Pundit Chris Sutton has made a big claim about the West Ham goalkeeper situation and has slammed Lucas Paqueta as a ‘major disappointment.
West Ham came from behind to beat Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday night.
The Hammers went 1-0 down in shocking fashion when Alphonse Areola failed to stop a shot from distance after poor closing down from Tomas Soucek.
That came amid much controversy with West Ham’s players, manager David Moyes and 60,000 fans feeling there should have been a foul awarded on Lucas Paqueta seconds before.
West Ham number two Areola, who has not played since the game against Gent, was at fault for the goal.
Chris Sutton makes big claim about West Ham goalkeeper situation and slams Lucas Paqueta as a ‘major disappointment
And it raised the question as to whether Moyes should be playing his back-up ‘keeper for the serious games as the Hammers bid to try and win the competition.
Well one pundit doesn’t think so.
Chris Sutton has made a big claim about the West Ham goalkeeper situation and has slammed Paqueta as a ‘major disappointment.
Analysing the game on BT Sport, Sutton questioned Moyes’ decision to play Areola ahead of consistent number one Lukasz Fabianski regardless of his previous rotation policy.
‘I don’t get that one’
“It’s pathetic (closing down) from Soucek,” Sutton said on BT Sport.
“Having said that Areola should save that. I always think – Areola is the second choice at West Ham and West Ham want to win what we view as a big trophy – and they’re not playing Fabianski, I don’t get that one.”
And Sutton also labelled Paqueta something of a flop at West Ham – despite his recent impressive performances.
BT highlighted a statistic showing Paqueta has made more tackles (29) than any other player in the Premier League since February 1st. But Sutton says that’s not why he was brought to the club.
‘That’s not why West Ham signed Paqueta’
“Ok we saw the tackling stat but that’s not why Paqueta was brought into West Ham,” Sutton said.
“He was brought in to score goals and create opportunities.
“You know we can’t blame David Moyes for some of Paqueta’s misplaced passes this evening. There was a nice bit of skill here, lovely little flick there but it’s been too few and far between since he’s gone to the club.
“The issue with West Ham spending all that money – £190 odd millions this season – the supporters thought they would go up a level. And Paqueta has been one of those players who has come in and been a major disappointment.”