MUCH OF the media attention has, quite rightly, fallen on Soungoutou Magassa’s coming of age as a Premier League player last nigh. Not just the goal, but the whole ninety minutes- plus saw the 22 year old join Freddie Potts and Mateus Fernandes as a solid foot soldier for Nuno’s new-look midfield.
However the usuing heroes were the defenders: Mavropanos, Wan Bissaka and Todibo finally put in the kind of combined performance which had eluded the West Ham back line earlier in the season. The centre-back pairing indeed looked committed, full of running and played at their best whilst Wan Bissaka ran himself into the ground at his former club, combining his awesome tackling and some brilliant lung-bursting forward runs.
Centre-back pairing deliver for their Manager and the team
Max Kilman seems destined for an extended stay on the bench, as the centre-back pairing looked everything which the Hammers’ £40 million man didn’t last time out: Combative, solid, hard to beat and committed.
Mavropanos deserves credit for upping his game
Former West Ham defender Martin Allen’s twitter feed kept popping onto my phone ( for some unknown reason – I blame the algorithm) during and after the game – he was quick to single out ‘Mav’ for special mention:
‘Mavropanos played well tonight. Good on him. Pleased for him. It’s tough getting stick from your fans – Tonight he deserves praise”.
Indeed we’ve often been critical of Mavropanos: Last night he proved he has it in him to produce an error free, solid ninety minutes.
Keeping that standard as the norm – rather than backsliding to the error-strewn performances of the start of the season will be the challenge for the centre-back pairing going forward.
Meanwhile you’d think barring injury to either, Max Kilman shouldn’t get his expectations up for a start against Brighton on Sunday. Or any time soon providing Todibo and Mavropanos can stick to the script and deliver the same level of consistency as they produced at Old Trafford.
When Kilman came on too at the end we was solid but by that time we had ten defensive players on the pitch.
Consistency is the word and something we need…Todibo stood out yesterday alongside AWB but Mav changed his game he was not running out with the ball getting caught out of position etc nope he was on it from the first minute to Fergie time! he was totally focused and when he plays like that he is a good solid CB
Potts and Magassa measuring up in addition to Fernandes has made a great difference. Also Todibo playing at a totally different level. Great to see Kante, can he break through straight from the U21s ? I’d like to see George Earthy, he’s had the successful season out on loan so in theory should be ahead. Every point is priceless how things are…