West Ham signed Pablo Fornals from Villarreal for around £24 million in the summer (BBC Sport).
The Spaniard arrived at the London Stadium with high expectations.
Many Hammers fans watched the 23-year-old’s highlight reel on YouTube, and were extremely excited to see him in action in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Fornals, however, he has failed to make much of an impact thus far.
He seems to be slow and ponderous in his play, and has looked well off the pace.
The Spaniard must be given time, of course, but at the moment, he is not being helped by Manuel Pellegrini.
Fornals, who earns £60,000 per week according to Football Insider, possesses exceptional technical ability, but he clearly lacks pace. Yet Pellegrini is mostly playing him out of position.
Every time the 23-year-old has been brought on in a Premier League game, he has been shunted out on the wing.
When he has been used in a central position against Bournemouth, Oxford United, Manchester United and Newport County, he has looked much better.
But every time he is used out wide, his confidence seems to be taking another battering.
And that could be a huge mistake from Pellegrini. It is hard enough for players to adjust to the intense nature and pace of the Premier League when they are being deployed in their natural positions.
Fornals’ task is being made even harder by his manager’s decision to play him out wide.
And this is something the Chilean must address when his players return from international duty.
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