Paqueta departure signals the end for Moyes
Lucas Paqueta’s desire to leave and unavailability for at least another month should be the final nail in the coffin for David Moyes.
In the short term, it’s bad news because the team seems incapable of scoring goals without the playmaker. Having not recruited any attacking midfielders in the January window and without Lanzini or Fornals to deputise, Moyes can’t call on anyone to open up a defence.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario whereby the Hammers go on a long winning run with our defensive tactics, so Moyes won’t be getting his contract extension anytime soon.
Then there is the matter of next season when Paqueta has made it clear that he wants to leave. That news means West Ham will require another rebuild, and I doubt many have the desire to let Moyes oversee it.
Moyes may not survive Paqueta departure
Not only will Paqueta need replacing, but we’ll also need two full-backs, a winger, a centre forward, and a central defender. West Ham have the second oldest squad in the Premier League and will need to start again.
This will present the perfect opportunity for a new man with new ideas to join.
As for Paqueta . . . I can’t blame him for wanting to leave. The Brazilian is a genius and is totally unsuited to West Ham in our current form. He’s an artist with a dodgy set of brushes and a broken canvas, which stops him from painting his masterpiece.