West Ham under Graham Potter (above) looked disorganised, defensively frail and devoid of fighting spirit. It was the most upsetting aspect of watching the Hammers’ seemingly meekly capitulations, game after game. Defensively, Todibo, Mavropanos and Kilman – in any combination – looked fragile and nervy.
And West Ham had sold their fourth centre back, Nayef Aguerd, in the summer with no permanent replacement signed to take his place.
Which is why the recruitment of a new centre back with the right qualities seemed the obvious priority of the last transfer window: The last minute signing of loanee Axel Disasi did nothing to calm West Ham fans’ nerves and questions remained about both Disasi’s fitness and his appetite for a relegation battle.
However the ‘Chelsea colossus’ has proved everyone wrong and earned respect from West Ham’s players and supporters alike: In the four games since his arrival the Hammers have shipped just one goal. According the the nytimes, there’s been a second, massive bonus from Disasi’s signing.
New-found solidity in defence: Mavropanos and Disasi
His defensive partner has also stepped up:
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“Mavropanos and Disasi’s solid partnership could not have come at a better time. Mavropanos was once harshly “christened ‘Mavropanic’ by sections of the fanbase, due to his previous, error-prone playing style. But that, just like his previous bad form, is now a thing of the past.”
As the article pointed out, genuine fan concern for their reborn defensive stalwart was clearly evident when Mavropanos collapsed in agony clutching his knee after a collision with Bournemouth’s keeper: His transformation from liability to lionhearted defender means that his partnership with Disasi could well be key to West Ham’s Premier League survival.
Keep everything crossed that the Greek is fit to take on Liverpool next weekend.