Viewed the day after, taking a point from ‘form side’ Everton wasn’t so bad. Going into an international break with a draw away from home feels much better as a supporter, than two straight losses. Graham Potter appears to have solidified the defensive unit of ‘his’ [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/everton-1-1-west-ham-player-ratings/) now.
Starting Mavropanos apparently owing to his physical strength, the Hammers head coach told [_whufc.com_](https://www.whufc.com/news/potter-players-gave-everything-again):
_“We just felt that we needed Dinos’ physicality. They’re a big team, Everton, and they used that well” –_ What he didn’t mention was that same Mavropanos was outmuscled by O’Brien for Everton’s last gasp equaliser. D’oh.
In explanation for his rejigging of the starting eleven and with a nod to provide reassurance to **Ollie Scarles** that he’s still first in line for the left wing back role, Potter explained leaving out the teenager yesterday:
_“Ollie Scarles had such a big game on Monday, physically, and he’s just starting out. So it was a good time to use Emi’s experience and his quality. I think he did well.”_
Which sends a pretty clear message that Emerson is the cover for Scarles, not the other way around.
It would have been disheartening to have put in a shift at Newcastle as Scarles did and then feel that he’d been ‘dropped’, so Potter’s explanation will reassure the young Hammer that he’s done nothing wrong.
Two games in six days is hardly a physical mountain to climb but at nineteen Scarles is still developing and it is good to see Potter monitoring his younger players’ game time.
Confirmation will come in two weeks now at Molineux: Scarles can expect another start after the international break, cementing his place as the manager’s first choice ahead of Emerson.
With a fortnight of no domestic football, West Ham’s manager has ample opportunity to review that performance again over and over with his coaching staff and reconsider also the change he made with Mavropanos coming in for Aaron Cresswell. Providing Todibo – who limped off at the end – is fit, hopefully Mavropanos heads back to the bench.