Episodes

  • #117 The Decision That Could Relegate West Ham

    #117 The Decision That Could Relegate West Ham
    May 12 2026
    Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited Jack and Cal break down West Ham 0-1 Arsenal, discussing Callum Wilson's late disallowed equaliser which was controversially ruled out by VAR for a potential foul on David Raya by Pablo Felipe. They talk the lack of consistency in refereeing set-pieces, particularly regarding blocking and grappling from corners, and how these decisions are impacting both the relegation battle and title race. They also praise the Hammers' resilient defending, break down the significant impact Ben White's injury had by forcing Declan Rice into a makeshift right-back role and debate if West Ham were good enough on the ball. Timestamps: (00:00) West Ham 0-1 Arsenal review (01:13) Should West Ham’s goal have been disallowed goal? (10:59) Are set-pieces impossible to defend now? (17:30) VAR’s effect on football (20:44) How Arsenal dominated the first 20 minutes (27:56) Why West Ham improved when Declan Rice moved to right-back (35:16) How Arsenal regained control at half time (37:21) West Ham’s defence was magnificent (43:25) Could West Ham have done better for Arsenal’s goal? (46:29) Were West Ham bad on the ball? 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
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    56 mins
  • #116 Can West Ham Still Survive?

    #116 Can West Ham Still Survive?
    May 5 2026
    Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited Jack and Darcy break down West Ham's 3-0 loss to Brentford, discussing the front two of Pablo and Taty, counterpressing, the risks that come with it and the challenges that come after going behind to a team like Brentford. They talk what changed between the first and second halves to effect the game so much, Soucek's movement and passing and where an awful weekend of results leaves West Ham in the fight for survival. Timestamps: (00:00) Our reaction to an awful weekend of Premier League results (05:06) How the referee's performance affected the game (18:18) Can West Ham still escape relegation? (22:46) Why our pressing and counter-pressing worked initially (25:15) Pablo and Castellanos: Have they been good enough? (37:00) Tomáš Souček's importance to West Ham (40:06) Pushing further forward to help Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville create (44:48) What went wrong in the second half? (49:53) Substitutions and their impact (or lack thereof) (54:24) Why changing the shape didn't work 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
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #115 Wilson vs Pablo vs Taty: Who Should Start?

    #115 Wilson vs Pablo vs Taty: Who Should Start?
    Apr 28 2026
    Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited Cal and Darcy break down the Hammers' crucial victory over Everton to stay one step ahead in the Premier League relegation battle. They discuss the psychological impact of matching Spurs' pace in the run-in, evaluate Pablo and Taty Castellanos' performances up front and talk the officiating after a controversial non-penalty for Mateus Fernandes and a reckless challenge from Jordan Pickford. They also talk through the tactical shift required after a shaky first fifteen minutes, how Mateus Fernandes finally started to unlock the game against Champions League-chasing Everton, and whether Callum Wilson should be considered for a starting spot in the upcoming massive clash against Brentford. 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
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    1 hr
  • #114 Unstoppable Mavropanos Meets Immovable Canvot

    #114 Unstoppable Mavropanos Meets Immovable Canvot
    Apr 22 2026
    Join our Patreon today to get 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH and support Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited Was 1 point enough? Jack Elderton and Darcy Cox break down West Ham's disappointing 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and what it means for the relegation run-in to come. They discuss how the Hammers adapted to deal with early central overloads to gain control in the first half, what exactly went wrong in the second half to produce such a lifeless performance and praise the box-defending excellence of Mavropanos and Disasi once again. They talk the second half substitution of Callum Wilson, what his introduction meant for those around him and how the relegation run-in currently shaping up after an eventful weekend in the Premier League. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. 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_U Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • #113 Strikers, Steel and Survival

    #113 Strikers, Steel and Survival
    Apr 14 2026
    Join our Patreon today to get 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH and support Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited West Ham just defeated Wolves 4-0 under the lights at the London Stadium, and suddenly, the mission that once felt impossible is now very much on. Jack Elderton and Cal Goodall are back to break down a massive Friday night win that has finally lifted the Hammers out of the relegation zone while forcing Spurs into deeper waters. The episode explores how Nuno’s side weathered a tricky opening 30 minutes where Wolves' aggressive press and before half-time tactical adaptations neutralised Wolves' central overload and sparked the counter-attacks that led to a dominant display. They also discuss the return of West Ham’s aerial threat, with Konstantinos Mavropanos causing chaos in the box from set-pieces. Jack and Cal also talk the new striking partnership of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe, their tireless defensive recovery runs and high-energy pressing allowing creative players like Jarrod Bowen more freedom to exploit 1v1 situations. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. 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_U Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • #112 Dial-Up Decision Making

    #112 Dial-Up Decision Making
    Apr 8 2026
    Support the podcast and get TWHB Extra Time + much more here: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited Jack and Cal break down West Ham's FA Cup Quarter Final loss to Leeds United at the London Stadium, discussing a valiant comeback that saw the Hammers recover from 2-0 down in stoppage time taking the Yorkshire side to penalties before ultimately missing out on a trip to Wembley. They dive into a difficult first half where individual errors and poor performances from the young midfield pairing Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa allowed Leeds to take control. They analyse the tactical struggle of Nuno's decision to push Mateus Fernandes into a more advanced role and why he's more effective in a deeper distributor role. They talk how half-time tactical shifts sparked a second-half revival, touch on the emotional debut of Finlay Herrick, the impact of senior players like Tomáš Souček and Pablo had on the game and the silver lining of a cleared schedule as the squad prepares for a Premier League relegation dogfight. Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. 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_U Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • #111 All Gone to Potts

    #111 All Gone to Potts
    Mar 24 2026
    Jack Elderton and Cal Goodall break down West Ham 0-2 Aston Villa, discussing the pre-match Todibo injury and it's impact on the team, why the 4-1-4-1 system failed, individual errors at Villa Park and much more. Support the podcast and get TWHB Extra Time + much more here: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited While a 2-0 defeat in the thick of a Premier League relegation battle is hard to swallow, especially after the recent upturn in form, Jack and Cal discuss the encouraging strides made in our in-possession play and the high-quality situations created in the final third. They break down the schoolboy errors that led to John McGinn and Ollie Watkins’ goals, the immense burden Nuno Espírito Santo’s system placed on Freddie Potts and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Adama Traoré’s positive second-half cameo and much more. Timestamps: (00:00) Villa 2-0 West Ham Review: Performance vs result? (06:10) – Tactical Shift: Todibo injury & the 4-1-4-1 failure (12:30) Decision-Making Overloads: Potts & Wan-Bissaka’s impossible task (15:42) Individual Errors: How Watkins was allowed to score (19:28) Set-Piece Madness: The NFL-ization of blocking (25:41) Adama Arrives: Traoré’s sets the bar for himself (27:27) Spurs Struggles: Tottenham get demolished by Forest (28:56) The 23-Minute Mess: Why the 4-4-2 delay? (35:44) Pablo Felipe: Why moving him centrally was vital (41:52) Out of Possession: Adaptability vs Stability (53:25) Sustaining Momentum: Refinding form after a big loss Please do leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. 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
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #110 Viva La Great Escape!

    #110 Viva La Great Escape!
    Mar 17 2026
    Support the show and get more from Analytics United: https://www.patreon.com/AnalyticsUnited The Great Escape is well and truly alive as West Ham United earned a massive point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Jack and Darcy here to break down exactly how Nuno and the Hammers pulled it off. In this episode of The West Ham Breakdown, we dive into the tactical changes that saw West Ham switch to a back five to neutralise Pep Guardiola’s attacking threats. We discuss how the art of defending the box is changing and where Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo used physical blocking and aggressive contact to frustrate Erling Haaland throughout the match. We discuss the Summerville-sized hole left in West Ham's counter-attack, how Pablo stepped up in a hybrid role to balance the midfield and look at the massive impact of summer signings Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa, whose recovery pace and physicality provided a level of protection the squad has lacked in previous seasons. 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
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    59 mins