What has happened to Paqueta?

What has happened to Lucas Paqueta at West Ham United during the last four games? His usual high performance levels have dropped off at an alarming rate, precisely when West Ham and manager David Moyes need their superstar players to stand up and perform. Paqueta has been next to useless.

His performance today against Liverpool was pathetic; at times, it seemed as if West Ham were playing with 10 men. Whilst the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus displayed urgency and endeavour to push the team forward, the Brazilian playmaker seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else other than the London Stadium.

Paqueta couldn’t have chosen a worse time to display a poor attitude towards his teammates and Hammers fans. Not only has it impacted West Ham’s chance of achieving European football for a record fourth consecutive season, but it has also undermined his chances of securing the big money transfer he so desperately wants.

Earlier in the season, I marvelled at Paqueta’s ability to perform brilliantly on the football pitch and ignore outside influences such as his gambling investigation. Unfortunately, what we now see is a shadow of the footballer that West Ham signed, and almost anybody could do a better job than Paqueta during the last four games.

Call me a cynic, but I’m sure he’ll lift his performances just in time for West Ham’s trip to Manchester City. However, I can’t help but feel let down by his performances when we’ve most needed him.