3rd November 2025 Daniel Luker (@danielluker_)
Nuno Espirito Santo worked his magic on Sunday as he switched Kilman and Todibo around against the Magpies.
The Portuguese manager has been ridiculed for his team selections in the last couple of games, but against Newcastle United he got it spot on. To many fans’ happiness, Nuno brought in Freddie Potts, Callum Wilson and Matheus Fernandes. But to many fans disappointment, he remained with Jean-Clair Todibo and Maximilian Kilman.
However, what Nuno did with Todibo and Kilman completely changed the way they played, and with Potts ahead of them the defence was superb apart from the one breach just four minutes in where Jacob Murphy gave the visitors the lad.
Nuno decided to swap Kilman and Todibo from their usual sides. Being left footed, Kilman usually plays as the left centre-back, and Todibo being right footed usually plays on the right, but like he did with his full-backs in the Leeds and Brentford matches, he switched them and played them both on their ‘less’ comfortable sides.
However, unlike the experiment with the full-backs it worked with the central defenders. While Kilman still had a couple of dodgy moments, he was thoroughly improved from his recent performances, while Todibo probably had his best ever performance in a Hammers shirt.
It wasn’t all because of the change of positioning, with players seemed a lot more passionate and committed to the cause. Todibo has been heavily criticised in recent weeks for not looking bothered and laughing after losses. You can’t discredit Kilman’s commitment but he looked a lot more concentrated and prepared than normal.
The biggest criticism aimed at both Todibo and Kilman is that they don’t win or even contest anywhere near enough for central defenders. However, that wasn’t the case on Sunday afternoon, they were winning so much in the air against Woltemade and Osula.
One moment at the end of the match really epitomised their performances, the ball came in towards the edge of the box in the closing minutes and Kilman put all his power he could into his neck muscles to head the ball away out of danger.
Kilman’s massive header led to a huge cheer around the ground before finding the feet of Jarrod Bowen, the winger picked it up and drove before a one-two with Lucas Paqueta which led to the shot which Soucek ended up sliding into the back of the net to make it 3-1. An excellent team goal, and an excellent team performance.