West Ham striker Pablo has divided opinion and I suspect will continue to do so following his 20m move in January.
The Brazilian-born forward has made a clear impact since arriving at the London Stadium, but it would be fair to say he’s not a conventional striker. Gangly, awkward, Bambi on ice and a giraffe controlling a football are just some of the phrases used to describe the 22 year old.
Nuno highlights importance beyond goals
Not that any of that matters to West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The irons boss has effectively admitted that had Pablo not suffered an injury setback in February, his team might be in a much stronger position.
“The combinations between Taty and Pablo, it was too bad we had the setback of the injury [to Pablo] that didn’t allow them to continue knowing each other.
But the work that they do off the ball is very important for the boys in the back four, in the midfield, because they block lines, they work hard off the ball.
And we need our strikers to score. We need our strikers to score. So like we mentioned about Dinos, Taty, the confidence, for Pablo the goals will come, Jarrod, Cry… So all these players that rely on individual aspects. Confidence plays a big part, big part.”
Awkward & gangly? Pablo has added to West Ham’s effectiveness
West Ham climbing at the right time
West Ham moved out of the relegation zone following Friday night’s 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Tottenham losing 1-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the Hammers ended the gameweek outside the bottom three for the first time since the start of December.
Contribution tells a different story
Pablo played a big role in West Ham’s second and third goals, and it’s telling to hear Nuno emphasise the work his strikers do off the ball.
He’s not your typical forward, and it does take some adjusting to.
A different kind of striker
It brings to mind what former Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes once said about Roque Santa Cruz: focus on what a player can do, not what he can’t.
That feels like the situation with Pablo.
He might not be the quickest or the most technically polished, but his work rate and ability to win the ball high up the pitch are starting to look like valuable assets in this West Ham side.
Gonzo this guy reminds me of Dember Bar. I like him as a player, he works hard and ghere seems yo be improvements everytime he plays. What more can he do?
Morning mate.
Honestly, I don’t know what to make of him. But, the team is better with him in it that’s for sure.
In a nutshell, Gonzo! But: he improves the team. That’ll do me!
I’ll take his work rate all day long. Makes a huge difference when you see players like Bowen and Pablo pressing and fighting to win the ball back. Rubs off on the whole team.
Did I see that Potters old assistant agent Bruno Saltor was “helping out” at Tottenham?
he was, actually, in sole charge after Igor Tudor departed
We need to push on and Palace is going to be a different prospect, we need to limit the errors as they will punish us.
I think Pablo has the right attitude and he sure works out there. I see him improving every game and that gorgeous flick for Taty’s goal shows his quality that will continue to emerge. COYI
Pablo’s assist for Taty’s first goal was pure class. Without that flick Taty doesn’t score and the move fizzles out