There appears to be an opinion gathering traction that West Ham should drop both of their failing centre backs Jean Clair Todibo and [Max Kilman](https://www.claretandhugh.info/not-good-enough-kilman-owns-up-but-was-he-really-to-blame/) following their dreadful showing against newly promoted Leeds.
Neither had good games – again – although to be fair their direct culpability in the first Leeds goal is questionable, had Ollie Scarles been a natural right back – Wan Bissaka, for instance, that goal was not going in.
The problem with reports today that call for both centre backs to be benched is that right now the Hammers have no alternatives for a different centre back pairing.
Aguerd was sold, Igor is untested and Konstantinos Mavropanos is injured. Even last seasons ‘fourth centre back’ – youngster Kaelan Casey – has departed on a season-long loan to Swansea (where he’s reportedly doing very well) – so the cupboard really is bare.
Ominous silence regarding Mavropanos’ hamstring injury
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The ominous lack of any news regarding Mavropanos’ scan results from the hamstring injury he received against Brentford which necessitated him literally crawling off the pitch to get treatment, suggests the Hammers have a long-term problem. Any good news, however slight, would have been trumpeted by the PR machine by now so we can only assume the worst, that ‘Mav’ will be missing for several weeks.
And there’s the conundrum for Espírito Santo: Stick with ‘the devils he knows’ – the Kilman – Todibo ‘_axis of average_‘ at the back or introduce unknown and unwanted (byBrighton) loanee Igor Julio. At least the current incumbents are familiar with Nuno’s expectations and their own limitations: Introducing Igor instead of either doesn’t guarantee any improvement. However, Nuno has show himself ready to roll the dice elsewhere in his squad. I guess that’s why he gets paid the big bucks.