New footage shows why Lucas Paqueta was “dropped” from West Ham team

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It says a lot that the biggest shock of West Ham’s draw at Fulham was not Danny Ings being the last minute hero.

After two weeks of pent up frustration over the international break, West Ham fans had convinced themselves they were about to see Julen Lopetegui make some big changes at Fulham.

Prior to the break, supporters had been left bemused by some of Lopetegui’s team selections.

That had been explained away as the new boss giving West Ham’s old guard a fair chance.

There is something in that of course. If Lopetegui wants to be respected and trusted and forge a tight-knit group, he can’t pledge to give everyone an opportunity then go back on his word from the off.

However, the Spaniard drip-feeding a host of exciting summer signings has not gone down well.

West Ham fans shocked by Paqueta omission

It’s a trait that irritated Hammers fans about David Moyes.

So for his successor to be doing the same thing after what’s been dubbed West Ham’s best window for years has not gone down well.

Time will tell if it has been the right approach.

What probably wasn’t the right approach, judging by West Ham’s dismal first half display, was to drop Lucas Paqueta.

There was a nasty surprise when the teamsheets came out for the game at Fulham.

Tomas Soucek got the nod ahead of Paqueta, Michail Antonio started up front yet again and Konstantinos Mavropanos kept Jean-Clair Todibo out of the West Ham starting XI once more.

By half-time Mavropanos had made the mistakes which led to Fulham’s goal. Meanwhile Soucek and Antonio were so poor they were both hauled off.

New footage shows why Paqueta was “dropped” from team

Paqueta has not been anything like his best for some time.

But on he came and he made an impact with West Ham having much more of the ball and far greater threat.

Social media was awash with criticism of Lopetegui for dropping Paqueta. And it begged the question as to why.

Soucek had been involved in two international matches just like Paqueta. So had Lopetegui made the decision based on Paqueta’s poor display against Man City in the previous game?

Now new footage has showed why Paqueta was likely “dropped” from West Ham team.

West Ham have posted behind-the-scenes video of their game at Fulham.

It shows Paqueta emerging from the team bus coughing, spluttering and looking under the weather.

Paqueta is also seen with his hood up when walking out onto the Craven Cottage pitch on a sunny day in west London.

This makes much more sense than Lopetegui dropping Paqueta based on recent form.

He may not have been at his best but neither has Antonio and others, so it would be double standards if that was the case.

If Paqueta was ill or suffering with a cold or flu then West Ham should be grateful he was able to play at all.

Bizarrely, Lopetegui was not asked by any of the journalists after the game ‘why’ Paqueta was left out.

So we’re left to speculate as to the real reason.

This West Ham footage may have given us the answer.