Lucas Paqueta’s absence today against Southampton was both a blessing and a curse for West Ham. Having received his fifth yellow card, the Brazilian ‘playmaker’ was suspended for the trip south and so got to put his feet up and watch the game on TV- he probably ended up with a bad case of indigestion, being forced to watch that, if he’s anything like me.
Anyway his suspension saved us from having to endure another ninety minutes of Paquetá being largely invisible, and also gave us the opportunity to witness Carlos Soler in his place: The Spaniard is reportedly keen to come on board as a permanent signing even taking a wage -cut to make his PSG loan permanent.
On todays showing, I’d not be overly rushing if I was Lopetegui or Sullivan or Steidten to prepare that permanent contract, Soler was ordinary and replaced at half time by Edson Alvarez. Which speaks volumes. No creativity, no driving runs forwards, he even managed to hit the bar when it would have been easier to score: Soler at the moment has no fairy dust in his boots and needs to do much more to justify a full time berth in the Hammers squad.
Apparently he aggravated a knee injury and had to come off at half time. But in that first half, in a game crying out for creativity and foresight, nothing was offered. By Soler or anybody else in Claret and Blue.
Carlos Soler came to London Stadium hyped as the next Lucas Paquetá, being a full Spain International and a squad player for PSG. There are glimpses, but would he gait into any other Premier League midfield just now? I’m not so sure. He needs to do far more to prove he is worth his place in this Hammers squad. As do many.