West Ham are copying devastating trick Daniel Farke did at Leeds United | OneFootball

Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon starred as Leeds United won promotion from the Championship, and they will hope to replicate that at West Ham.

After their disappointing relegation from the Premier League, West Ham were expected to bounce back at the first attempt.

In fact, given the size of the club, the resources available to the Hammers, and the quality of many players they managed to retain, many observers felt they could run away with the league.

Yet, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side endured a slow start, failing to win any of their first three games. However, they have since lived up to the pre-season hype, by recording four consecutive victories, and scoring 16 goals in the process.

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Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon have started well at West Ham

The 6-0 thrashing of West Ham saw the Irons at their best, as they were simply far too good for the Welsh side, who couldn’t do much to stop their attacking players.

Whilst the 4-2 win at Wolves was impressive, the manner of the Wrexham success felt like a real statement, and it was a message to the rest of the league that the Hammers have arrived.

It’s unfair to single out individuals after what was an outstanding team display, but Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon both starred for Nuno’s side, with the duo having settled quickly at the London Stadium.

Piroe, who joined from Leeds on an initial loan, is going to be judged on goals, and he has found the net three times in six games, which is an excellent return.

Meanwhile, Solomon, who was signed from Tottenham, got a goal and an assist against Wrexham, and he terrorised their defence with his dribbling ability and pace.

Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon have proven themselves in the Championship

The importance of promotion this season for West Ham was evident in their recruitment, and it’s exactly why the signings of Piroe and Solomon made so much sense.

That’s because the duo have already proven their talent at this level over the years.

Piroe won the golden boot as he helped Leeds to promotion in the 2024/25 campaign, and the 19 goals he scored with the Whites is a figure he matched and bettered (22) in his two full years with Swansea City.

So, he was almost a guarantee of goals at this level, especially when you consider the players he was with.

It’s a similar story for Solomon, who has spent most of his career at a higher level, whether that’s competing in Europe with Shakhtar, the Premier League with Spurs and Fulham, La Liga with Villarreal or Serie A with Fiorentina.

Admittedly, not all of those moves worked out, but it highlights the quality of the Israeli international, and, the one year he previously spent in the Championship, with Piroe at Leeds in 2024/25, Solomon looked a class above.

He was key for Daniel Farke in the title-winning season, where he hit double figures in goals and assists, which is a great achievement for any attacking player.

West Ham’s attacking talent is the best in the Championship

Following on from that, when you add Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos into the mix, it’s fair to say that West Ham have the best attacking unit in the league by a distance.

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That has been backed up by the stats in the early part of the season, as West Ham have the highest xG in the league, and they’ve scored 20 goals in seven games.

Obviously, injuries will hit, and there may be a worry about a lack of depth behind those four, but each one is capable of winning a game on their own in this league.

Wrexham saw first-hand what can happen when they all click, and it would be no surprise if the Hammers clock up some big wins over the rest of the campaign.

Nuno Espírito Santo will be relying on his experienced players to deliver promotion

As mentioned, West Ham’s remit is simple - they have to win promotion this season, which is why they targeted players like Piroe and Solomon.

Nuno knew what he was getting from the duo, and Bowen and Castellanos are also players who are in their prime and ready to make an impact.

With Mads Hermansen, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Arne Engels also part of the spine of the team, the Irons’ XI is made up of players who have excellent pedigree by Championship standards.

There is only really Divine Mukasa of the best XI who is not at his peak, but he has started the season extremely well.

The pressure that comes with playing for West Ham means this was the right approach, and Nuno will expect the current crop to have the mentality, and the quality, to take the club back to the top flight.