IT WAS actually a Claret and Hugh reader comment this morning that rang a bell with me as I watched the highlights again. Watching live yesterday it ‘almost’ seemed as if West Ham’s Brazilian number ten was dong his utmost to pick up a yellow card; which at the time seemed ‘non-sensical’ tackling: I think I even referred to it in the ‘ratings’ comments.
A little hindsight during ‘the morning after’ and a comment from reader ‘Hemant Patel ‘ of course gave me my ‘ahah’ moment which knitted very well into yesterdays’ (forgotten) thought process.
As the comment stated:
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“Did Paqueta [allegedly] deliberately foul and get booked to ensure he was available for the difficult Xmas period? Of course, he and the club would deny it but that makes more sense than acting foolishly. It has been done before. Cynical yes. Tactical yes”.
Paqueta’s one game suspension will be served by missing the Bournemouth trip
West Ham’s run of games following the international break is Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Manchester City.
What better way to ensure the Brazilian has served his one-game suspension, ahead of the landmark games with higher profiles on the horizon, than allegedly taking the hit and getting the one-game absence out of the way against Bournemouth.
Paquetá’s presence would likely be felt less severely by the team and less visibly by a watching audience- including, no doubt, suitors for the Brazilian’s signature at some stage in the future. Just saying.
It could just be that Nuno’s ‘number 10‘ figurehead is far more canny than we give him credit for. Of course, nobody is ever going to admit publicly that the yellow card was part of a bigger picture plan. Couldn’t be. But it makes you wonder, doesn’t it.