Lucas Paqueta’s first-half display for West Ham United against Brentford has already caused plenty of scares at the London Stadium.
West Ham entered the half-time break 1-0 down in Saturday’s Premier League meeting, albeit Graham Potter‘s side were lucky not to be trailing by three or four after being cut to ribbons in midfield.
The Bees have waltzed through the middle of the park at will despite Potter packing his side with six midfielders ahead of his back four, owing to the Irons’ lack of an out-and-out striker upfront.
It’s clear that changes aplenty – at least in tactics if not personnel – are needed at half-time for the Hammers to get back into the contest, and Potter will certainly have one alteration in mind.
Lucas Paqueta liability for West Ham v Brentford
Starting as a makeshift striker with only potential debutant Evan Ferguson on the bench for West Ham, Paqueta has still managed to cause problems aplenty at the other end while being non-existent up front.Dropping deep into his half with the Irons already 1-0 down after Kevin Schade’s early opener, Paqueta played a blind pass right across the edge of his box with no claret and blue shirts in sight.As a result, the ball went straight to Mikkel Damsgaard, who played Yoane Wissa in behind for the Brentford striker to beat Alphonse Areola from close range before the offside was correctly given.Graham Potter needs to change things for West Ham v Brentford
With Paqueta a bomb scare at the back and a passenger where he’s actually needed further up the pitch for West Ham, the Brazilian should be the first candidate to be hooked if Potter does make changes.
The Englishman not only has Ferguson on the bench to provide the presence of a proper centre-forward, but also ample midfielders and wingers to facilitate Jarrod Bowen or Mohammed Kudus moving up front.James Ward-Prowse is another player keen for minutes having returned to East London from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, and he’d certainly help to solidify a midfield which is being bypassed easily.
Luis Guilherme and potentially even Ollie Scarles could provide alternative options outwide if Potter is to place the far more effective Bowen as his spearhead, and it’s clear the current outlook is not working.
Hammers fans would happily change the entire starting XI if they could following that woeful first-half display, but if you were to ask who should come off first, Paqueta would be the name on the lips of many.
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