West Ham’s defeat of Swansea has reopened up a familiar selection debate amongst fans and pundits.
The striker who cannot score – Pablo Felipe – appears to have the worst first touch in the second division and an inability to put chances away.
Despite his obvious shortcomings, he’s more often than not hugely influential in Nuno’s strategy of ‘defending from the front’ which has seen the Brazilian have an uncanny knack of helping the side win most times he’s appeared as a starter.
One championship goal belies his value in Nuno’s preferred starting XI – Pablo Felipe
Roshane Thomas’ article in the NY Times today describes perfectly the strategic value of playing the ‘profligate‘ West ham striker in this side, in this division, whilst West Ham possess plenty of other talents able to add to the scoresheet:
“Making his fifth league start, Pablo played as a lone striker. It was his pressurising of Marko Stamenic into giving away possession that led to Divine Mukasa’s goal for a 1-0 win that moved West Ham to second in the table and a point behind Swansea.
The striker threaded a pass to Mohamadou Kante, who assisted Mukasa for his third league goal of the season. Despite Pablo being a profligate finisher, with a return of one goal and one assist in seven league appearances this campaign, the passage of play was another reminder of his work rate. He is at his best when chasing lost causes and shielding the ball from opposition defenders to bring others into play”
Perhaps we need to redefine his role. Less a ‘striker’ more, as it were, an ‘eight and a half’ – a blocking, harassing forward who might grab the odd goal – which would remove the debate as there’s little doubt he’s hugely influential in that role. In the Championship, West Ham’s abundance of riches and modest opposition defences means there are plenty of other scoring options within the side so that Pablo can exist without rattling in twenty goals.
Not going to work next season, of course, if the Hammers make it back to the Premier League but that’s a problem for next summer.
Right now, he seems to add enough to West Ham’s game to keep on picking him – if having to endure his occasional flour during in front of goal through gritted teeth.
Whilst Mukasa, Bowen, Austbo, Mavropanos, Piroe, Solomon, Castellanos and Kanté seem able to supply the goals, it seems that Pablo’s shortcomings can be tolerated thanks to the ‘interference’ he runs (sorry about the American Football reference but it seems oddly appropriate)..And the odd ‘bonus’ goal he creates.
Apart from Pablo being clumsy and Taty lack of goals, both players need to cut out fouling players when they lose the ball.
Isn’t it about time Taty started scoring?
After all that’s been said, he will probably go and score goal of the month against Southampton!
Riding high in the championship, it’s a golden opportunity for a centre forward to make a name for himself