Compared with the last two years, West Ham do look something of a reborn side. Gone is the turgid, defensive dreary side-side- back playing style epitomised by Graham Potter’s lacklustre era. Just the memory is enough to send a shiver through born-again supporters who appear to be backing Nuno’s conversion to an attacking coach playing fast flowing entertaining football.
Lee Hendrie, Sky pundit and former player, is convinced, as many West Ham fans are, that the sides’ staggering improvement and departure of Lucas Paqueta is no coincidence. Reported in footballfancast.com’s article today, the TV pundit claims:
“I felt at times, when Paqueta played for West Ham, he was a liability,”
“I say that, I mean it, because I felt at times he let the team down, his work ethic, this kid [Summerville] is the new Paqueta for me.
“It was all about what he was doing [Paqueta], he was that main player, the amount of times he let West Ham down, and we’re now starting to see Summerville perform, it makes a bit of an answer”
Fernandes is the last creative midfielder left in the West Ham squad
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He may well be right but equally the growth in stature of Mateus Fernandes since the Brazilian departed has been nothing short of stellar. Whether used by Nuno as a defensive or attacking midfield operator, the Portuguese u21 captain performs week in, week out with aplomb. Look behind several of Summerville’s goals and you’ll see moves started by Fernandes.
It seems, with no Paqueta, there is no ‘hand brake’ constantly being applied to the team’s progress up the pitch and of course, no constant loss of discipline or loss of possession for which Paquetá’s last two years will, sadly, be remembered more than for his talent.