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Nuno Espirito Santo may feel he has a few difficult decisions to make ahead of West Ham United’s season-defining Premier League six-pointer at home to Wolves on Friday night.
Well, that is not how Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users see it.
When it comes to picking between Max Kilman or Ezra Mayers, or Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe, Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Leeds made up quite a few West Ham United minds.
Nuno has a few selection dilemmas before Wolves arrive on Friday
Who would you pick in the manager’s shoes?
Pick your winners from these selection debates!
We asked who you would select at centre-half against Wolverhampton Wanderers, if Konstantinos Mavropanos, Axel Disasi or Jean-Clair Todibo were not fit enough to start.
And, at the time of writing, 89 per cent of you selected teenager Mayers over £40 million man Kilman.
West Ham United fans back Max Kilman against boo-boys but say he shouldn’t feature v Wolves
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
While Kilman has the backing of the West Ham fans who feel that subjecting the much-maligned centre-back to boos at the London Stadium was an almighty step over the boundary of acceptability, the stats show that Nuno Espirito Santo simply cannot trust his former Wolves protege.
There was an argument to be made that 19-year-old Mayers should have started ahead of Kilman against Leeds. An argument strengthened when the latter took down Brenden Aaronson in the penalty area, gifting Leeds a penalty converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“I do agree to support all that put on that shirt but he’s too much of a liability to be trusted on that pitch considering the position we’re in,” one fan writes on HammersNews’ Facebook page.
“For the sake of this team’s survival, he needs to be put aside. He had his chance for a bit of redemption Sunday and that didn’t go well.”
You can say that again.
“He shouldn’t be anywhere near starting 11. If Mav and Todibo are still not fit, I’d be more inclined to start Mayers as he can play in defence and as a wing-back,” another says.
What advice would you give to profligate Pablo? ⛔
How can he save his West Ham career?
Mayers is yet to start a Premier League match but he has impressed during a few top-flight cameos in league and cup.
“Yes, Kilman has been a bit of a disaster, but do people honestly think booing him will help him or the team? He must have been aware already of the chat about him, so he was already under tremendous pressure. That, barring injuries, will I should imagine be his last game for the club.”
“As a fan of over 60 years, it was horrible to hear those boos from some of our fans when Kilman touched the ball. It was disgraceful, no matter how bad a player is. So there’s no way he should play again, if only because his confidence must be shattered after that!”
“Hopefully Todibo, Mavropanos and Disasi will all be fit enough for Friday – or at least two of them -because, if they are not, we are in serious trouble.”
Ezra Mayers is an option but Nuno should have defensive trio back
We have some good news for you, then.
Hammers News have been informed by a source at the club that Todibo and Mavropanos should be available against Wolves. Disasi, too; the hamstring tweak he suffered against Leeds not as serious as first feared.
Still, should there be any late setbacks between now and Friday at 8pm, Mayers feels like a steady if somewhat untested deputy.
And should Nuno opt to play three at the back – though that in itself would be an unpopular move against rock-bottom Wolves – Mayers’ left-footedness may also put him in contention.
Again, at the time of writing, Castellanos is comfortably the favourite to start up top. The forlorn Pablo Felipe is now ten games without a goal for West Ham. Only seven per cent want to see him start against Wolves, receiving fewer votes than even Kilman.
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