For all the problems facing West Ham United right now, the return of Crysencio Summerville and a couple of useful summer additions have at least helped to fix things a little in one key area.
It was a common complaint during a dreadful start to the campaign under Graham Potter.
Tony Cottee needed only that Sunderland thrashing on the opening weekend to realise what the ‘biggest problem’ facing his beloved West Ham United really was.
While Mads Hermansen, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and Nayef Aguerd did not cover themselves in glory during that 3-0 trouncing, and while Niclas Fullkrug offered little at the other end, Cottee instead focused on the lack of ‘legs’ among a snail-paced midfield partnership of James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez.
Even when Rodriguez was put out of his misery, in came another 30-year-old in Tomas Soucek.
Hence, why West Ham were so determined to sign Mateus Fernandes during the final days of August. As it transpired, Fernandes would arrive only a few hours before Potter welcomed Soungoutou Magassa to Rush Green as well.
This, coupled with the long-awaited return from injury of Crysencio Summerville, means that by the time Nuno was appointed, the Hammers could at least boast the sort of athleticism and mobility so badly missing from those traumatic defeats by Sunderland and Chelsea before the window closed.
Crysencio Summerville hails West Ham United teammate Mateus Fernandes
One of the attributes which attracted West Ham to Mateus Fernandes, in addition to his work rate out of possession and his intelligent use of the ball, was his ability to spin away from danger, turn on the afterburners and drive through the heart of the pitch.
As Fernandes made an ‘exceptional start’ to Hammers life during that 3-0 debut victory over Nottingham Forest – Nuno’s Nottingham Forest – the impressive first touch, turn of pace and ball-carrying ability which made him a rare bright spot in a disastrous season for Southampton came immediately to the fore.
When asked to select the player with the best first touch in the West Ham squad, meanwhile, Summerville’s mind quickly turned to the Portugal Under-21 playmaker.
“Look, I will back myself but Matty is really good as well!” Summerville said. “Matty is really good in small spaces.”
Summerville explains why a good first touch is so important
After that valiant but largely toothless 2-0 defeat by Arsenal last time out, Nuno spelled out West Ham’s need to improve when in possession of the ball. He argues that this is still a team lacking a bit of ‘mobility’ in key areas.
So presuming the Hammers will climb the table under a man who took Wolves and Nottingham Forest into Europe, fast, aggressive dribblers like Fernandes and Summerville will be absolutely integral. A la, say Elliott Anderson and Anthony Elanga during Forest’s Europa League-qualification campaign.
“[A good first touch is] very important because, if your first touch is good in small spaces, basically you are gone!” Summerville said, the former Leeds winger having used his standout attributes to devastating effect during that shock win at the City Ground in late-August.
“For me, as a winger, it’s really important, our first touch, because you decide where to go. The defender cannot catch you if your first touch is good.”
