I can’t have been the only West Ham fan concerned when Max Kilman was substituted early during yesterday’s Premier League match against Southampton.
While some may debate whether the £40 million summer purchase from Wolves has represented good value, he has been one of the better transfers from the last window.
Personally, I would consider Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to be West Ham’s standout summer signings and believe any defensive frailties are more due to the system rather than the individuals. In many respects, I think those two players, alongside the heroics of Łukasz Fabiański, have prevented the Hammers from suffering a few more thrashings.
So, when I saw Kilman leave the game early with a shoulder injury, I feared the worst. The makeshift central defensive partnership of Jean-Clair Todibo and Dinos Mavropanos did not fill me with confidence, but I needn’t have worried.
Todibo was excellent as soon as he was subbed on early in the first half. Sure, we were facing possibly the worst attack in the EPL, but Southampton were creating serious chances, and West Ham needed someone to stand up and take responsibility—Todibo did just that.
Far too many Hammers players put in low-energy performances against the Saints, but Todibo seemed to win almost everything. The Frenchman does have a tendency to overenthusiastically charge out of defence, but in the main, he was dominant.
West Ham are committed to a £35 million transfer when JCT’s loan from Nice concludes next summer, and it’s time he was given more than a part-time role. I understand the player has fallen out with Julen Lopetegui, but hopefully, that has now been patched up.
As soon as Kilman returns from injury, it’s important he is allowed to build an understanding with his long-term defensive partner—and that has to be Todibo.
