By Hughie Southon
Lucas Paqueta is starting to emerge as the talent he was much hailed as when he arrived at the club as their record signing.
It has taken him more than a while to settle in but against Arsenal and a couple of earlier games we are starting to see why the manager decided to go big for the Brazilian.
Injuries and a settling in period slowed his progress but at last the clever flicks and near killer passes are emerging and we have a real player on our hands who looks more than capable of creating opportunities.
He has now spoken out on the slow starts to games we have seen plus much more and it appears that going behind has indeed seen the team attempt to take the game into their own hands as the tactics have needed to change.
The Hammers star spoke to ESPN Brasil after our 2-2 draw with Arsenal and said: ““Yeah, I think that’s been hurting us a little bit. It is not the first time that we start the game and already concede one, sometimes two goals, which makes it very difficult for us. I
It changes the whole plan, our whole strategy. But then, very calmly, when the goal came, we managed to put our style of play, put pressure on Arsenal and managed to tie the match.
We also had the chance to make a comeback, yes, it was an open game. But I believe it was a very important point. I think that after our goal, it gave us a little more confidence to press high, make their defenders give away the ball.
So I think this change in attitude came through our goal. It gave us confidence and we started to realise on the pitch, ‘Hey, we can press, you can steal the ball and we can mark’. So that’s what we did.”
Interesting points but I may be able to think of one man who may not be that happy to hear the words.
Yes, Hugh, I can also think of that man who may not like to hear these words from Paqueta. But, hopefully, that man will be on his way out of the club at the end of the season and it won’t matter much what he thinks anymore. The Hammers must be allowed to release the handbrake and remove the shackles so to play a more attractive and attacking game. No more setting up to not lose games (how has panned out?) but going out to actually WIN games! That is our dream.
Well done to Lucas. This is nothing new though, most top players have the intelligence for in-game management, rather than awaiting instructions like Subbuteo players.
Managers have to at times rely on, “on-the-pitch generals” to tweak and control the play. This is something which past top players were known for. It is good to know that we have players capable of this in game management. I have even heard Roy Keane speak about this, and having to change things on the pitch whilst playing (I guess that he probably had to dig Sir Alex out of a hole on more than a few occasions).
Even Sir Bobby Robson had to bow to player pressure leading up to Italia 90, where we managed to get to the semi-finals of the world cup.
Shame they couldn’t follow their managers instructions at the beginning due to being nervous. Moyes likes his teams to press. His teams played the same at Everton. Perhaps some of the players are finally getting it Paquetta in particular.