Ally McCoist and Jeff Stelling blast Graham Potter for ‘strange’ West Ham decision vs Tottenham
West Ham again showed plenty of flaws in their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
Following Tomas Soucek’s red card, the Hammers looked like they had no hope of getting back into the game, with Lucas Bergvall immediately putting them to the sword.
Defence was again an issue for Graham Potter’s side as they fell to their third defeat from four games in the Premier League at the London Stadium.
However, it was the Irons’ forward line that stirred the pot, with Lucas Paqueta playing an unusual false nine role.
Lucas Paqueta ‘didn’t look awfully keen’ to play as a false nine
Potter’s side failed to make a breakthrough for the second time this season, as Spurs kept a clean sheet at the London Stadium.
Crysencio Summerville looked creative for West Ham, but was one of a few bright sparks in the final third.
The Hammers’ attack has been plunged into uncertainty following Niclas Fullkrug’s injury for Germany, with Potter electing to play Paqueta as a false nine.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on 15 September, Jeff Stelling was surprised by the decision.
“Dare I say Paqueta didn’t look awfully keen at playing in that false nine,” he said.
- Paqueta has had an eventful last few months
- He was cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to spot-fixing in the summer
- He was linked with an exit but shut down rumours with his celebration against Nottingham Forest
“It’s a particularly strange formation to play at home, clearly, he’s trying to overload from the middle to front rather than play with any sort of out-and-out number nine, but particularly against a side at home, you leave yourself open to a lot of criticism,” Ally McCoist replied.
“I think that only works if you get away with it. You run the risk playing Paqueta in a false nine, you’ve got boys in wide areas who will look up, and there’s nothing in the box.”
West Ham will regret not signing a proper striker in the summer
West Ham’s only addition up front was Callum Wilson on a free.
Wilson is notably injury-prone, and even if he remains injury-free, the Hammers are unlikely to have enough firepower up front.
Fullkrug wasn’t good enough in the first place, but with the German out injured, the Irons lack any focal point up front.
Potter’s experiment with Paqueta has failed, and Jarrod Bowen also struggled when he was moved down the middle against Spurs.
The blame for the shortcomings in attack ultimately falls on David Sullivan, who failed to invest adequately in the Irons’ squad.
Sullivan is unpopular among West Ham supporters, and he will become increasingly disliked by fans should they continue to struggle in the coming weeks.
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