THERE is the very real possibility that playing at home against Liverpool next weekend, Nuno Espírito Santo will revert to a back four. If Crysencio Summerville ,along with Lucas Paqueta, returns to the side then you’d expect Nuno to go with his strongest eleven.
Which will come as a massive relief to West Ham fans who’ve had to endure too many ‘experiments’ in recent months.
Nuno, surely, sees what West Ham fans all know to be true: The midfield make up is best with Potts, Paquetá and Fernandes.
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Callum Wilson’s reborn goal threat, between Summerville and Bowen, has to be the most aggressive forward line – which means there’s the very real possibility of West Ham’s £40 million man Maximilian Kilman finding himself on the substitutes’ bench.
Which is where he should be, had not referee Tom Bramall suffered a brain fart and somehow not red carded Kilman for a pretty clear deliberate hand-ball in the penalty box in the second half against Bournemouth.
Kilman, in any case, has simply not improved under Nuno. His defensive partner Jean -Clair Todibo, on the other hand, won plaudits for his improved focus and athleticism with more tackles than any other player on the pitch.
Until now, Hammers fans have assumed Kilman would be superior to loanee Igor Julio – but the Brazilian’s second half outing has thrown the cat amongst the centre-back pigeons.
Igor was a solid West Ham substitute for Nuno’s cause
Julio’s performance – despite allowing Bournemouth goal scorer Enes Unal to turn for the equalizer- was not half bad and certainly looked an improvement on the usual Max Kilman mediocrity, to which, up until now, we’ve felt there was no alternative. Just four weeks ago, givemesport.com’s article was calling for Julio to be given the starting spot:
“Mavropanos’ injury – which forced him off against Brentford – along with the goals being shipped when Kilman and Todibo start at the heart of the backline, means that Igor surely deserves to be drafted into the starting line-up when West Ham go in search of a valuable three points”
And those comments are even more true now having seen Igor give his all in the second half at the weekend.
Max Kilman has a fight on his hands to retain the starting role – as West Ham’s most expensive defender – ever – the former Wolves player simply has to up his game or face a spell on West Ham’s bench, being shown the way ahead by a loanee from Brighton.