It took West Ham United legend Tony Gale only six minutes to ask question of Max Kilman during Saturday’s clash with Premier League and London rivals Fulham.
While many Hammers fans were calling for the return of Konstantinos Mavropanos after Kilman produced another error-strewn performance during the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, Nuno controversially kept the faith with his much-maligned £40 million centre-back.
Nuno made no changes to his XI against Fulham.
A decision which threatened to backfire in the blinking of an eye at the London Stadium.
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With Kilman back on the left of a back-four and Jean-Clair Todibo reverting to the right, the former allowed Fulham striker Raul Jimenez the time and space to spin and shoot on the edge of the penalty area, much to Gale’s bemusement.
Tony Gale questioned Max Kilman straight after kick-off during West Ham United v Fulham
A couple of months ago, Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher took aim at Max Kilman’s ‘passive’ approach to defending.
Passive was the fitting description again here, as Jimenez was gifted the opportunity to weigh up his shot before blazing over Alphonse Areola’s goal.
“You’ve got to get tighter,” Gale said during Peacock’s live coverage, West Ham’s number three starting on the left for the first time since October. “He has allowed him to make a neat little turn. Fortunately for [Kilman], he’s blown it over.”
Areola then came to West Ham’s rescue a few minutes later. This time it was Lucas Paqueta to blame.
Paqueta has summed up West Ham’s struggles in recent times, and he was once again guilty of coughing up possession in a dangerous area. Harry Wilson very nearly added another contender to his personal Goal of the Season competition, only for Areola to tip his fizzing drive over the top.
“It starts with Paqueta giving the ball away,” Gale sighed. “That is a vital save. That is going into the top corner.
“You can’t allow [Wilson] onto his left foot!”
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That was one of five shots on target produced by the two sides during a rather lacklustre opening 45 minutes. And four of those came from the visitors.
West Ham were sluggish and ponderous again for the most part going forward, with Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville squandering the few opportunities the home side did look like creating.
Nuno cannot bring on Luis Guilherme in an attempt to shake things up. The winger is nowhere to be seen as Sporting Lisbon hold talks regarding a potential fresh start in Portugal. West Ham do still have one potential gamechanger, however.
talkSPORT co-hosts Gabby Agbonlahor and Ally McCoist cannot understand Callum Wilson’s watching brief. And after another first half devoid of goalscoring openings, Wilson’s physicality and predatory instincts could conceivably be the difference.
“Callum Wilson is doing OK when he gets a chance. He’s scored four [in six starts],” former Aston Villa captain Agbonlahor argued. “He came off the bench at the weekend [in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City].
“I’m thinking, you need goals to stay up, right? You’ve got to find them somewhere.
“It baffles me how the manager doesn’t start him more often. It’s like a defensive mentality, putting Bowen down the middle because Callum Wilson might not be able to press as much. But it was only recently he scored two against Bournemouth.
“I was at that game. He was very good, lively, and a great finisher. He might not play 90 minutes, but I’m sure he can play 60 or 70!
“Other players have got to step up. [Lucas] Paqueta, you know, you’re this ‘superstar’ player, but all you do is throw your arms up. You let your team down getting sent off. Only three goals this season. [Crysencio] Summerville, zero goals this season.”
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