Former West Ham United player and coach Kevin Nolan has sent some strong advice to Julen Lopetegui regarding Lucas Paqueta.
Kevin Nolan is a very popular figure at West Ham, so his message to Julen Lopetegui about Lucas Paqueta should be taken seriously.
The 42-year-old has actually been speaking about West Ham quite a lot recently, and suggested last month that we made a huge error by not signing Julian Alvarez in January 2022.
Now Nobby has switched his attention to Lucas Paqueta.
The 27-year-old Brazilian joined the Hammers from Lyon for around £50 million in the summer of 2022, and he made an instant impact at the London Stadium.
However, Paqueta’s world came crashing down the following summer when he was accused of falling foul of betting rules, and risked being banned from football for life because of his alleged involvement in the scam.
Ever since then, the South American just hasn’t been himself, and he certainly’ hasn’t been at his best.
Hammers director of football Tim Steidten had to fly out to Brazil to help him out in the summer.
Paqueta has begun the 2024/25 campaign in really poor form, and it could actually be argued that he’s been a liability for the Hammers.
However, Nolan has a simple solution…
Kevin Nolan on what Julen Lopetegui must do with Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta has already been dropped this season, two weeks ago during our away clash with Fulham.
He is by no means guaranteed to start for us anymore, and that in itself is a real sign of just how far he’s fallen over the past few months or so.
However Nolan has provided Lopetegui with the blueprint to success, when it comes to getting the best out of the former Lyon man.
The former Hammer was a guest on BBC Sport’s Kick Off podcast with Darren Fletcher, and he shared what he thinks Lopetegui needs to do to get the best out of Paqueta.
Nolan explained how he and David Moyes decided to utilise the 27-year-old, during their time at the London Stadium.
He said, “Look, Lucas is an absolutely fantastic player. I mean, what we did is we used him in the 10 area and we used him as one of the wide lads as well because he is really close with Emerson. And he built a real good understanding. What we realised is that it worked a lot more for Emerson as well. He would get up and down and he would do that extra work because they are really good lads. They are good boys. Emerson played with him at Lyon. He played with him in France. He played with him there, so they are really close. They are really good friends. They had a really good connection. And I think Emerson would tell him.”
I think that’s sage advice from Nolan, I really do.
And Lopetegui must heed it, if he is to get the best out of not only Paqueta, but Mohammed Kudus and Niclas Fullkrug as well.
Lucas Paqueta needs to up his game for West Ham
The Brazilian is quite clearly an exceptionally gifted player, but he really does need to start raising his levels for the Hammers.
His play is far too nonchalant at times, and he seems to give the ball away far too easily in dangerous areas.
I think playing him out on the left could help him rediscover his best form for the Hammers.
Paqueta could then form his exceptional understanding with Emerson Palmieri again.
Moving the Brazil international out wide on the left would free up Mohammed Kudus to play in the number 10 role, and Jarrod Bowen would be out wide on the right – his best position.
When Niclas Fullkrug is back fit, he would then have Paqueta, Kudus and Bowen all playing narrow and close to him.
Emerson would be dovetailing with Paqueta down the left hand flank, and whipping balls into the box for the big German.
Hopefully Bowen would be doing the same with Aaron Wan-Bissaka out on the right wing.
Kevin Nolan has hit the nail on the head with his advice to Julen Lopetegui regarding Lucas Paqueta. Let’s hope that the Hammers boss listens to him.
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