What Lucas Paqueta has done in training shows David Moyes is getting his West Ham setup all wrong at the moment.
There is an old saying – one swallow a summer does not make – and for West Ham one win over the worst team in the league does not mean Moyes and his boys are out of the woods.
Far from it.
West Ham fans are not stupid. We were all delighted to get our first win for eight Premier League matches against Everton. But it did not go unnoticed that we do so with just 33 per cent possession… at home… against the most hapless team in the top flight.
Moyes said after the game that we are beginning to see more of £51m record signing Paqueta.
Many West Ham fans aren’t so sure.
Paqueta has struggled to adjust and adapt to English football as so many have over the years.
But the Brazilian looked to be finding some kind of form when he started to link up well with striker Gianluca Scamacca in an advanced role earlier this season.
Games against Wolves, Anderlecht and Fulham saw Paqueta, Scamacca and Declan Rice forging a promising dynamic. Paqueta registered some clever assists for the Italian and things seemed to be clicking.
West Ham then went to Southampton and drew 1-1 – a game the Hammers should have won comfortably as Scamacca and Paqueta – among others – spurned a host of chances.
There was not too much wrong with the performance, though.
Yet Moyes started to change things again and West Ham completely lost their way as they sleptwalked into this relegation battle.
Playing in a deeper role for Brazil at the World Cup, Paqueta impressed. That sparked claims Moyes should use him in a similar way for the Hammers.
Yes now all we need is Casemiro, Neymar, Raphinha, Viniscus Junior and co and we’ll be flying!
Playing in a deeper role for West Ham, Paqueta is having zero impact on matches. He was substituted in the win over Everton.
He did not do much wrong in the game and worked hard for the team. But Paqueta is a clever, flair player capable of defence splitting passes and scoring goals yet here he is defending on the edge of his own box for West Ham.
So it was very interesting to see a video from a West Ham session at Rush Green this week.
And what Paqueta has done in training shows Moyes is getting his West Ham setup all wrong.
West Ham posted the video Inside Rush Green – Derby preparations in full swing showing Moyes overseeing a high tempo session.
The Hammers are playing small-sided matches and Paqueta absolutely shines in and around the box with his sharp turns and skills.
In one particular section he sends his marker for a cup of tea before firing home as he scores a series of lovely finishes.
It will leave West Ham fans scratching their heads and wondering why Moyes cannot see that he needs to be played further forward to link up with our strikers, who are being starved of decent service.
Imagine a Yossi Benayoun or Eyal Berkovic being played as defensive midfielders for goodness sake. These players are the game-changers, the ones who can spot passes others can’t.
They may not always come off but when they do, they help the team score goals.
There is no future playing Paqueta as a sitting midfielder at West Ham. For Brazil he is what they call the “joker in the pack” who rotates around in different positions.
Football is not rocket science. West Ham must get Paqueta closer to the strikers where he can get assists and chip in with goals.
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