West Ham United might have the worst defensive record in the whole of the Premier League but, in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo proved that there is talent there should Nuno Espirito Santo harness it correctly.
Whether this says more about Spurs’ toothless frontline – Thomas Frank was without Richarlison and former Hammer Mohammed Kudus – is certainly a point.
Still, while the opposition was hardly the most potent, Todibo and Mavropanos were outstanding from the first minute to the last at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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It's not over just yet 👀
What a difference West Ham United have seen in Todibo. Nuno Espirito Santo shifted the Frenchman from the right-hand side to the left a few months ago. For whatever reason, that appears to have brought about a remarkable improvement from a centre-half who is finally looking the part at £32 million.
And for all of Mavropanos’ weaknesses, there aren’t many better than him when it comes to clearing danger. A mid-range Harry Maguire, if you like. Play him higher up, and Mavropanos will charge into danger like a bull chasing a red rag. But position the Greek giant inside the penalty area, simplify his game, and he will produce performances like this.
Mavropanos made 13 clearances in North London. Unfortunately for one Max Kilman, while they say ‘absence makes the heart grow stronger’, that is not the case here.
Kaelan Casey is waiting in the wings should the Hammers dispense with Kilman over the summer. The academy graduate barely got a look in at Swansea City in the first half of the campaign. Opportunities are likely to be far more forthcoming in his new temporary home of Leyton Orient, though.
West Ham United beat Tottenham as Kaelan Casey makes Leyton Orient debut
Casey stepped off the bench to make his Orient debut in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Reading; Richie Wellens’ side putting space between themselves and the bottom three as West Ham closed the gap to Nottingham Forest.
And his manager at Brisbane Road clearly believes a good spell between now and June could see him catch Nuno Espirito Santo’s eye.
During his official unveiling on Friday, Wellens labelled Casey a ‘dominant’ and ‘modern’ centre-half. One whose impressive aerial prowess and his tidy use of the ball would suit a Leyton Orient side boasting the eighth-best possession statistics in League One.
“We’ve needed, in this window, to get two or three in. I know they’re young players, but Kaelan is going to be top. He’s going to be top,” Wellens said a day later following that victory over Reading.
“And he’s a good lad with a smile. He wants to improve. He wants to go to the very top. So, we are a showcase for him now for six months, for him to go and get in that West Ham team next year.”
Casey joins George Earthy and Callum Marshall in bright start to new loan spells
Casey was likened to a young Marc Guehi by some Swansea City supporters. Guehi, who completed his £20 million move to Manchester City on Monday, spent the 2020/21 season on loan in South Wales.
Whether Casey gets a chance at West Ham in the near future, though, could depend on how successful the Londoners prove to be in their pursuit of Charlie Cresswell and co.
Charlie Cresswell will be West Ham’s best defender…😍
How can Nuno convince him to join?
“I’m really pleased to have Kaelan with us,” Wellens added of Casey, who would end up starting on three league matches for the Swans.
“He has a lot of qualities that will suit the way I want us to play. Kaelan is a ball-playing centre back who is dominant in both boxes. He can do both sides of the game for a modern defender, which I really like.
“He is very highly thought of at his parent club and joins us having experienced some big occasions already this season. He wants to play regular football and, if he can earn his place in the team and have a positive impact on us, then this move will suit all parties.”
West Ham have loaned out Callum Marshall and George Earthy this month too. Marshall scored on his Bochum debut in Germany’s second tier, while Earthy provided an assist on his Bristol City return in the 5-1 FA Cup thrashing of Watford.
Lewis Orford stepped up in Earthy’s absence on Monday evening. West Ham thrashed Chelsea 5-0 in Premier League 2, Orford’s fierce free-kick getting the party started at Rush Green.
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