There were two reasons West Ham defender Emerson finally saw the writing was on the wall regarding his future at the club. The first came with the surprise selection of youngster Ollie Scarles to face Liverpoolâand not just any Liverpool side, but one featuring Mohamed Salah, arguably the best player in the league.
As Martin rightly pointed out in an earlier piece, that decision alone was telling. But it was the second half that delivered the knockout blow.
With Scarles visibly struggling to contain the excellent Salahâespecially after the Egyptian signed a fresh Liverpool dealâmany expected Emerson to come on as the natural replacement. Yet when Potter turned to the bench, it wasnât Emerson who was summoned. Instead, right-back Vladimir Coufal was introduced, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka shifted over to the left.
That decision said everything.
When your manager would rather deploy an unwanted right-back out of position than call upon you, the message couldnât be clearer. With Juventus reportedly sniffing around, Emerson looks set to be one of the first out the London Stadium door as Graham Potter quietly begins his Hammers rebuild.
Or, and hear me out here… maybe it was not only a purely tactical decision but also the most logical one to make?
In the first half, Salah looked bang up for the game and spent the half giving Scarles a nightmare. Emerson, despite being a natural LB, is well known for being better offensively than he is defensively.
Had Emerson replaced Scarles, the result would most likely have been the same.
Putting Wan-Bissaka at LB (someone who has regularly slotted in there) as someone who is considered one of the (if not the) best one on one defenders in the league (certainly at West Ham) made perfect sense.
Seeing as Emerson doesn’t have much of a right foot on him, putting him at RB would make no sense but bringing on Coufal was him in his natural position.
Considering Salah went from guaranteed MotM with nobody close in the first half to having like 4 touches in the second half, the evidence was clear the tactics worked.
The âunwantedâ right back was a reference to Coufal, not Wan Bissaka.
âan unwanted right backâ whatâs that supposed to mean? Wan Bas has been excellent for the large part this season
Does C&H have any evidence to support the “fact” that Emerson will be the “first out the door?”
Stories like this are the reason why I now prefer reading those on KUMB
Still wondering how Mav get’s in the team every game considering the mistakes he makes every time
Sorry, can anyone explain Potter’s logic with his selections and substitutions.
It almost look like names are thrown up in the air, and a team goes on the pitch, and does nothing great the 1st half.
Then a bright light comes on and Potter makes these incredible changes, and suddenly the team plays better.
Frankly, I dont trust this man’s footballing brain, when he chooses a youngster to mark the league’s best player, Mavro seeing to the centre forward, Soler in for Soucek (as this article says). An interesting stat says that WH lost 6/7 matches when Soucek is missing. Does this not click with Potter.
And that WH play better with Fullie as centre-forward or maybe even Ferguson for that matter.
And then, pray tell … do we go all out against Soton or do we rather protect a 0-0 scoreline?
Have a complete clear out of older players and buy young hungry players, the ones I would keep AWB, Kilman, Scarles, Bowen, Guilherme maybe Soucek sell the rest of the team and start afresh with 18-21 year olds that are dynamic and press hard.
Think dad’s army of ings, cresswell, Antonio, fabianski etc are all out of contract will be first out the door …
Scarles was purposefully played against Salah in a teaching exercise . Potter made the correct tactical move in the second half to tie Salah up with Wan Bissaka and bring on Coufal . Emerson would have been shredded by Salah . For the most part Scharles and Emerson can share the position next season as they’re both adequate . If this match had been important Wan Bissaka would have started on the right to blunt Salah . Young players only get good by playing against the best .
Thank you Phil Baker.
Someone who can see a bigger picture.
Potter gave Scarles the opportunity to learn what it’s like to face Salah (At Anfield) and played the extra Centre back to protect him.
OK Salah gave Ollie the ‘learning experience’, but just assisted 1 and didn’t score.
Who is leaving us soon with certainty – Paqueta, Kudus, Aguerd, Alvarez, Cresswell, Ings, Emerson, Coufal, Antonio, Rodriguez, Soler, Cornett, then Fulkrugg? Soucek? Todibo? We may have only 10 players guaranteed to stay this Summer. Of those only Kilman, Bin Saka, Areola and Bowen are guaranteed starting XI positions, sounds like a massive game of musical chairs soon. I do hope Potter knows what he is doing, I certainly know Sullivan doesn’t.
Forgot a couple Irving and prowse which I hope they both stay and sorry guillerhme
Maybe Potter knows all he needs to know about the superb Emerson. Maybe the selections on Sunday were made to find out about the capability of others. Always good for managers to have options. Always good for players to have more than one trick. Always good to be looking to the future.
The only writing on the wall was encouragement for all of the staff to be at their best and act in a professional manner. We are still building, one step at a time. Discovering our strengths and styles.
COYI
The âunwantedâ right back wasnât played out of position, unless you believe AWB is unwanted?
Absolutely right, but that doesn’t support the anti-Emerson story line.
Sell him not good enough be happy with 8 million or thereabouts