In his time at West Ham United, former manager Graham Potter was famous for bemoaning the lack of a ‘magic bullet’ – that one single change which could re-ignite the season and transform the side’s fortunes.
Nuno Espirito Santo, maybe more by luck than judgement, has been joined at West Ham by his assistant former Spain international centre-back Paco Jémez as a first-team coach. Immensely experienced and a former Spain international with 21 caps, it might not have been the biggest of January transfer window stories but it seems that Jémez’ arrival could be just such a ‘bullet’ which has transformed the side’s defensive play.
“Some basic stuff of defending in general was missing”
Konstantinos Mavropanos is convinced. The Greek centre back – who has not had a run of more than seven consecutive games in the side during his time in Claret and Blue that has spanned four West Ham Managers – makes the impact of Jemez’ arrival pretty clear:
“He tries to help a lot, especially the back line, because there were things, obviously, that were missing in our games, sometimes the basics. I think in the first half of the season, some basic stuff of defending in general was missing and he’s just trying to improve that individually and collectively, how we should work as a team.
“We’d got into bad habits, so we’re working on it daily in training which helps us a lot to improve and be more focused and more ready for the games.” ( whufc.com)
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Already seen arguing the toss with Nuno at critical moments, Jemez seems to be making a huge difference – in just a couple of weeks.
Magic bullet or not, Jemez’ arrival has coincided with a more cohesive defensive unit now looking less vulnerable.
However the gold standard of a clean sheet remains elusive and it’s a big ask away at Stamford bridge this afternoon. However having a ‘defence expert’ coaching the side can only be to the good in the search for a less porous defence.
Whether Jemez’ arrival is just in the nick of time remains to be seen. If he can turn Max Kilman into a £40 million defender and help the Hammers remain in the top flight, his appointment will indeed be seen as truly inspired.