It would be a stretch to label anyone’s performance yesterday as ‘sensational’: Maybe as far as Graham Potter’s defence is concerned, ‘businesslike’ would be a more appropriate description. However, just three short months ago the same bunch of players were regularly conceding three, four, or even five goals a game. The Liverpool 5-0 defeat stands out amongst the bunch as being an abject surrender: Suddenly yesterday’s result doesn’t seem so bad.
Singled out by sportsview.co.uk , the self explanatory article “West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo puts in sensational display against Everton” reminds West Ham fans – me included- how far Graham Potter has taken the Hammers defence since those dark days.
“Jean-Clair Todibo also produced a sensational display at Goodison: The 25-year-old was excellent in defence and also had a half decent opportunity to put his side in front in the first half.”
Todibo is comfortable on the ball, most definitely – suiting Graham Potter’s style of playing out from the back, in a way that made for reassuring watching as his interplay with Wan-Bissaka never looked likely to result in calamity even under Everton’s high pressure closing down: Unfortunately that attribute isn’t shared by Hammers’ keeper Areola who very nearly dribbled his way to disaster.
Whilst Todibo’s stats don’t look all that impressive, ” 77 touches, completed 44 of his 58 passes (76% accuracy). He won 75% of his ground/aerial duels and completed 50% of his dribbles: Lost possession on 16 occasions, but registered five interceptions, four tackles and two clearances:”
If that stat is true, sixteen losses of possession doesn’t sound to me like a ‘sensational’ performance. However, Todibo appears to be taking strides to cement his starting place alongside Max Kilman and both are becoming “Mr Dependable’s”. Graham Potter’s job in the summer is to find another dependable centre back to replace the hapless ‘Mav’ and complete a starting trio of safe centre-backs which gradually install more confidence.
