The truth has emerged over why Jean-Clair Todibo was left out of the West Ham squad by Nuno Espirito Santo after a bad apple leak in the wake of Graham Potter’s sacking.
- Hammers News exclusive
All eyes were on West Ham’s squad, team selection and tactics for Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge following the sacking of Graham Potter.
Many Hammers fans have remarked that the Portuguese offered more inspiration in 20 seconds of his first interview than Potter did in his entire nine-month tenure.
It has also been noted Nuno showed a lot more passion on the touchline than his predecessor too.
It counts for a lot with West Ham fans who are so completely fed up watching insipid performances that anger has long since turned to apathy.
Truth behind Todibo being left out of West Ham squad by Nuno
West Ham’s resilient point at Everton has provided new hope, though, and something for Nuno to build on.
The new Hammers boss has made it clear that something needs to be a solid base.
If the former Forest boss can achieve that with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo among his centre-back options then he really is a top manager.
Mavropanos was at fault – yet again – for Everton’s goal, standing miles off Michael Keane and heading thin air as the Toffees took the lead.
West Ham fans found it refreshing that Nuno called that defending out for what it was after the game – unacceptably bad.
Overall, though, it was a much-improved defensive display from the Hammers in Nuno’s first outing.
All the talk ahead of the match was about the omission of James Ward-Prowse.
Ruthless Nuno left Ward-Prowse out of his first West Ham squad for the trip to Everton.
West Ham fans have long been calling for Ward-Prowse to be removed from the starting XI.
Nuno went one further and bombed him out of the squad altogether.
Whereas Potter often pussyfooted around explaining his decisions, Nuno was honest and blunt when asked about Ward-Prowse.
Todibo in new bad apple leak after Potter’s West Ham sacking
The Portuguese stated he made the decision that he felt was best for the team and had explained the situation to Ward-Prowse, saying “I think he understands”.
On the outside it seems harsh for Ward-Prowse to be dropped from the squad altogether.
But there is clearly more to the situation than meets the eye after the former England midfielder was bombed out of a disastrous loan spell at Forest under Nuno last season.
That was the big headline ahead of the game but it distracted from the fact £32m defender Jean-Clair Todibo was nowhere to be seen either.
Now Hammers News can reveal the truth behind Todibo being left out of the West Ham squad by Nuno after a bad apple leak.
Todibo is looking like another name to add to the list of disastrous West Ham signings since arriving from Nice.
The Frenchman looked rusty and unfit when he first arrived in east London.
Throughout the entirety of last season Todibo barely completed a single 90 minute match.
After a 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal, Todibo was involved in a bust-up with Julen Lopetegui which is said to have turned physical.
Lopetegui admitted there was an incident but tried to play it down afterwards.
Todibo was made to train with the Under 21s at the time and dropped from the West Ham squad for a game.
A few weeks later Lopetegui was gone, though, and Potter offered Todibo a clean slate.
Why Todibo was left out of West Ham squad by Nuno
The former Barca defender’s performances have remained poor, though, and he lost his place under the Englishman, who dropped him from the squad altogether for the recent 3-0 defeat to Spurs which prompted West Ham to start discussions with Nuno.
Since Potter’s West Ham sacking it has been leaked he fell out with Todibo, who has been painted as a real bad apple.
It has been reported that Potter called Todibo into his office to tell him to improve his effort levels in training.
Todibo’s alleged response was to turn up late to training the next day – hence being dropped from the squad for Spurs.
When a new manager comes in, it usually gives players a clean slate.
But Todibo was nowhere to be seen again in West Ham’s squad for the trip to Everton.
That has led to fresh speculation that the £32m man has become a major problem at the club.
His omission had nothing to do with being a bad apple or any fallout with – or punishment from – the new manager, though.
A top source with knowledge of the situation has told Hammers News that sickness was the real reason for Todibo’s absence at Everton.
“He is physically sick, a small medical condition, that’s why he wasn’t in squad tonight,” the source told Hammers News.
How long the issue will keep Todibo out for remains to be seen.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
