The knives are out for some West Ham United’s poorer performing players following the Liverpool defeat in last night’s Carling Cup match. The Hammers went down 5-1 after leading 1-0 initially, thanks largely to a capitulation following Edson Alvarez’ dismissal for two yellow cards. Some of the criticism has raised eye brows, and split opinion amongst fans as well as critics.
Jean Clair Todibo was always a high profile starter and it was clear that there were many looking for the slightest sign that his coach Lopetegui’s assessment of him as ‘not tough enough’ was proved correct. Sadly Todibo obliged, ducking away from a deflected shot for Liverpool’s fifth goal instead of putting his body, head, whatever in the line of fire which is a prerequisite of successful defending.
This has not gone un-noticed. World Football Analysis site thetrivelaeffect.com pulled no punches in their article entitled:
“Three players who cost West Ham the most“, they pick apart Todibo’s performance in a manner which makes me feel meek and mild in my own assessments: “Todibo was putrid against Liverpool. He looked completely lost defensively and nothing like the player we have seen blossom into a top-class center back for Nice. He was wasteful in possession and overrun defensively in a completely uncharacteristic performance. The 24-year-old will have better days, and, hopefully for West Ham, those better days come very soon.”
And of course, Edson Alvarez comes in for criticism – but I wonder whether their third culprit deserves the mud they throw at him: “Lukasz Fabianski surrendered five goals for the Hammers and genuinely looked past it as a professional footballer. [He] has been one of the better Premier League goalkeepers over the past decade-Now, Fabianski .. hit a new low on Wednesday night against Liverpool, moving around like exactly you’d picture a washed-up, 39-year-old goalkeeper would. “
“For anyone out there who still tried to argue that Fabianski (main pic) is better or anywhere near as good as Alphonse Areola, this display in the League Cup had to have been the final nail in the coffin.”
And I thought ‘Fab’ actually produced a string of decent saves. Difficult to be too positive about a ‘keeper who has just picked the ball out of his own net five times though. Perhaps Alphonse Areola will fair better at Brentford.