Max Kilman must be axed for Igor Julio immediately as worrying feature spotted at West Ham
West Ham’s Premier League status is under serious threat this season.
West Ham’s 2-1 loss to Leeds on Friday highlighted their issues with set-pieces even further, which proved to be their downfall once again.
West Ham have the worst defensive record in the league, and something must change if results are going to improve.
Max Kilman has been a mainstay in the starting line-up for far too long, and Nuno Espirito Santo faces a huge call as Igor Julio waits to make an impact for West Ham.
Max Kilman has no merit to be starting for West Ham
Kilman is in talks to sign a new contract, yet his performances must improve drastically under Nuno.
Since joining in 2024, Kilman has faced no competition for his role at the heart of the defence, and as a result, complacency has crept into his game.
West Ham signed Igor on loan from Brighton, with the centre-back expecting to compete with Kilman at left centre-back.
He said that Graham Potter promised him some game time after only making 10 appearances for Brighton in 2024-25, yet he has played just one minute of Premier League football this season.
Igor’s career path:
- RB Salzburg – (2017 – 2019)
- SPAL (2019 – 2020)
- Fiorentina (2020 – 2023)
- Brighton – (2023 – now)
There is nothing to warrant Kilman starting other than the extortionate £40million fee that the Hammers paid for him, and it’s time that alternatives were used in his place.
Not only does Igor boast Premier League experience, but his aggressive style of defending would perfectly suit Nuno.
Speaking on Sky Sports Main Event on 20 October, ahead of West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Brentford, former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil admitted that Kilman tends to switch off during matches from when he worked with him.
It’s clear that if West Ham are to avoid relegation, they’ll need everyone to be completely switched on for each game, and Kilman has shown multiple times that he can’t do that.
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Nuno Espirito Santo known for his defensive stability
Whilst it may not seem like it at this moment in time, Nuno can certainly get the best out of West Ham.
Having taken Nottingham Forest from 17th to seventh in the space of one season is truly phenomenal, and his success was built on the foundations of keeping things tight at the back.
Murillo shone for Forest last season, and Igor possesses similar qualities to his fellow Brazilian, particularly in his passion for making blocks and clearances.
It seems baffling that Kilman has been given a free pass in the team for so long, and Igor would provide a different style of defending that would be extremely beneficial.
West Ham need someone ready to put their body on the line in each match, and based on current evidence, it is far more likely to be Igor than it is Kilman.
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