David Moyes has to change the position of one West Ham United player, if he is to save our season.
West Ham actually began the 2023/24 Premier League campaign in fine fashion, and David Moyes was receiving plaudits left, right and centre.
However, the Hammers have been on a really poor run of form in the league since mid-September, aside from two wins against Nottingham Forest and Burnley last month.
In spite of our strong position in the Europa League, the performances have been poor on the continent as well.
I believe that Moyes playing Lucas Paqueta out on the left wing is really affecting the way in which we play, and that’s in spite of his impressive and fruitful relationship with Emerson Palmieri on the left hand flank.
The Brazilian is probably our best player when in possession of the football, but he’s kind of wasted out wide, and we really miss his quality in the middle of the park.
The former Lyon star has actually been really poor in recent weeks, and in fairness to Moyes that’s not just because he’s being played out of position, but more so because he just keeps losing the ball in dangerous areas.
However, Moyes does need to provide Paqueta with the platform that gives him the best chance of succeeding. He is rendered completely redundant out on the left wing at times, and it’s high time that Moyes changed all of that…
David Moyes needs to change where Lucas Paqueta plays for West Ham
I really want to see the 26-year-old in the middle again. Now, the one big problem with this is that Moyes will have to drop one of James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek or Edson Alvarez to make it possible.
Unless the Scot is willing to change system of course…
Perhaps a central midfield four would work with Paqueta at the top of the diamond in behind Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus?
Whatever Moyes decides to do, I truly believe that Paqueta should be the first name on the team-sheet in the middle of the park.
And then the Scot can decide what to do after that. The experiment of playing the Brazilian out wide on the left has failed in my opinion.
I will caveat all of that by saying that when I say Paqueta moving back into the engine room will ‘save our season’, I mean that it will push us back into contention for the top seven. And I’m positive we will be able to challenge in the latter stages of the Europa League.
Moyes needs to make a decision – either show Said Benrahma some trust and give him some regular game-time out on the left wing, or give Maxwel Cornet a chance.
If he’s not prepared to do either of those things, then he needs to sign a left winger who can come straight into the side.
David Moyes can still guide his West Ham side to a successful 2023/24 campaign, but in order to do so, playing Paqueta out wide on the left has to stop.
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