The prospect of life without Lucas Paqueta and also Freddie Potts may have a nagging sense of dread creeping back in for a newly-optimistic West Ham United fanbase ahead of Saturday’s trip to AFC Bournemouth.
Nuno Espirito Santo hopes to have Freddie Potts available after he was forced off against Burnley with a dead leg. During his press conference on Thursday though, the head coach could not confirm whether or not the midfielder would be passed fit in time for a looming 3pm kick-off.
And though Nuno feels Lucas Paqueta is simply ‘irreplaceable’ in this West Ham United squad, the Brazilian’s suspension means he has no choice but to find a solution to what he fears could be an ‘impossible’ task.
Paqueta picked up a fifth booking of the season against Burnley.
The most obvious replacements, on paper, appear to be Mateus Fernandes and Tomas Soucek.
Fernandes was ‘sensational’ against Burnley as a roving number eight. He does, though, possess the vision and the line-breaking qualities to potentially emulate Paqueta further forward. Nuno could opt for a very different sort of profile in the Czech colossus. Soucek remains a ‘nightmare’ for opposition defenders thanks to his evergreen box-crashing.
Interestingly though, in a poll rolled out by Hammers News this week, Soucek received only 11 per cent of the supporters’ votes when asked who should step into Paqueta’s shoes.
Nuno has not been afraid of shaking up his teams since taking charge, so could George Earthy, Luis Guilherme or Soungoutou Magassa present alternative, left-field solutions to that Lucas Paqueta problem?
Some West Ham United fans want to see Luis Guilherme or George Earthy vs Bournemouth
The West Ham fans have been clamouring for Luis Guilherme to be handed a run of games of late. With every jogo bonito-filled clip of the teenage Brazilian strutting his stuff at Rush Green, more and more questions arise regarding his rather puzzling lack of game time.
With regards to another fresh-faced youngster, The Standard reports that Nuno is wary of throwing George Earthy in at the deep end following the ankle ligament and hamstring issues which have plagued him since returning from a loan spell at Bristol City.
The England Under-21 international has started all of West Ham’s last three matches at Under-21 level, though. Supporters will always seize the chance to take a closer look at the brightest young academy talent, of course, and a fanbase who were desperate to see Potts play a major role in Nuno’s revival project are equally hopeful about Earthy’s future involvement.
As of 4.30pm on Friday afternoon, Earthy received 19 per cent of the fan vote. A further 28 per cent of the voters want to see Guilherme get the nod in Paqueta’s place, making the £25 million signing from Palmeiras the second-most popular option behind the aforementioned Mateus Fernandes.
It speaks volumes about how James Ward-Prowse is viewed in East London these days, by the way, that a miserly 1.48 per cent of the fans are hoping to see the former Southampton captain reinstated at Bournemouth.
Soungoutou Magassa return could see Mateus Fernandes pushed forward
It is not just Guilherme and Earthy who may have been heading into matchday twelve hoping for a run-out.
Nuno talked up Soungoutou Magassa after his impressive cameo against Burnley before the international break. The £14 million signing from Monaco is slowly getting to grips with English football.
Even if Potts is fit to feature, returning Magassa to the starting XI could allow Fernandes or Soucek the freedom to push on without having to worry too much about their defensive responsibilities.
“Has to be Magassa. He has the legs, and is physical. Soucek runs out of energy too quick. He is better as an impact sub,” one fan wrote on X as debate rages about how to fill that Paqueta-shaped void.
“[Bournemouth]’s midfield is full of pace and energy, so Soucek would be a liability. Has to be Magassa,” another says. “But Magassa, Soucek and Fernandes wouldn’t be a bad midfield, just not as good in possession.”
“Soucek will start – not against it for one match – but I feel Magassa should come in and Fernandes plays in the ten.”
“Magassa with super-sub Soucek later in the game.
“Has to be Soucek. He’s on form currently and will be good attacking option. Magassa to see the game out.”
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