The growing influence of Jean-Clair Todibo has huge benefits to Graham Potters’ West Ham, well beyond the defensive qualities the defender brings.
Comfortable on the ball, as he showed against Arsenal, Todibo allows Potter to encourage his possession-based Hammers team to play out from the back on away that is tougher with Greek Mavropanos in the side: ‘Mav’ is more disposed to mistakes plus he does have a tendency to launch the ball aimlessly forward – also known as ‘hoofball’ under Moyes – with the resulting inevitable turnover.
Which must be infuriating to a head coach looking to change to a more controlled Hammers style.
The ‘Potter revolution’ has just taken hold at West Ham and their 35 chances created whilst losing 3-1 effort on that December night under Potter’s predecessor is -fortunately – a distant memory now.
With Todibo’s growing influence and confidence comes the extra bonus of West Ham being able to revert more readily to a ‘2 centre-backs, 2 full backs’ formation when at home, which is a more aggressive strategy enabling the Hammers to bring in a more dynamic, attacking front line. especially against one of the lesser ‘form’ sides in the Premier League who have only one win in eleven games – (and that was the December game against Lopetegui’s West Ham!)
Last Saturday, away at Arsenal, the Hammers started with only Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus as their attacking options- both of whom had to work their socks off in defensive duties.
Jean-Clair Todibo’s strength in tandem with Max Kilman will offer Potter the chance to go to a 4-3-3 set up, enabling the selection of Evan Ferguson at good old fashioned centre-forward, for his first full debut and a start from the whistle. West Ham fans will be pleased to see how this more aggressive selection side works against Leicester City tonight with a ‘three forwards’ attacking set up.
Todibo has impressed for West Ham and enables Graham Potter to switch to a more aggressive formation
And, of course, Todibo’s development renaissance under Potter should help keep Jamie Vardy under better control and avoid a repeat of ‘that’ entirely predictable early goal last time the two sides met.
