In desperate need of Premier League points this weekend, West Ham welcome [Newcastle United](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-fan-protest-mobilises-for-newcastle-visit/) to London Stadium with little optimism that their dreadful home form will turn around. Nuno Espírito Santo somehow has to conjure just the third win this year: The last time West Ham won at home was back on the 27th February when relegation candidates Leicester City were dispatched 2-0.
Gone are the days of the Hammers selling out games months in advance. The current fan and board dispute is a cloud hanging over the club which most certainly doesn’t help their ticket sales: Who wants to walk into a toxic atmosphere, supporter sit-in and a relegation battle already begun? Of course, the way things are at West Ham just now, the e-ticketing system crashing this morning should be no surprise. It’s all gone a little sour.
Hugely expensive signings giving woeful performances: The norm at West Ham
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Indeed, ‘sour’ sums up the performance of several hugely expensive signings: Despite repeated selections, Maximilian Kilman and Jean Clair Todibo represent the worst of ‘that’ summer of ’24’s transfer splurge. Nuno simply has to find an alternative to pairing the two together again on Sunday and risk more defensive chaos. The two can’t command their own penalty box or deal with impending danger – for whatever reason, theirs is a laid back, almost casual attitude which is infuriating.
_Fans would actually relish seeing someone show anger, frustration, yelling – anything, frankly, a wee bit of passion when conceding instead of merely shrugging and trudging back to their kick off positions._
Even without Konstantinos Mavropanos, sidelined for a couple of months, Espírito Santo has to break up the partnership that leaks goals – whether that be by changing to a ‘three at the back’ or bring in loanee Igor Julio for a start.
After the Leeds game, [footballinsider247.com](https://www.footballinsider247.com/max-kilman-is-finished-22m-star-electric-west-hams-winners-and-losers-vs-leeds-united/) declared:
“_Max Kilman is finished:The centre-back was poor on Friday night, struggling to live with the imposing presence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin while losing possession seven times.”_
What they omitted was that _this has become the ‘norm’ now_ for West Ham’s most expensive – ever defender. Kilman seems to be guaranteed a start simply because of his price tag: £40 million looks double his value just now but the Hammers’ head coach simply has to find a solution lurking on the bench or on the training pitch to the Irons’ inability to keep a clean sheet.