By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Pablo Felipe has finally scored his first goal for West Ham — and his reaction afterwards probably explains just how much the wait had been weighing on him.
The 22-year-old found the net on his 22nd appearance for the club during Tuesday night’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham. Speaking to the official West Ham website, Pablo admitted: “I was very anxious to be able to help the team and get that first goal.”
I can completely understand that. An extended period without scoring is going to weigh heavily on any striker, particularly one signed for a significant fee and expected to contribute goals.
The Pressure Was Always Going To Build
Pablo gives West Ham plenty in terms of energy, commitment and sheer effort, and the players clearly appreciate that too. Jarrod Bowen was on the bench when Pablo scored against Fulham, yet immediately came out into the technical area to congratulate him and join the celebrations.
That tells you something about how highly his teammates regard the work he puts in. But ultimately he was signed to score goals, and however much people appreciate the running and graft, Pablo himself would know he needed to start contributing in that area.
West Ham paid around €21m for him in January and, as Claret & Hugh subsequently revealed, only around €8m of that fee reached Gil Vicente.
We massively overpaid.
That isn’t Pablo’s fault, but it inevitably creates pressure. He had scored a reasonable number of goals in Portugal and arrived off the back of a productive spell, so of course he was going to want to prove himself at West Ham.
Pablo scores his first West Ham much to the delight of Hammers fans
Pablo Finally Got His Reward
What made Tuesday night particularly encouraging was the finish itself. Pablo’s first touch and passing can often be found wanting, while he’s gangly, scrappy and can lack balance, but those things are unlikely to suddenly disappear from his game.
What I do think is there, though, is some genuine finishing technique.
As I noted in the post-match player ratings, Pablo arrived unmarked at the back post before smashing a left-footed finish into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
He took it really well, and after his difficult performance at Bolton had raised further questions, getting that first goal should do his confidence the world of good.
It’s just a shame for him that it didn’t come as part of a victory. He’s clearly a popular player inside the dressing room and that would have allowed him to properly enjoy the moment.
Millwall Is A Different Question
Despite the goal, I wouldn’t start Pablo against Millwall. Nuno rotated heavily against Fulham and I would go as close as possible to the team which demolished Wrexham 6-0.
That doesn’t mean Pablo won’t have an important role this season. The best West Ham can probably hope for is that he continues being the effective, hard-working nuisance he already is while adding goals to his game.
Because if he can do that, suddenly the bits of his game which frustrate people become far easier to forgive.
Yes we overpayed but what is he 20? Good chance he’ll be worth more than 20 in a few years.
It was a good strike. However, I don’t think we’d be making a lot of progress if every player we had was of his quality. A weak link for me.
Really delighted for him, very under undervalued and over criticised by the fans