It seems something of a head scratcher. Sitting in the stands as a supporter, the issues facing West Ham‘s defence seem abundantly clear, as they do for the TV armchair viewer who has the benefit of endless replays and punditry to pick through the error-strewn latest West Ham “disappointment” as the Hammers went two goals down to a modest Charloton Athletic side.
However the manager and coaching staff – and, presumably, the recruitment team acting on their instructions – seem oblivious to what is staring West Ham United in the face – again.
So far the Hammers have managed to recruit a winger, a striker, a right back and a midfielder. All important.
But the lesson from last season seems to be the Hammers’ blind spot right now and it is costing them dear.
As Roshane Thomas, writing in the NY Times sums up, encapsulating the same thoughts as everyone – outside of West Ham’s dugout apparently – lamenting the absolute ineptitude of the Hammers’ centre back pairing of Kilman and Mavropanos:
Urgent Kilman upgrade required : Mavropanos needs a more reliable partner or West Ham will continue to pay the price.
“..Mavropanos looked more assured and confident when he was partnered with former loanee Axel Disasi. The Greece international was better with this decision-making but has seldom shown those characteristics alongside Kilman.
It is a partnership that does not work but West Ham’s central defensive options are threadbare. The only other recognisable alternative is summer signing Joel Veltman, who is naturally a right-back but can play centre-back”.
Recruiting a replacement for Disasi should have been the absolute top priority.
West Ham have made a massive error by holding on, hoping for the former Chelsea loanee to return this season, despite West Ham’s drop out of the top tier.
I know it, you know it, Roshane Thomas knows it: Only West Ham’s recruitment team have failed to get the memo this summer but now have a massive panic on to upgrade Kilman ( with one week of the transfer window remaining) or risk sentencing themselves to second division mediocrity this season. And possibly beyond.