From a purely team selection basis, the West Ham United supporters at least backed Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to remove Max Kilman from the starting XI and introduce Konstantinos Mavropanos against Liverpool.
On a day when questions were once again asked about Nuno’s tactics, dropping the much-maligned £40 million signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers was certainly a very popular call pre-match.
Even as Jean-Clair Todibo starts to prove his worth as a West Ham United career – the Frenchman is enjoying his best run of form since arriving from OGC Nice – Max Kilman has done his utmost to undermine any recent progress made under Nuno Espirito Santo.
He was arguably at fault for three of the four goals the Hammers conceded against Burnley and Bournemouth. Kilman was lucky to avoid a red card when giving away a penalty at the South Coast too, gifting Andoni Iroala’s side a route back into the game that appeared unlikely after Callum Wilson’s first-half heroics.
So, while individual errors are also never too far away when Konstantinos Mavropanos is on the pitch, Nuno was justified in removing Kilman from the firing line once it became apparent that the Greek international was fit enough to start a Premier League match for the first time since the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal nearly two months ago.
West Ham United v Newcastle United - Premier League
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo refused to stick the boot in on West Ham United’s Max Kilman
Unsurprisingly, Nuno was asked at full-time to explain the reasons behind Kilman’s absence from the XI and Mavropanos’ long-awaited return.
The head coach insists that his decision was partly borne out of a testing fixture schedule. Few will be buying that, however, considering all the scrutiny that had come Kilman’s way in the build up to Sunday’s clash with Arne Slot’s flailing champions.
“There are many reasons behind that,” Nuno said when the subject of Kilman was brought up.
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“The schedule, Dino has had an injury, has recovered and is working well, having [to] schedule players ahead of a quick turnaround. We are going to need all the players in the squad.
“Nothing… just a decision. I think Dino competed well.”
If any game summed up Mavropanos’ West Ham career, this is a pretty solid candidate.
Mavropanos defended excellently against Liverpool for the most part. Yet, he just could not get across the line without making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The former Arsenal and Stuttgart colossus completely missed his clearance as Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s lead in stoppage time.
Still, presuming he is fit enough to start to games in the space of four days, Nuno could not be blamed for sticking with Mavropanos over Kilman when the Hammers travel to Manchester United on Thursday.
Nuno provides Billy Bonds tribute and reflects on Lucas Paqueta flashpoint
On a day of much emotion in East London, West Ham bid farewell to the legendary Billy Bonds. Arguably their greatest-ever player, as well as their all-time record appearance maker.
The emotion appeared to get the better of some, though. Lucas Paqueta picked up a ‘ridiculous’ red card when he talked his way into an early bath.
“We tried to honour the memory of Billy Bonds, someone who means a lot to all of us at the club,” a disappointed Nuno reflects. “You could feel the mood was of sadness, and everyone has been affected by the news.
Who was West Ham’s stand-out performer against Liverpool?
“My thoughts are with his family, and the fans who had the chance to see him. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to meet him, but I’ve been told all about him, and about what he meant to everyone here.
“People have told me about his desire, and he’s someone who’s always going to be remembered here, because he made almost 800 appearances for West Ham. That number is almost impossible to repeat.
“We got in behind and we created spaces, but the accuracy of the final pass, cross or shot just wasn’t there,” Nuno adds, his team going into the break level before Alexander Isak broke the deadlock on the hour.
How should West Ham discipline Lucas Paqueta?
“We should have done better, but we were in control. [Isak’s opener] comes from a throw-in, and we should be more aggressive in the box. But, until the end, we kept fighting and we kept believing.
“We had a good chance, and I have nothing to say about the effort or desire that the boys put into the game.
“On the red card, I think I should speak to Lucas before I make any kind of comment.”
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