Aryaman S

Bowen, Diouf & More – Best West Ham FPL Assets Under Nuno Espirito Santo

Fantasy Premier League, West Ham United

The appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo at West Ham United marks a significant shift, one that has immediate and substantial implications for FPL managers. After a spell under Graham Potter that saw the Hammers with one of the league’s worst defensive records, Nuno arrives with a well documented blueprint that we saw during his tenure at Nottingham Forest which prioritises compactness, tactical rigidity, and a deadly counter attack. This tactical pivot is a flashing green light for certain players, especially in defence and attack.

Last season under Nuno players such as Sels, Wood, Milenkovic and Murillo were one of the best players for points in their position. His firing did not make any season as it seemed like the players appreciated him and his style of play worked for the players. Now under new manager Ange they have not won a single game and conceded in all their matches.

Now moving onto how this affects West Ham assets. Nuno’s managerial history at both Wolves and Nottingham Forest is characterized by a defensive first approach. His teams are comfortable operating in a low block, surrendering possession, and forcing opponents into predictable areas and striking on the counter. For FPL managers, this is a breath of fresh air after West Ham’s porous start to the season, which saw them concede a league high number of goals early on.

Under Nuno, West Ham’s defensive assets immediately gain appeal. His previous tenure at Forest saw them record an impressive 13 clean sheets post appointment, coupled with a notable improvement in limiting big chances conceded. While West Ham have conceded 3 goals in Nuno’s first two games, they limited Arsenal to 2 goals at home, with one being a penalty. Everton were limited to 0 big chances with the goal coming from a corner which has been an issue for the Hammers this season. Nuno now has time to work on the defence with the international break giving him a week and a half to implement his ideologies at the club. Here are a few players to consider:

Max Kilman: The central defender is perfectly suited to Nuno’s system, which often employs a back four or a back five. Playing in a deeper line will mask any potential lack of pace and allow him to excel in defensive actions. This is likely to translate into valuable FPL points, especially with the Defcon scoring system factored in, as he has historically ranked highly for defensive actions. He managed 13 and 9 contributions against Everton and Arsenal respectively. He is a great differential with just 0.2% ownership. However the £4.4m price is a bit steep and i would personally go for his fullback teammate Diouf.

Malick Diouf: Nuno relies on athletic full backs to transition quickly and provide width on the counter with Aina for Forest managing attacking returns under Nuno. Diouf, who has already shown attacking promise with assists. He has the second most assists in the league after Grealish and the highest for any defender in the league. At the same £4.4m price point as Kilman he offers way better goal threat and route to points. He was in so many of our teams at the start and i feel he is likely to make a comeback in our teams soon. He in fact setup the Bowen goal against Everton with a bombarding run through the left hand side.

Lucas Paqueta: He is an intriguing FPL prospect under Nuno, as his skillset is uniquely positioned to benefit from the new tactical structure, particularly in a potential 4-2-3-1 formation. Nuno’s system thrives on quick breaks. Paquetá’s technical quality, vision, and ability to execute killer passes mean he will be the key player linking the compact midfield with the electric runs of Bowen and the fullbacks such as Diouf.

Paquetá is known for his all around contribution. He retains penalty duties, but more importantly, he is a significant contributor to the new Defensive Contribution points system. Paquetá becomes an excellent differential or midfield upgrade at just £5.9m and 3% ownership. The Brazillian offers a high ceiling of attacking returns on the counter attack, bolstered by a secure floor of defensive points that few other attacking midfielders can match.

Jarrod Bowen: While Nuno’s defensive shift is critical, it doesn’t come at the expense of attack rather, it redefines it. His system is built to launch rapid counter attacks, which perfectly suits West Ham’s most potent FPL asset Jarrod Bowen. Bowen struggled for periods in possession dominant systems where space was limited. Under Nuno’s reactive style, where the opposition is invited to push up, Bowen will have the space in transition that he thrives on. His pace and direct running become the primary outlets to exploit gaps in the opponent’s defence. Bowen struggled for periods in possession dominant systems where space was limited. Under Nuno’s reactive style, where the opposition is invited to push up, Bowen will have the space in transition that he thrives on.

However his position as striker rather than midfielder in FPL makes him a less appealing option as we get less points per goal and no clean sheet or defcon points. There are also only 3 spots for strikers with one being occupied by Haaland and the other two by Joao Pedro/Woltemade/Gyokeres or a cheaper striker such as Strand Larsen or Isidor. His £7.7m makes him a tough fit and i would wait and see how he fares in the upcoming games before picking him up.

Given the current fixture run of Brentford, Leeds, and Burnley in West Ham’s next four, El Hadji Malick Diouf appears to be the most promising FPL asset at the club right now. However, with the international break, it is better to postpone any transfers until the players’ fitness is confirmed after the break’s matches conclude.

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