Credit: Imago
Credit: Imago

West Ham fans accuse Jean-Clair Todibo of 'missing brain cells' after 'stupid' moment vs Fulham

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Jean-Clair Todibo could not help himself from disappointing the West Ham supporters during their clash with Fulham on Saturday.

It is usually Max Kilman who is under pressure for his mistakes at the back, but there was very little to complain about in the first half at the London Stadium on 27 December.

West Ham are well and truly in the Premier League relegation battle this season, sitting four points inside the dropzone after 18 matches, and only two points above 19th-place Burnley.

While Nuno Espirito Santo has been backed to be a success by Clyde Best, supporters are beginning to become frustrated, and that was evident in Todibo as he picked up an unnecessary booking.

Eventually, Marco Silva's side scored the winner to sink the Hammers, and the London Stadium erupted.

Jean-Clair Todibo West Ham
Jean-Clair Todibo's frustrations got the better of him against Fulham. (Credit: Imago)

Jean-Clair Todibo earns a yellow card for kicking the ball away

Just moments before the half-time whistle sounded, the Frenchman went into the referee's notebook for kicking the ball away in anger, putting himself under some unnecessary pressure.

Immediately reacting, one supporter accused Todibo of "missing some brain cells," with several others calling him "stupid" for something that was always going to get him in trouble.

Before the defender's failure to control himself, he had been one of the best players on the pitch, but after messing with Chris Kavanagh, he quickly undid all that good work in East London.

  • @WHUFCallum_: "Todibo has been class, other than the stupid yellow."
  • @AzamWHUFC: "Not been great but not been bad that first half. Lack of cutting-edge and a focal point is letting us down. Todibo has been good despite needlessly getting booked. Also, think Potts has been decent in the middle of the park."
  • @AranNicol1994: "After a really smart and brilliant 43 minutes from Todibo, the [expletive] in him pops out, and he gets booked for absolutely zero reason."

West Ham focused on attacking reinforcements ahead of January

Despite a clear weakness in the defence, showcased mostly by Kilman's struggles home or away, Nuno appears to be targeting more firepower for the second half of the campaign.

As well as Norwich City's Josh Sargent, West Ham have joined the race for Jorgen Strand Larsen ahead of the transfer window opening, both of whom would surely thrive at the London Stadium.

Kilman and Todibo are currently only backed up by Konstantinos Mavropanos, with Igor Julio nowhere to be seen, but there are very few links emerging to new centre-backs.

Only Wolves have conceded more goals than the Hammers in the Premier League this term, but equally, only three teams have scored fewer goals than Nuno's side.

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