Lucas Paqueta proves £50m worth to David Moyes in crucial 1-0 West Ham United win v Southampton
West Ham United took a crucial step towards Premier League survival as they ran out 1-0 winners over relegation rivals Southampton at the London Stadium on Sunday [2 April].
The Hammers lifted themselves out of the bottom three into 14th, leaving their opponents struggling at the foot of the table after Nayef Aguerd’s header from Thilo Kehrer’s free-kick in the first half.
In what was a drab performance from David Moyes’ men, victory was the most important as they look to steer themselves away from trouble but the former Everton boss will have been purring over the performance of his £51m Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta.
In a tight-knit affair, Moyes will have been desperate for his key stars to perform to their optimum levels when the club needed it most and Paqueta, who’s endured his fair share of criticism since his move from Lyon last summer, showed just how pivotal he is and will continue to be for West Ham United in the coming weeks.
Lauded for his “tenacious and brave” efforts against the Saints, the Brazilian delivered a performance unlike any other. Expected to be the Hammers’ link-man and creative outlet in the final third, he showed another side to his game defensively as the Irons picked up a much-needed clean sheet.
According to Squawka [2 April], the Brazilian maestro impressively won the most duels out of any player on the pitch on Sunday afternoon (15), won back possession the most (12) of any player and also recorded the most tackles (10) – figures you’d expect from key man and midfield dynamo Declan Rice.
Instead, it was the Brazilian, heavily known for his creative influential attributes, who usurped his midfield partner in the defensive work which will have delighted Moyes moving forward.
And according to SofaScore, the former Lyon man won 13 of his 23 ground duels, won two of his three aerial duels, and completed all of his two dribbles whilst completing 77% of his passes in the middle of the park.
In a match which failed to inspire in terms of attacking quality, it was the win which was the most pivotal aim for the Irons on Sunday, and to do that Moyes will have been desperate for his key individuals to perform, and so it proved through the unlikely defensive brilliance of Lucas Paqueta.
If that’s what £50m gets you every week, then the Hammers wouldn’t mind paying that kind of money once again this summer, as they look to undergo a major rebuild to their squad. The Hammers board will be praying for more of the same in the coming weeks, especially from the £51m investment.