All season there have been criticisms of West Ham‘s lightweight midfield: Cardboard cutouts I called them, owing to the lack of mobility, low energy and zero speed of recovery. Against Newcastle United last night there were changes in personnel and systems plus a singular mood change: A high energy, combative performance from Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paquetá and Carlos Soler transformed the lethargic centre of West Ham’s team into an altogether different proposition.
Nobody its saying it is perfect or that one game changes everything. But the work rates were far better, Carlos Soler zipping into challenges and Lucas Paqueta winning the ball back in a way that was unrecognisable from the Hammers’ woeful performances of early season.
Remember that awful Chelsea performance? The midfield on that day made for sorry watching. At the time, we wrote:” The trio of Rodriguez, Alvarez, and Paqueta lost the ball a total of 29 times, often allowing Chelsea to turn defence to attack quickly, splitting them open and creating big chances, some even ending in goals. That 29 times was in the first thirty five minutes”
Last night against Newcastle, combining Soler and Paqueta as passing, creative midfielders combined with the workhorse tackling of Tomas Soucek– suddenly clicked. It was as if the three had new Duracell batteries and a new lease of life, popping up to make tackles and then glory be, passing the ball and keeping possession!
The four at the back suddenly look secure because there is a proper three man midfield screening them. West Ham looked for ninety six minutes as if they were well drilled and working to the same plan.
I was, like many armchair viewers, not quite open mouthed, but enjoying rather than enduring. Finally. It’s been a while.
Now to build on this. Keeping the liability of Alvarez and the lethargy of Rodriguez away from the starting XI is Lopetegui’s next task. And keep changing those Duracells every game.
