As if life could not feel any worse for West Ham United following Monday’s aberration at home to Brentford, Nuno Espirito Santo has now confirmed that a £17 million man is likely to miss Friday’s clash with Leeds.
If there is one good thing that can be taken from a disastrous season so far, it’s that the Hammers have had relatively few injury concerns to contend with.
In fact, apart from youngster George Earthy and misfiring striker Niclas Fullkrug – Nuno confirmed that the German underwent a ‘scan’ to discover the seriousness of his thigh issue last week – West Ham United had a fully fit squad at their disposal for the visit of Brentford.
On the other hand, the fact that such a dreadful performance occurred with Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes all on the pitch does not reflect particularly well on a side sleepwalking into a relegation battle.
Excuses are few and far between, in reality.
And the prospect of going to Elland Road with Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo lining up at centre-half again will spark many a sleepless night. Nuno confirmed, after Brentford consigned the Hammers to a seventh defeat in nine games across all competitions, that Konstantinos Mavropanos is now a major doubt for their next outing.
Nuno Espirito Santo confirms West Ham United blow with Konstantinos Mavropanos
That Mavropanos has looked such a clear upgrade on Todibo throughout much of the campaign is, in itself, very worrying.
The £17 million Greek international is viewed by many supporters as a symbol of West Ham’s malaise in recent seasons. Yet, while he has made his fair share of errors too, Mavropanos still seems a cut above a defender who continues to make a mockery of his reported £35 million price-tag.
Todibo and Kilman were awful against Brentford. But after a late injury to half-time substitute Mavropanos forced West Ham to play the final few minutes with ten men, the former Arsenal and Stuttgart giant now faces a race against time if he is to be available for selection in West Yorkshire.
“Probably for the next one [against Leeds], he is not going to be available,” Nuno said post-match. “Hopefully for November 2nd [vs Newcastle United]. Let’s see.”
That Mavropanos was left out of the starting XI, alongside the likes of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Callum Wilson, was certainly a surprise.
Mavropanos dominated Viktor Gyokeres at the Emirates last time out, in what was one of his most impressive performances since returning to England a couple of summers ago. While he may lack Todibo’s ability to progress the play down the right hand side, West Ham’s number 15 at least demonstrates the physicality, and the willingness, to engage himself in aerial battles.
Todibo, throughout his time in the Premier League, has looked ill at ease with crosses into the box. He set the tone against Brentford when leaving Mikkel Damsgaard completely unmarked at 0-0, Alphonse Areola pulling off one of a number of saves as the overworked goalkeeper kept the scoreline down.
Jamie Carragher and Gary O’Neil criticise Max Kilman after Brentford loss
Todibo’s centre-back partner hardly fared any better.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher watched Max Kilman fail to cut out a simple pass over the top as Brentford took a deserved lead through Igor Thiago on the stroke of half-time. But, with Mavropanos likely to be unavailable for at least one Premier League fixture, Nuno may have no choice but to persist with, and pray for, the Todibo – Kilman partnership to come good.
“He’s just got to go and head that or get his chest on it!” Carragher told Sky Sports after Kilman dangled a lazy leg at the ball. “He’s too passive.”
“He’s the leader at the back for West Ham! I used to really like him at Wolves, but he probably didn’t have that responsibility at Wolves. When you are the leading main centre-half, you’ve got to dominate that situation.”
“West Ham will be devastated with the nature of the [Thiago] goal,” added Gary O’Neil, who coached Kilman at Molineux. “At Premier League level, to have four v three… Max has to go and head that. They need to be more aggressive, the centre-backs.
“You can’t be losing duels at this part of the pitch at Premier League level.
“We used to speak [to Kilman at Wolves] about not switching off the engine. I’ve been watching him recently, and I’m sure Nuno will be drilling into him; ‘Don’t rely on your pace and physicality. Make sure you’re always switched on’.”
