Yellow cards are coming fast and frequently for [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-riding-their-luck-as-survival-mode-becomes-the-norm/) this season – 42 so far. If only the team’s “goals scored” looked anything like as healthy. Yesterday against Brighton, West Ham added a further two to their tally with [Mavropanos](https://www.claretandhugh.info/130784-2/) and Lucas Paquetá receiving cautions.
The Brazilian has now received his fifth of the season and so will follow Carlos Soler and Emerson as the most recent Hammers to face a suspension. The Boxing Day visit to St Mary’s will be a Brazilian-free zone but, after yesterday’s anonymous performance- as is now becoming customary – Paquetá will not be missed as Soler returns in his place. At least Soler manages to stay upright.
Perfectly described yesterday by Paul Parker during BBC Radio London sport’s commentary, Paquetá trying to win fouls is like “_watching a kid in the crèche falling over a toy lorry_” and it is beginning to get embarrassing. Lucas Paquetá’s booking was similarly pretty unnecessary and was about his only notable contribution.
Long gone are the days when the former sparkling playmaker created chances and dazzled us. It is time to take a very long hard look at his place in the squad: Lopetegui has already dropped him a couple of times. The lack of decent backbone in the middle of the pitch is partially responsible for the side defending deeper and deeper – at one point West Ham did not have a midfield, they had a back line of eight.
Of course he is preoccupied. So deal with it.
Maybe it is time to think what would have been unthinkable just 18 months ago – bite the bullet, send Paquetá on his way as ‘used goods’ now past their sell by date and look for young creative talent to beef up West Ham? Or the better option, six months out on loan whilst his future is assessed by the FA _and then decide_ what to do with him long term. Just don’t stick him on the pitch at the moment whilst his head, along with his contribution, is away with the faeries.