Lucas Paquetá’s status at West Ham is facing increased scrutiny following recent struggles with both club and country. Despite his undeniable talent, Paquetá’s performances have been inconsistent, with his latest display for Brazil—a 1-0 loss to Paraguay—adding to the growing concerns about his form. Although Paquetá is one of the most technically gifted players in the squad, his impact has waned, raising questions about his automatic place in the starting XI.
Paquetá is dealing with the aftermath of being charged with alleged involvement in illegal betting on yellow cards while playing for West Ham, which has cast a shadow over his career. If found guilty, the consequences could be severe, potentially leading to a lengthy ban and legal action from the Irons. This uncertainty, combined with his dip in form, has left his place in the team vulnerable.
At West Ham, Paquetá’s lacklustre recent performances, including a poor showing against Manchester City where two of his mistakes directly led to goals, have not gone unnoticed. His style of play—focusing on riskier, creative passes—doesn’t always align with modern football’s emphasis on efficiency and stats. With just nine goals and nine assists in 62 Premier League appearances, Paquetá’s output has not matched his £85 million price tag, and his form has been inconsistent since mid-2023.
Julen Lopetegui now has more options to challenge Paquetá’s starting spot. New arrivals like Mohammed Kudus and Carlos Soler offer versatility and technical ability, while Edson Álvarez and Guido Rodríguez have made strong starts. This depth in midfield means Paquetá can no longer rely solely on his reputation—he needs to step up and deliver tangible contributions, such as goals, assists, and key passes, to maintain his place.
West Ham fans and Lopetegui alike will be hoping Paquetá regains his form soon. If not, the club may have to consider benching their highest-paid player (£150k per week), focusing on players who can make a more immediate impact for the team
I’ve seen a change under J-Lo, he’s seemed less likely to argue with refs, simulate fouls and roll around pretending to be injured. A real positive step from the habits he was forming last season (which were driving me crazy week in and week out).
OK he’s not had the best of starts but we were patient with him before and he produced, so I for one am giving him the benefit of the doubt here backing him to come good sooner rather than later. Form is temporary and all that …
Gives the ball away far too easily sometimes and gets very complacent at times. Time to give him a rest and see what Soler can do. Might be exactly what he needs.
Exactly, this is why competition is a good thing.
We have players to push him. So benching him now will hopefully reignite him