The contrast between two absent Brazilian midfielders and the performances of their respective clubs – West Ham United beat Sunderland while Newcastle were rolled over by Aston Villa – was stark.
Since he arrived from Lyon four years ago this month, Newcastle have played 11 matches without captain Bruno Guimaraes and failed to win any of them. Sunday’s drab 2-0 home defeat by title dark-horses Aston Villa was their fifth defeat in that run.
But if Newcastle were crying out for the intensity, creativity and the by-the-scruff-of-the-neck dynamism of their irreplaceable Brazil international, the opposite was true of West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta.
How many points would West Ham have taken from their last two games if Lucas Paqueta had been playing? 🤔
Maybe I’m harsh, but I just don’t think he suits this team anymore…
The Hammers have won three successive games for the first time since November 2023. And it does not feel like a coincidence that Paqueta did not feature in any of them.
Yes, West Ham have lost 15 and won only eight of the 32 matches Paqueta has missed since he also crossed the Channel and left Lyon for England, but a lot has changed since the days when he was running the show under David Moyes.
Mateus Fernandes took Lucas Paqueta’s advice and ran with it in that 3-1 beating of the Black Cats. He scored a stunner reminiscent of his teammate’s best, and spent Saturday dictating the play and driving through the thirds at a speed the leisurely Paqueta often appears incapable – or unwilling – to match.
As captain Jarrod Bowen explains, new signing Pablo Felipe brings physicality and aggression to the number ten role in Paqueta’s absence. And is there also an argument to be made that Crysencio Summerville is benefitting from his omission, too? More freedom afforded to the winger, and more faith too, as Summerville takes the creative burden on his own shoulders.
Why are West Ham United playing so much better without Lucas Paqueta?
Summerville is ‘on flames’ right now, to use young Ollie Scarles’ vernacular.
The breathtaking speed and thunderous dynamism displayed by he and particularly Fernandes in the last two games could hardly have contrasted more from Paqueta, and his tendency to move the foot from the accelerator to the brake.
Switching over from a face-melting rock opera to something more akin to jogo bonito jazz.
One has to wonder how many counter-attacks Paqueta delayed, how many Summerville runs were wasted. Or how many times Fernandes thought about driving into the number ten role, only to see Paqueta operating the space instead.
This is without mentioning his penchant for coughing up possession in his own half – something which has cost West Ham on numerous occasions this season alone. Paqueta has caused many a chorus of groans with those idle flicks and careless giveaways.
Hammers fans feel Paqueta exit is the best for everyone
As part of Hammers News’ Talking Points initiative, we asked our readers to explain why the performances have been so improved with Paqueta out of the team.
The response was telling.
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How much money would it take for you to sell Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
“Wins [are] built on hard work, not showboating and losing the ball in dangerous positions. Let him go. He only turns up once every 15 games anyway,” one of our readers wrote.
“He has become a liability and for quite some time now,” another agreed.
“It seems like he is holding the team back. Let him go.”
“He slows the play down too much. You watch Fernandes boss more games now he’s not there.”
“I really hope he finds his love for the game again. He can be brilliant but hasn’t been helping the club this season at all.”
Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista says Paqueta deal is ‘close’
While West Ham and Flamengo are yet to reach an agreement, that should change soon.
President Luiz Eduardo Baptista confirmed earlier in the week that Flamengo are ‘close’ to bringing Paqueta home to the club where he started his career.
Considering he is a Conference League winner who gave the Hammers some of their best memories in modern history, this is not the way things were supposed to end. Yet, that two-year spot-fixing investigation, the constant flirting with other clubs, and endless poor performances from a man with more bark than bite means Paqueta will leave with much goodwill but little love.
“I think he’s been more of a liability than a positive this season. Get rid,” another fan writes.
“Like my dad said many years ago, ‘son if they don’t want to play for us, they can **** off, even if it’s Bobby Moore!'”
“Pointless and damaging. He has to go. Taxi waiting.”
“Get him gone ASAP. The team is doing so much better without him.”
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