The pressure building at West Ham is immense, and the demand for Jean Clair Todibo to finally make his Premier League breakthrough is growing. However, the burden on the player is significant, and with the team’s poor defensive performance, it is highly unlikely he will be able to fix what is broken by himself.
Todibo has been told he needs to “toughen up” if he wants to play for West Ham in the Premier League, according to head coach Julen Lopetegui. The reality is that hardly any of his teammates showed any aggression against Chelsea which makes the coaches concerns largely redundant.
The exception of course is Edson Alvarez, but I’m not entirely sure that asking the opposition for a punch-up in the car park aligns with what the Hammers’ head coach has in mind.
During crisis, there is always a tendency to demand the introduction of a new player in the hope that it will resolve a team’s issues. I was personally eager to fast-track Aaron Wan-Bissaka, convinced he would make a difference to a struggling West Ham team.
As recently as Saturday, I was advocating for a starting role for Crysencio Summerville, believing he would solve our left-sided problems and help the team click into place. While it’s not my intention to criticise Summerville, who I thought was our best player, it highlights the point that many of us are searching for someone to join the team and fix the problems.
The latest ‘messiah’ is Jean Clair Todibo, with many fans calling for him to start alongside Max Kilman. The reasoning is sound; people see an issue on the right side of Julen Lopetegui’s defence and assume the £35m Frenchman can fix it. But what if he can’t?
The focus may then shift to Niclas Füllkrug to perform the role of saviour. However, it’s possible the problem lies deeper than just personnel. Therefore, I’m approaching my expectations for Todibo with caution, as I suspect West Ham’s defensive issues run a little deeper than Dinos Mavropanos’s positioning.
The game Saturday was the first I’d been to this season and it was a shocker. Dreadful tactics that completely fell apart and ended up with 11 players on the pitch who didn’t know what their job was. I want to give the guy a bit of leeway and try and find comparisons that could point to a bit of hope.
If we cast our minds back 12 months I think Bournemouth lost their first 8 games and was surprised they stuck by their manager. But after looking like certainties for relegation his methods finally clicked with the players and they had a really good season with much more limited resources than we have and as some have pointed out some of our signings do look good. Killman, AWB, Summerville, Rodriguez have all seemed decent IMO and with still Todibo and Soler yet to show. Also I was encouraged by his number 1 transfer target Alex Garcia who looked some player. Sadly he went to Germany but shows he has a good eye for a player. Let’s just hope he can turn things around
We have played three of the top four at home, most home teams would not do well in those games. When we played Palace and Fulham both away lo and behold we got points.
Yes we were played through very easily by Chelsea, that was either wrong tactics or the whole team not playing the tactics properly. I looked to me like the latter leaving defenders way too exposed.
Was it a good transfer window, first we missed out on Duran, shocking decision,, kilman has been a bit hit & miss , Summerville promising?, the others ???
Speaking of Messiah, Lopetegui himself was never going to be that. Just look at his time at previous clubs:
Porto 1.5 years
Spain 2 years
Real Madrid 2 months
Sevilla 3 years and 4 months ( won the Europa League )
Wolves 10 months
On the other hand I have been satisfied with most of his transfers, and he should be given time to make things happen.
Making radical changes to defensive organisation on the eve of a Chelsea game, was rather badly advised. We lost all stability in the process.
Of course we all want to see a quick turn around, but I don’t think he will get far past November if it doesn’t happen soon.
Looking for a Saviour, then speak to God. Cause that is also what God needs too. No doubt.
However, looking to individuals should not be the focus … but to address and correct the problem areas.
Lemme mention, just a few:-
(1) Julen Lop’s team selection has been way off, and needs serious correctly. Solution: To sit down with all the influencing heads … Mark N, some senior players, coaches and discuss the various player profiles + form.
(2) Mavro is a huge proble, together all the previous CB’s and needs replacing (even way before Chelsea) Solution:Todibo, or any other CB who can do better.
(3) Pacqueta cannot be allowed to lose so many balls/make so many mistakes a match. Solution: Strengthening defensive midfield urgently.
(4) Antonio is finished. Does not have the will and energy to perform. How J.Lop cannot see this. The best player of the Championship (Summerville, with goals in Him) must become part of the first 11. We have another Salah/Doku/Vinicis jnr at WH. Take good care of him.
So these are a few, and also keep a closer technical look at our keepers. Alphonso was not exceptional with regards to stopping goals on sat and recently either?
Yes, indeed lots to do … but if we dont fix it asap ???
Coyi – God bless West Ham.