After such a disappointing result at Spurs on Saturday, criticism of the back line’s performance is widespread today. The Standard sums it up pretty well : “Wan-Bissaka, Todibo and Max Kilman mean three quarters of Lopetegui’s new-look back four are summer recruits, but having now conceded 15 goals in eight games there are no signs of establishing cohesion or of Lopetegui building a solid defensive base.”
The truth is, the only real option for Lopetegui if he wants to change West Ham’s back line is to bring in Mavropanos instead of one of his other two centre-backs. The Greek started in the losses against Aston Villa, Man City and Chelsea so is hardly a ‘magic bullet’ to shore up a leaky back line. The solution is more likely to be a tactical switch borne of necessity.
Lopetegui had come to West Ham seen as an ‘antidote’ to David Moyes and perhaps felt the pressure to be more expansive: In several games he has been found out by pushing full backs so far up the pitch that West Ham capitulated on turnover of possession with Wan-Bissaka or Emerson out of position.
Relying on a slow and steady Rodriguez or Alvarez or a clearly currently inadequate Paquetá to cover and fill the gap has failed miserably.
The Standard again:” An out-of-sorts Lucas Paqueta picked up a needless yellow card in the first half and had precious little attacking or defensive influence against Spurs: Tomas Soucek put in another battling display, but Guido Rodriguez continues to struggle to acclimatise to the intensity of the Premier League.”
That’s where the changes need making. A Porous midfield will still leak whoever is in the back line.
Carlos Soler is certainly capable of replacing Paquetá and performing far better: Alvarez didn’t start against Spurs and whatever the reason, needs reprogramming by Lopetegui alongside Soucek who at least got stuck in on Saturday. Tinkering around the edges with a Mavropanos switch won’t cut it: The tactics and naive strategy of asking the full backs to join the attack need a reboot too.
