Perfect Moyes player lacks just one thing

By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

Pablo Fornals took just two minutes on Saturday against Doncaster Rovers to do what we’ve all been wanting him to do more often this season – score the goal that set us on the way to a comprehensive victory.

He spent the remaining 88 minutes doing what we’ve all seen him do on a regular basis – work his socks off for the team and his team mates.

If you’re looking for the epitome of a David Moyes player, Fornals would surely fit the bill perfectly giving 110% every game, wherever the manager asks him to play. But goal scoring is one area where Pablo himself, and Moyes no doubt, would be happy to see an improvement.

Two goals in 19 appearances this season prior to Saturday isn’t exactly a great return for someone with Pablo’s attacking instincts. But that figure could so easily have been six or seven  because it has to be said the little man has missed a few ‘sitters’.

That’s not meant as a criticism of the player, who more than earns his keep in other areas of play, but those few extra goals from Fornals would be the icing on the cake.

Pablo’s energy and enthusiasm has frequently seen him take up some great goal scoring positions – but it’s actually converting those chances into goals that’s not quite there yet.

Tomas Soucek has proved to be such a valuable asset from midfield because when chances have come in his direction, our Czech international has been able to put them away.

Fornals has yet to find that same knack. The goal he scored against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium earlier in the season showed just what’s he’s capable of.

A long ball from Aaron Cresswell was superbly brought under control with one touch by Pablo before racing clear of the City defence and calmly slotting home past the despairing Kasper Schmeichel. It was simple perfection.

There’s not much of a legacy left by Manuel Pellegrini left to write home about but Pablo’s £25m purchase from Villarreal is one acquisition for which to be thankful . He is almost certain to be a starter against Crystal Palace – and he  might just have something to prove, having been replaced at half time by Manuel Lanzini in the earlier clash with the Eagles at the London Stadium.

It wasn’t quite going his way that day – but buoyed by the goal against ‘Donny’, it would be satisfying all round to see Pablo make it two in two – while helping West Ham to another valuable three points.