Lucas Paqueta cannot be sold – Three things learned from West Ham win v Everton
West Ham United defeated Everton in the second game of their United States tour.
The Hammers went behind after 17 minutes when a mistake by Kaelan Casey allowed the Toffees to stream forward, with Idrissa Gueye delivering the finish.
But just before half-time, a moment of madness from Everton summer signing Mark Travers gave Paqueta the chance to equalise, to which he duly obliged.
Both teams had chances in the second half, but it was Niclas Fullkrug who found the winning goal for Graham Potter’s team.
Here, West Ham Zone highlights three things we learned.
Fullkrug looks determined to recover from poor first season
Fullkrug’s first season at West Ham was one to forget. The striker joined from Borussia Dortmund for around £27million, but was injured after just three Premier League appearances.
The German ended the season with just three goals, but he looks determined to dwarf that tally in the upcoming campaign.
Fullkrug looks to have slimmed down, appearing far more agile in his driving runs towards the box, but the German has retained his strength, allowing him to hold up and spread play.
And he took his goal spectacularly, picking up the ball from Paqueta and taking it forward, before unleashing a rapturous shot into the bottom corner and away from the grasps of Mark Travers.
Fullkrug is expected to be West Ham’s first choice through the middle next season, and he must quickly prove that he has what it takes.
Paqueta will not be easily replaced
Paqueta is likely to leave West Ham this summer, with the Brazilian set to be cleared of any wrongdoing when the FA publish the verdict of the hearing into his betting charges.
But the midfielder’s performance against Everton was simply a reminder of the qualities he supplies for the Hammers.
| Lucas Paqueta | West Ham |
| Appearances | 120 |
| Goals | 18 |
| Assists | 14 |
Paqueta oozed class throughout the game, thinking quick to capitalise on Travers’ mistake for the equalising goal, and handing the ball off to Fullkrug for the winner.
The Brazilian’s touches were silky, and his passing was precise.
Whilst West Ham will inevitably accept a considerable bid for the midfielder, they should ensure that they truly know what sort of impact they will need to replace.
Still an issue between the sticks for West Ham
It would be harsh to blame Everton’s opening goal solely on Wes Foderingham, but the goalkeeper did not cover himself in glory, either.
Gueye’s shot was not particularly powerful, or at all in the corner, yet West Ham’s goalkeeper let it squirt under him, rolling into the net.
Foderingham was never the answer for Potter, but his performance should increase the pressure on transfer chiefs at The London Stadium, with Alphonse Areola also failing to impress.
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