The Independent has made an extremely worrying claim about West Ham star Lucas Paqueta and his attitude.
There was enormous excitement at West Ham around the record signing of Paqueta from Lyon.
Eight players were signed by West Ham in the summer window. But there is no doubt the arrival of the Brazilian midfield star has caught the imagination more than any other.
It is fair to say things have not worked out so far in east London for Paqueta or West Ham, who sit one place off the bottom three by virtue of goal difference alone as we approach the halfway stage of the season.
At Leeds United on Wednesday night Paqueta finally scored his first goal – a penalty.
But with the game in the balance at 2-2 West Ham’s £51m playmaker was substituted on 80 minutes – with 15 minutes still to be played – and cut a frustrated figure as he made his way off the pitch.
After the game it was put to David Moyes that Paqueta getting off the mark was a positive. Only for the Hammers boss to question the credibility of counting a penalty as a bona fide goal.
“Well, one’s a penalty kick so I don’t know if you can count that as an out-and-out goal,” Moyes said of the Brazil midfielder’s first strike for West Ham.
Now The Independent has made an extremely worrying claim about West Ham star Paqueta.
The newspaper reports that West Ham’s team spirit and solidity have been undermined by their big summer signings.
And The Independent even claims that Paqueta has not given the impression he wants to be at West Ham.
“West Ham had got slight returns from their two flagship signings until each scored at Elland Road,” The Independent reports.
“Lucas Paqueta has not always given the impression he wants to be at West Ham; after reaching double figures for goals in his last two seasons for Lyon, this was a first for his new club.
“The £50 million man at least offered hints of flair, though Moyes sounded nonplussed (when asked about him after the game).”
What a miserable season this is turning into for West Ham. All the hope and hype around the likes of Paqueta has been replaced by disappointment and despair.
Fans are not foolish and there was surprise when West Ham suddenly signed Paqueta in the summer. It emerged afterwards he had been hawked around clubs with Lyon desperate for cash.
Paqueta for the most part was actually very good at Elland Road and showed signs he can make an impact. But then so did Andre Gomes and James Rodriguez at Everton and a litany of other so-called big money marquee midfield stars in the Premier League down the years.
The Hammers should have won at Leeds after taking the lead. The only positive is that they ended up with a draw when they so easily could have lost the match as the hosts spurned a number of chances and Lukasz Fabianski made two top saves.
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