After the horror show, Lopetegui is left with some difficult choices. Many critics have called for Lucas Paquetá to be dropped after yet another lacklustre performance where the Brazilian gave a way a clumsy penalty and then gave away possession for another Arsenal goal. Largely ineffective, Paquetá only stays in the first XI because, as far as I can see, Lopetegui’s chosen option is even worse.
Guido Rodriguez is already the man who has admitted that he made a mistake coming to West Ham but is the ‘next midfielder on the bench’ if J’Lo decides that Paqueta’s indifferent form demands he be dropped. He clearly isn’t cutting it in the Premier League, so the cycle continues and Lopetegui perseveres with his out of form Brazilian. After all, Rodriguez is like Paqueta without the pace and the creativity.
But in these dire times, there are other options – but despite his promises when recruited, Lopetegui has failed completely in bringing young players through. Perhaps enough is enough of the ‘same old, same old’?
Lewis Orford, at just 18, has not so far been trusted by Lopetegui with any game time. Remember well the words of Mark Noble who described him as ‘a fantastic passer of the ball’:
I find it a shame Paquetá didn’t pick up his fifth yellow card against Arsenal, in which case Lopetegui would have been forced into a change when the Brazilian would have been suspended for one game.
Rather than just endless permutations of the same trio of slow, out of form or out of talent midfielders who fail week after week, Lopetegui can be bold and roll the dice with a chance for Orford to get minutes on the pitch and show what he’s made of.
Lewis Orford – time for Lopetegui to think outside the ‘same-old failed’ box?
Alternatively – Ollie Scarles made the bench on Saturday in the trouncing by Arsenal and would have been a great replacement instead of the coach calling on want away Rodriguez, yet again Lopetegui turned away from his crop of youngsters.
Surely the time has come for one of West Ham’s future talent to have the chance to step up? Either Orford or Scarles would certainly give 100% which is about 70% more than Lucas Paqueta right now.
I agree with Rob our centre forward is under our nose .Lets try him there for our next game the lad knows where the goalposts is and even the back of the net.
Last week’s fish ‘n chips wrapping….
“Last night against Newcastle, combining Soler and Paqueta as passing, creative midfielders combined with the workhorse tackling of Tomas Soucek– suddenly clicked. It was as if the three had new Duracell batteries and a new lease of life, popping up to make tackles and then glory be, passing the ball and keeping possession!”
Unfortunately when your job is on the line you don’t take risks, so a youngster is miles away from the first team,
Solution
A, tell the manager his job is safe, plan for next year by blooding youth, as we lose experienced squad members at the end of the season we are ready for the next year,
B, Sack the manager bring in someone who knows the squad and plan for next year NOW
C,Sack the manager and bring in a safety first plodder to keep us up and it will be same old s##t next season with no forward planning.
I thought Lopetegui was supposed to be gone if we were trashed in one or both of these games? Why is he still here? Or has he been given another three games? We are now a very sad old club, clueless!! League one here we come!!
Will anything ever change at West Ham ,same tired ineffective players week in week out,mid field over run by young slick opponents,we now have worst defensive figures of entire league! Soucek lost the plot months ago,slow clumsy,ever present,but wait! We have dynamic German waiting in the wings,if he ever plays here !! What a shambles this club is..Get Sullivan,Brady out!!!
Needs to drop paqueta and play kudus in centre mid with soler
That’s where he played for Ajax when Frankie de jong left
We badly need pace in the midfield any idiot can see that
To gain any value the Academy players must play and honestly couldn’t do worse than who was on the pitch . The midfield was MIA for the first half at which point sub them off for the kids and see what happens . Game time is what adds value and so even if certain Academy players prove not good enough for Westham some big game experience will push up their value and they can be sold for decent profit . With FFP rules Westham need to generate profits from many areas so as to compete .
Couldn’t agree more…
Kudus and Alvarez both back and on a completely unrelated theme, who the hell didn’t enjoy the knockout punch on Gabriel. Almost worth the penalty wasn’t it? Almost.
Have to admit there was part of me that laughed. Of course, if you are going to do it, do it right, and that punch wouldn’t have taken out my Granny, but it flattened Gabby?
And conceding the penalty didn’t change the outcome.
I agree with playing either of these, but Kudus is back for the next game. Let’s play him at centre forward as well and have a bit of pace up front with someone we know can score! So 2 changes and leave the rest the same as the start of last 2 games.
Paqueta never got booked yesterday…… couldn’t get the odds with Victor Chandler😀
Er… Kudus is back now.
maybe a decent coach and sporting director would make a great difference to get some young blood flowing in the team again they need to be given a chance