Rita Guarino's West Ham United: Formation, style of play and key players
Tactical deep dives on all 12 Barclays Women's Super League sides from The Cutback and Football Manager
The Cutback has partnered with Football Manager to deliver a series of articles that go deeper on the tactics and gameplay of the world’s leading football management simulation game ahead of Football Manager 26’s release.
This year, women’s football features in Football Manager for the very first time, so to get fans ready for a brand new experience, The Cutback has put together the ultimate insights on FM26. Find out about the secrets of building FM26, dive into the tactical details of all 12 Barclays Women’s Super League sides and hear about the next gen talent that will feature in the game.
The next team to be profiled in this deep dives series is West Ham United.
Formation
Formation: After the managerial change from Rehanne Skinner to Rita Guarino, West Ham have undergone a radical stylistic shift.
The previous 4-4-2 framework has been largely abandoned in favour of a back three- based structure, with their shape adapting significantly depending on the opposition and game state.
Against top teams like Chelsea, West Ham have lined up in a 3-4-1-2, attempting to congest central areas and limit progression through midfield. Against teams such as Liverpool or Newcastle, the structure has resembled a 3-4-3, shifting into a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 out of possession depending on the match context.
Katrina Gorry operates as a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, providing structure and leadership. Beside her, Oona Siren brings energy and box-to-box running, offering vertical support in possession and coverage out of it. Up top, Shekiera Martinez is used as a channel forward, constantly stretching the line, while Viviane Asseyi is deployed as an inside forward from the left, driving inside to create chances and threaten the goal. Riko Ueki’s role varies between an advanced midfielder and an inside winger to link play and press from the front. On the defensive line, the right-sided centre-back Yu Endo plays an unusually offensive role, stepping high and overlapping to create overloads. The left centre-back Estelle Cascarino tends to be more conservative, especially when Asseyi is less involved in defensive recovery. Both wing-backs, Verena Hanshaw on the left and Leila Wandeler on the right, hold width and add to the athletic and fast profile of the team.
In possession: Under Guarino, West Ham show a clear and sometimes extreme commitment to building from the back. The team insist on short build-up sequences even under heavy pressure, a sharp contrast with their previous direct identity. This approach, however, has had its limitations in execution: in the heavy defeat against Chelsea, several goals conceded stemmed directly from errors or forced losses during low build-up, while also highlighting the risks of this philosophy.
The structure in the first phase usually forms a 3+2, with both defensive midfielders dropping to assist circulation. The wingers stay very narrow, often positioned between the lines forming a 3-4-2-1, while the wing-backs provide the width.
A recurring pattern involves a centre-back or central midfielder playing into a narrow winger coming short, followed either by a turn, a set back, or a third-player action towards the wing-back, the far-side winger, or a forward attacking depth. This pattern was frequently observed against Leicester and Newcastle. Progression is increasingly based on ground passes and low through balls, targeting the pace of the attacking line. Against Newcastle, West Ham repeatedly looked to play flat passes beyond the opposition line, exploiting the speed of the front three; one such situation led directly to her winning a penalty.
While overall verticality has decreased compared to the Skinner era, the tempo of play remains high, with more patience in possession but still a clear intent to accelerate once spaces open. Transitions remain a major weapon, as the squad features multiple fast and powerful profiles across the front line, wing-backs and even the right centre-back.
Out of possession: Without the ball, West Ham typically defend in a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1, though the most distinctive feature is the behaviour of the front line. Rather than a passive block, the front three stay narrow and press outward, orienting opposition build-up towards the flanks. The pressing intensity is medium to medium-low, prioritising structure over constant aggression. This scheme helps explain why West Ham concede relatively few central through balls despite defending with only two central midfielders: the narrow wingers act almost as advanced midfielders, jumping out to close central access and force play wide.
The wide areas remain a structural stress point. The wing-back and wide centre-back are often drawn into the same areas, which has been repeatedly exposed, most notably against Chelsea and Leicester City, where several chances and goals originated from wide overloads. The defensive line also holds a slightly higher position than under the previous manager, which has occasionally led to balls played in behind, that did not occur as frequently before.
Key players:
Viviane Asseyi – Asseyi continues to be one of West Ham’s most dangerous players. Pacy, strong and technically sharp, she is capable of destabilising defences both in isolation and when combining with teammates. Last season, she produced nine league goals, underlining her ability not only to create but also to finish chances. Her speed, strength and ability to receive on the half-turn make her ideally suited to Guarino’s use of narrow wingers. She is particularly effective attacking inside channels and driving at defenders. Even in more controlled possession phases, she remains the main outlet for acceleration.
Shekiera Martinez – Martinez provides another cutting edge in the front line. Direct, powerful and relentless in her movement, she complements Asseyi with her ability to run at defenders, create separation, and finish chances. She scored 10 goals last season and has netted three so far this term, proof of her finishing consistency and importance in the final third. Her versatility across the forward line makes her a constant threat, and her presence ensures West Ham effectively attack with different attacking structures effectively.
Katrina Gorry – The captain and deep-lying playmaker, Gorry gives West Ham direction in possession and leadership in midfield. She provides calm distribution from deep areas, sets the rhythm of attacks, and ensures defensive cover when the team commits numbers forward. Her experience and intelligence make her indispensable to maintain balance. Out of possession, she also leads by example, pressing at the right moments and covering ground to protect the back three, ensuring that the team can defend compactly without losing the ability to spring forward quickly.
This is a paid partnership between The Cutback and Football Manager.