Starting to look like one of these ‘he-said, she-said’ sagas in which West Ham United specialise, the question of players not wanting to travel or not wanting to play tomorrow in the Nottingham Forest fixture had the potential today to become a major distraction ahead of what could be a make or break game for Graham Potter.
First the news from the nytimes.com./athletic was that ‘Lucas Paquetá did not want to play’, (as per my earlier article) – now subtly edited and reading: “The midfielder does not expect to play“.
Then shortly after ‘multiple players’ were accused by Hammers.News’ West Ham’s source – including Paquetá –‘of attempting to bully their way out of the club.’
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Now the Observer’s Jacob Steinberg has entered the fray and issued his own update, confirming:
“I’m told it’s 50-50 if Lucas Paqueta plays against Nottingham Forest tomorrow. He trained today and has travelled with West Ham’s squad”
Which -thankfully- clears up the Paquetá situation. Travelled, trained: probably going to play, probably not moving to Aston Villa- nothing to see here, honest. Probably.
At the same time hopefully this lays to rest the comments, doubts and opinions voiced by West Ham fans, suggesting ingratitude after it was reported that, even after 2 years standing by their Brazilian during the FA inquiry, Paqueta didn’t want to travel or play. Not the case, it turns out.
Stand down the angst then: The articles regarding Paqueta not wanting to travel or play do appear to be something of an overreach in those earlier reports. I’m rapidly getting the sense that as far as Paquetá is concerned this was a storm in a tea cup. “Loan offer turned down – he stays” might be a less compelling headline but nearer the truth,.
“Nayef Aguerd seems to be the one agitating for a move and most likely “the player who doesn’t wish to play.”
Confused? You will be . Hardly the perfect preparation. No doubt our Hammers will confound everyone and come out and trounce the tricky trees tomorrow leaving us all thinking “crisis? what crisis”.
Memo to FIFA. Please close the transfer window before the season starts in future. Signed, 4 million West Ham fans. Can’t be doing with his sort of player and club chicanery when there’s football matches to be won.