Graham Potter has probably become very familiar with the phrase “it’s like having a new player” during his short stint at West Ham.
He’ll have already experienced it with the return of Jarrod Bowen, and one suspects the phrase has also been used in relation to James Ward-Prowse.
However, the return of Jean-Clair Todibo really will be like a new signing for Potter, as it will truly open up his options for expanding on his favoured formation with three central defenders.
It’s been a case of square pegs in round holes for the new Hammers gaffer, who has been deploying full-backs alongside Max Kilman. To be fair, they’ve performed well enough, but there is no substitute for a tailor-made centre-back, and Todibo would be a vast improvement on Vladimir Coufal and the error-prone Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Perhaps Potter’s plan was to deploy Aaron Wan-Bissaka at RCB, but he’ll be busy covering for the injured Crysencio Summerville for the next two months.
It would be fair to say that Todibo—like many others—was unsuited to former boss Julen Lopetegui’s chaotic defensive system, but I suspect things will be vastly different now.
The Frenchman should fit perfectly into the new gaffer’s philosophy and style and will most certainly “seem like having a new signing”. I also expect the team to improve as a result because the reasons Europe’s top clubs were chasing Todibo still apply, and I suspect we’ll soon see why he carried a £35m price tag
He looks OK but completely one footed from what I have seen
I think Todibo is a quality player. Under JLO everyone was less confident and making mistakes. For example Max Killman, he now seems so much better under Potter. I think todibo would be good in Potters system……
Is it my imagination but I am sure Aguerd can be turned into a left back as he has the attributes
Yeah, for sure it is. But for future I believe that if Westham returns the onform Arguad the difence will be solid, I am very sure even in Premier League he is giod difender better than Mavropanos, some players have proved to be good under Potters, and we are getting real values out of them. Unfortunately there was a time when the whole team was in Shamble, if you calculate the goals per game on the last season and when the start of this season, this season is poor per game, so it was not him onlh it was the team, lwt us be fair.
Not convinced with Todibo . He’s like Aguerd. Good on the ball , but he’s not strong enough for premier league , gets bullied , also has a mistake in him and injury prone. Both he and Aguerd well suited to European football , hence why Aguerd is doing well in Spain. But both are not physically strong enough as centre backs in England .
Definitely hope so Gonzo, Todibo is naturally aggressive, has pace to burn and can play a pass, he is not great at heading but his other assetts in a passing and pressing team should hopefully mitigate that, look forward to seeing what he can do COYI!!!
I think anyone would be unsuited to Lopeteguis defensive system, did he have a system ? If he did it was difficult to distinguish it from chaos. His communication was terrible, his man management was terrible. I find it difficult to take in just how bad he was.
Lopetegui was so awful at any so or communicating his ideas, shown by how often he had to change up at half time with the game already gone, no wonder the players all wanted out. What on earth was Sully doing? He must have been the cheap option. That’s why we are upbeat about GP, the players and the fans get him. Now anything is possible as long as Sully keeps out of it.
John you have hit the nail squarely on the head mate keep up the insights a joy to see.