There’s always something a bit faux about ‘unveiling’ loan signings and sitting them in format of cameras, paraded in their new pristine West Ham shirt and trotting out cringeworthy sentences and platitudes. Each player who arrives on loan knows that one day soon he’ll be returning to his old club, with social media never forgetting the glowing phrases he used to praise an opponent. In Igor Julio’s case he can’t be seen to be too gushing about his temporary stay at West Ham – with a Brighton return next summer a certainty.
But one comment the Brazilian made was quite revealing. Coming in as a fourth centre back, behind the trio of Mavropanos, Kilman and Todibo, it seems West Ham;’s manager has been making clear promises to Igor which might prove difficult to deliver, as reported by theargus.co.uk:
“[Potter] gave me the opportunity to come to a big Club and told me he would use me, that he would give me the chance I really need. That was very convincing.”
Which suggests to me either Potter plans a chop of one of the trio – or even worse- a return to the disastrous three centre backs plus wing backs strategy that was ditched – finally we thought – at Nottingham Forest.
Failing that I wonder whether the Brazilian Centre Back needs to get in touch with a former Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson whose game time at West Ham was limited to under 90 minutes in half a season – despite similar suggestions that he’d be guaranteed game time.
Either Igor is in for a disappointment or West Ham fans are in for a massive downer if Potter reverts to his’ three at the back defend at all costs’ strategy once more. On the positive side, at least Lucas Paquetá has a new countryman at the club alongside Luis Guilherme which will help dampen the disappointment of losing his best mate Emerson yesterday.
If anyone thought potter was going to ditch 3 at the back is a fool.
He’ll go to the system that he sees fits the situation at hand, after all isn’t that everyone wanted, a coach with a plan B
Nathan was a liability
I just wonder whether Potter might use him off the bench when one of the other Center backs is fading or carrying a card? I think that rather more likely than ‘three at the back, defend at all costs’…
The reason Potter might be confident of the new boy getting a run in the team is probably based on what he’s seen from the other 3 so far this season. None have covered themselves in glory and you can’t blame the formation, whatever it is, for some of the rank bad defending that they’ve served up.
How do you know three at the back won’t work if potter has this new defender and defensive midfielders Fernsndes and Mangazzer in the middle instead of Guido and Ward Prowse ?
Why did Julio fail his Palace medical?
I don’t think he’ll be 4th choice. He’ll be ahead of Dinos in the pecking order… and if the other two play like they did in the first couple of games, he’ll definitely get his chance.