Lucas Paqueta demonstrated exactly why West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui had dropped him for the crunch clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.
It was always clear that Lopetegui would select players he could trust for a game that would ultimately determine his future at the Hammers. So, it was unsurprising to see the dependable Tomas Soucek selected. Perhaps less surprising, however, was the omission of Paqueta.
Instead, Lopetegui preferred the infrequently used Carlos Soler for the role of creator in midfield. While the Spaniard is not blessed with Paqueta’s flair, he did a decent job.
However, when the Brazilian playmaker was introduced as a substitute in the second half, he seemed to use the occasion as a showcase for his tricks and flicks. While I’m no fan of Lopetegui, the pivotal point in the game was clearly a time for rolling up one’s sleeves and ensuring the all-important three points were secured.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Paqueta’s repertoire of skills, but there is a time and a place. By trying to flick, trick, and pirouette his way through the final minutes of the game, “The Paq-Man” demonstrated precisely why it would have been too risky for the Hammers’ head coach to select him from the start.
While West Ham’s next game against AFC Bournemouth does not carry the ‘El Sackio’ tag, Lopetegui knows he is not out of the woods yet. So, don’t be surprised if Paqueta is dropped again.
