It is a minefield playing squad members out of position, and one for which Lopetegui and his predecessor have been slated. Even this week many are criticising West Ham’s deployment of Kudus as a left winger, with vociferous support coming for the Ghanaian to be moved centrally. Alvarez’ relocation as centre-back against Chelsea was another late Lopetegui choice – and that didn’t work out well. However, sometimes there seems a certain situation where a players’ repositioning, either planned or through necessity just seems to ‘click’ and according to the BBC, one such successful move took place against Brentford.
With the furore over the Kudus fall out with Lopetegui (all friends again now) less was written of the withdrawal of Emerson at half time and the reshaping of West Ham’s back line. Wan-Bissaka moved to the left and still looked awesome. Konstantinos Mavropanos, our Greek International centre-back, played as a right-back and according to many, was a big success. BBC.com believe: “He looked very much at home, galloping up the touchline in attack while also adding a degree of solidity at the back.”
It was a brave decision by Lopetegui risking all sorts of criticism when he had full-time right-back Vlad Coufal on the bench and available. Imagine the furore if Brentford had scored from a move on the Mavropanos side. We all know that ‘Mav’ does have a mistake in him each ninety minutes, but at right-back there is probably more cover for him. Are we going to see this four replicated against Ipswich? The BBC seem to think so: “”West Ham were the better side in the second half, and possibly should have gone on to win the game. It’s no coincidence that their improvement in the second half came after Mavropanos was introduced.”
Strangely this decision seemed to work for West Ham, for Mavropanos and for Lopetegui. No doubt also that Wan-Bissaka looked far more effective in both attacking and defensive mode than the tired-looking Emerson. As a first choice starting-formation? Maybe – but definitely an option if Lopetegui wants to ring the changes or indeed, if he feels the solidity shown in that second half against Brentford was in part due to the Greek’s introduction.
Should Mavropanos become a regular at right back then it probably signals the end of Coufal’s career at West Ham. He’s been a brilliant servant but is now at the age where he will decline quickly if not playing regular first team football, so may be another one at the departure gate come January.