Formed by Hammers supporters Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth but accessible analysis of their team and its players, Analytics United provide content for the Club's official website, app, Official Programme and social media channels.
Today, Analytics United use performance analysis and data to examine the contribution Niclas Füllkrug could make to West Ham United...
West Ham United have announced the signing of Niclas Füllkrug from 2024 UEFA Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund. The Germany international joins and augments a superb attacking department with outstanding talent in every position across the frontline.
Füllkrug returned 15 goals and ten assists in the Bundesliga and Champions League last season in the black and yellow colours of Dortmund before adding another two goals at Euro 2024 to cap off a fantastic individual season. And while some might be somewhat surprised by West Ham investing in another striker over the age of 30, these numbers really speak for themselves.
As new Head Coach Julen Lopetegui shifts things tactically to a style designed to maintain pressure with possession more effectively, it’s clear that there will be greater demands placed on the defenders to play through the opposition press. And while there are plenty of players capable of this in the backline – Maxamilian Kilman, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos all have standout positive qualities on the ball – there will still be times where they need an option to hit up top with a more direct ball.
Standing 6’2 and having won 2.97 aerials per 90 in the Bundesliga last season, Füllkrug could be the solution. The German is very happy to contest aerials and will do his best to use his physical presence to make things stick up top before bringing others into play. And he uses his physicality just as effectively in the opposition box where he beat defenders in the air to score five headed goals across all competitions last season with a sixth coming in Germany’s final pre-Euro 2024 friendly against the Netherlands.
Another key element that will only grow in importance under Lopetegui is the goalscoring talents of the wide attackers that will drift inside and occupy the half-spaces. Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville are just three of the names who will be taking up these roles throughout the season and with that trio having scored 61 goals across all competitions last season, West Ham are more than well stocked in this department.
It might be a tall order, but Füllkrug will hope to make these players even more effective. His natural tendency to drop into deeper positions and receive the ball in midfield before flicking the ball off to either side, or turning and slipping a defence-splitting pass in to meet a seam run from one of the wingers, will enable those attackers around him to receive the ball running at speed and use their dribbling and finishing qualities to devastating effect.
This worked in incredible fashion for Dortmund at times last season as Donyell Malen scored 15. And the Dutchman’s finish to put Dortmund 2-0 up against Freiburg back in February gives us the perfect example of the kind of positive relationship Füllkrug can develop with his wingers. Here, Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck cleared the box from a cross and Füllkrug used his body brilliantly to dominate Kiliann Silidillia in the duel for the dropping ball before controlling and carrying the ball 40 yards upfield, waiting for the defenders to approach him, and only then releasing Donyell Malen, who scored.
This is exactly what Lopetegui will be hoping the German striker can bring to West Ham with such a fantastic cast of dynamic wingers available. Füllkrug finished last season on eight assists, joint-fifth in the Bundesliga, and only beaten by his former Werder Bremen teammate Marvin Ducksch amongst out-and-out strikers. That’s level with what Harry Kane managed in the league last season, someone we all think of for his ability to drop into deeper areas before releasing those ahead of him.
Of course, Fullkrüg obviously also adds a great deal of experience and know-how to the group and won’t be phased by the Premier League after being one of Dortmund and Germany’s more impressive players in the Champions League and at Euro 2024. His ball-striking is outstanding, as shown by his sensational finish for Germany’s fifth against Scotland, and his shot selection works in tandem with this to consistently generate goals. He rarely shoots from weaker positions with an average npxG per shot of 0.19 last season, inside the top 12% in the Bundesliga.
The German’s combination of strength and intelligence, alongside his excellent hold-up work and deceptively skillful link-up play for such a big man, make him the perfect addition to Lopetegui’s attack.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Analytics United and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of West Ham United.
