To come back from that awful start and take a point, away at Brentford where West Ham United have a hitherto abysmal record, should be seen as a ‘satisfactory’ result for this team despite some very strange substitutions- more on those later.
‘Fessing up straight away, I missed the last 15 minutes thanks to the Wifi failing so like the rest of you I had to follow on the ‘app’ and radio.
But I’d already noted some positive signs from that first three quarters of the game, and you’ll be surprised to hear that from what I saw, Irons’ latest ‘utility’ player – Konstantinos Mavropanos no less- on at right back, looked very suited to his role!
He has apparently played there often in his earlier career. Credit where it is due, I think ‘Mav’ was a great call from Lopetegui instead of Coufal.
He looked quite comfortable filling in, taking like a duck to water to this required role at right back and allowing Wan-Bissaka to play on the other side: For the second or third time this season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka himself looked a commensurate left back, driving for the line and crossing with his ‘weaker’ foot.
All of this came about following a weird reshuffle at half time which took Kudus and Emerson off and brought Soler on as a.. left winger ?
This one was just strange. Somebody please ask Lopetegui why, when Summerville was on the bench and would have been the natural choice as a winger to replace Kudus. I hope it wasn’t an injury – enforced change. Summerville did come on later but by then I was watching a blank screen.
I spent much of the first half Todibo-watching. I’d seen him flinch away from a shot at Liverpool so was apprehensive every time he got involved but I should say he looked composed, fit and after the first 30 seconds when Brentford scored- the pairing with Kilman looked quite solid.
He also seems to be playing with a big smile every time the camera cut to him, which implies level of calmness and is good to see after a frustrating start to his Hammers’ career. I’d hope he will start the next half dozen games and cement a good relationship with Kilman.
Quite how our head coach decides on his substitutions – and with what aim in mind – I’ll never know but thanks to an Antonio air shot and a typical, magnificent Soucek lunge in for the resultant bobbling ball, West Ham got a point, Lopetegui must feel better about his team and for the first 70 plus minutes at least, West Ham put together some attractive triangles and touches. Something to build on. Big improvement in the effort and ‘desire’ over recent weeks, J’Lo is getting something through to them, after all..
I’m off to stick a pound in the meter and hope I get my internet back on in time for some of the Wolves Liverpool game.