. While it was gutting to drop points to a last-minute equaliser at the London Stadium, Jack and Cal discuss why the Hammers are starting to look more than good enough to survive and are currently putting ginormous pressure on the teams above us. They discuss West Ham’s seeming inability to kill off games after being robbed of 2 points against Man Utd, why bringing on Callum Wilson in a winning gamestate might be the worst possible option and whether Jarrod Bowen could be the answer. They debate Adama Traoré’s cameo appearances so far since joining from Fulham, how Leny Yoro changed the game in favour of Man United and where Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa fit into West Ham’s a midfield unit carrying Nuno to safety. Timestamps: (00:00) West Ham 1-1 Manchester United: A frustrating draw(02:33) 10 points from 15: Putting pressure on the teams above us(09:20) Why we failed to hold on: Defensive solidity vs Inefficient chance conversion(14:40) West Ham’s Forwards: Why subbing on Callum Wilson didn’t work(17:39) How can West Ham hold onto winning positions?(25:56) Adama Traoré: Minutes vs Efficiency(29:26) Why did we have no counters in the first half?(33:43) Midfield Balance: Who should start in the middle?(42:02) Axel Disasi & Mads Hermansen: What they bring to West Ham’s backline(49:25) Burnley 0-2 West Ham: Mastering control(52:42) Freddie Potts: How best to utilise him Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 1m

  2. FEB 3

    Old Habits Die Hard

    Unearth the hidden gems of the beer world and claim your free case here: www.beer52.com/ANALYTICS This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal dissect a gutting 3-2 defeat for West Ham against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, despite dominating for the opening 50 minutes of the game. We break down how Aaron Wan-Bissaka neutralised Garnacho and how the specific roles of Hato and Gusto allowed the Hammers to funnel the game exactly where they wanted it. However, we debate whether the second-half collapse was a simple failure of mentality or if Chelsea’s substitutions exposed a fundamental gap in squad depth. We debate the tactical changes that forced West Ham back, investigating why Nuno Espirito Santo sacrificed transitional threat to survive a 3-1-6 onslaught. The episode explores the merits of a 5-2-3 setup to protect the last line, questioning if we were destined to buckle under the pressure of seven men crashing the box. Finally, we tackle the goals and refereeing flashpoints, from the Jean-Clair Todibo red card to the Jarrod Bowen penalty shout. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 9m

  3. JAN 27

    The Survival Signal

    This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Darcy dive into a vital Premier League victory that has the London Stadium dreaming of safety. Following back-to-back wins for West Ham, we ask the big question: is the great escape officially on and who can we actually catch in the table? Jack and Darcy provide a tactical breakdown of how the goals happened and debate whether this result was down to Hammers’ brilliance or Sunderland’s poor form. We deep dive into the stats, looking at our 74% dominance in ground duels and why our wingers—Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen—completely won the battle out wide compared to the previous fixture. We also explore the growing on-pitch relationships transforming our season, from the Ollie Scarles and Summerville combination to the clinical partnership between Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos. Finally, we look at game management—how did we handle the lead from the bench and what does the squad need in the final week of the transfer window to stay in control? Timestamps: (00:00) West Ham 3-1 Sunderland: Match Review (05:43) The Great Escape: Is it actually on? (13:25) Breaking down West Ham’s goals from Summerville and Fernandes (18:04) Sunderland’s Consolation Goal: Where the defence failed and Todibo's positioning (20:56) Were West Ham great or were Sunderland just poor? (28:43) The tactical relationships being built out wide (30:48) The evolution of Ollie Scarles (35:34) The New Front Two: Evaluating the Pablo and Taty Castellanos partnership (42:46) Managing Game States: Stability vs. Chaos when holding a lead (48:19) Analysing the second-half subs: How Callum Wilson affects the press? (51:49) Transfer Priorities: What West Ham needs this January (52:46) What's Freddie Potts' future now Guido Rodriguez has left? (54:43) The Paquetá Question: Is the team actually better without him? Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 3m

  4. JAN 20

    Dr. Tottenham's Miracle Cure

    West Ham finally won in the Premier League! This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal celebrate a massive away victory against Tottenham Hotspur. After a prolonged period of struggle, the Hammers turned a corner in North London scoring in the stoppage time to sink Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Jack and Cal take a look at the stark contrast between the two halves, discussing how West Ham didn't just compete but actually dominated the first 45 minutes. The tactical deep dive focuses on the return of the 4-4-2, exploring how Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe performed diligently out of possession to stifle Spurs. They also talk Summerville’s sensational showing and defensive work rate, Pablo's impact on second balls, how Soucek and Fernandes dominated Tottenham's midfielders and much more. Timestamps: (00:00) West Ham's Massive Win at Spurs: Initial Reactions (02:56) Just how bad were Spurs? (07:25) What exactly were Xavi Simons & Conor Gallagher doing? (14:00) Just how good were West Ham's midfield? (15:12) Pablo Felipe's Impact: Physicality & battling Cristian Romero (20:21) Tactical Masterclass: Why West Ham dominated the first half (23:52) 4-4-2 is Back: How we neutralised the Spurs 3-2-5 shape (26:36) Crysencio Summerville & Jarrod Bowen’s defensive shifts (33:47) The Second Half: How the Hammers dug in to secure 3 points (43:39) Konstantinos Mavropanos: The Greek colossus (45:16) The importance of Tomáš Souček's performance (48:30) The impact Nuno's substitutions made Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 1m

  5. JAN 13

    The Paqueta Paradox

    West Ham have finally get back to winning ways against QPR in the FA Cup, but the victory has been overshadowed by the €35 million transfer bid from Flamengo for Lucas Paquetá. This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Cal navigate the bittersweet aftermath of a cup win and the impossible choice facing the West Ham board: do you cash in on an talisman who wants a move back to Brazil, or is sanctioning his departure now tantamount to accepting relegation from the Premier League. They also break down the QPR match, analysing the shift to a 4-4-2 and how a front line featuring Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe changed the dynamic and discussing what lessons Nuno Espírito Santo could bring into games against Premier League opposition. Plus, a deep dive into the underlying data of our midfield and defence—comparing West Ham’s central hubs to our direct relegation rivals to just how our squad stacks up against our opposition. We wrap up by looking at the January transfer window and whether the club should be recruiting for a survival fight or for life in the Championship. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (03:00) Lucas Paquetá: The Flamengo bid and the player’s motivatio (12:31) Does selling Paquetá mean West Ham are accepting relegation? (22:47) West Ham 2-1 QPR Match Review (28:03) Switching to a 4-4-2: Pros and Cons (31:38) Midfield struggles: Finding the right combination (34:54) Winning Gamestate: West Ham's chronic lack of control when ahead (37:57) Data Dive: How do West Ham compare to the other relegation candidates? (45:50) West Ham's midfield vs other bottom six midfielders Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytic Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr

  6. JAN 8

    Reforestation

    Is the drop inevitable or can West Ham find a route to survival? This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack, Cal, and Darcy navigate one of the most dejecting weeks in recent memory. They pick through a bruising encounter with Nottingham Forest, discussing the good, the bad and ugly from the London Stadium including the officiating decisions that went against the Hammers, what worked tactically against the Reds and what didn't and the impact of Nuno's substitutions. They also take a deep dive into the underlying numbers behind Jarrod Bowen’s season, exploring why West Ham's reliance on him has become a double-edged sword as his creative output halves, they discuss the unbalanced nature of the current squad, questioning which players truly fit Nuno’s system and highlighting the surprising bright spots from the Academy of Football. Plus, we reflect on the tactical no-show against Wolves and the brilliance of Mateus Mané. Timestamps:(00:00) Intro: A horrendous week in West Ham(08:59) Is survival still possible?(12:57) The Forest Review: Tactical shifts & VAR controversy(18:58) New Signings: First impressions of Pablo Felipe & Taty Castellanos(23:56) Breaking down the positive first half from the Forest loss(28:48) The Forest second half: The tactics, the goals and the emotions(42:25) The reliance on Jarrod Bowen: A double-edged sword(49:12) The Wolves Review: Why did we fail to turn up? Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytics Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    59 min

  7. JAN 2

    Nuno: Stick or Twist?

    Are we seeing progress under Nuno, or is the eight-game winless run a sign of deeper issues? This week on The West Ham Breakdown, Jack and Darcy dive deep into tactical shifts, youth integration, and ask the ultimate question regarding Nuno: Stick or Twist? We break down the Brighton stalemate, how Paquetá’s move to the left unlocks Jarrod Bowen's potential, and analyze another frustratingly late collapse against Fulham. Why are we struggling to see games out, and is it a personnel issue or a game management flaw? Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:48) Nuno's Report Card: Stick or Twist?(19:11) West Ham 2-2 Brighton Review: Paqueta's Gravity & Tactics(44:39) West Ham 0-1 Fulham Analysis: Why do we collapse late? Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytics Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    59 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    The Ghost of Relegation Yet to Come

    Jack and Cal break down Manchester City 3-0 West Ham, discussing a sobering afternoon in the Premier League following another defeat for Nuno's side and Leeds getting a surprise win against Crystal Palace at Elland Road. They dissect all the goals from the Etihad, talking the individual errors and tactical lapses that led to Erling Haaland’s brace and Tijjani Reijnders' strike, questioning why the Hammers got exposed and why the substitutions failed to turn the tide. Jack and Cal also debate the 4-3-3 shape, whether it’s time to flatten the midfield to provide better defensive width and the lack of support Oliver Scarles upon his return against Rayan Cherki. They also take at Crysencio Summerville and Freddie Potts impact and performances before finishing with a look at the chronic lack of xG creation. With all the goal-scoring pressure on Bowen and questions mounting over bench usage and the absence of younger talents, they ask the big question: how do you fix West Ham? Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/analyticsunited You can follow the pod (and our other work) on Twitter: Main: @AnalyticsUtd_ Jack: @jackelderton Cal: @WHU_Analytics Darcy: @futpysche Charlie: @ATopLad Theme music: "Emotional Chill Electronic Vlog Music | Sunset" by Alex-Productions (https://onsound.eu/) Promoted by: https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 3m
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5
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About

A weekly podcast exploring the tactics and data behind every West Ham match. Featuring Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall. Brought to you by Analytics United.

Information

  • Creator
    Jack Elderton
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Copyright
    © The West Ham Breakdown
  • Show Website
    The West Ham Breakdown

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