Call Of Jussi

West Ham might not be mathematically safe but sitting in 10th place on 42 points is almost certainly enough to secure their status in the Premier League for another year. 

Undefeated in five games, the Hammers have seemingly found their form at the right time but if you look beyond the bare results, a different picture emerges.

Alternative Form Table

Using the criteria set out in our ‘Shots On Target’ feature, each week we analyse the recent set of Premier League fixtures to see if the scorelines were a fair reflection of the games.

According to our alternative form table West Ham have gained nine points more than their performances merited and this is backed-up by the stats. In their last eight matches West Ham have conceded on average 3 shots on target per match; during that run only once have they ‘out-shot’ their opposition and that was a struggling Stoke team at the start of March.

Andy Carroll’s return from injury has been a boost but it is the performances of Jussi Jääskeläinen that have caught the eye.

According to player rating site whoscored.com the Finnish goalkeeper was man of the match against Liverpool and Wigan and, during the last eight games, he’s been awarded an average rating of 7.74. To put that rating into context it is the same rating Robin Van Persie has averaged over the entire season.

If it wasn’t for Jääskeläinen West Ham would be in serious trouble. It’s a concern that Sam Allardyce needs to address during the summer because his team cannot rely on their goalkeeper’s heroics forever.

If the hierarchy at West Ham have noticed this trend then Sam Allardyce might not be secure in his job despite being 66/1 (Sykbet) to be the next manager to leave his post.