Nuno Espirito Santo’s diabolical Lucas Paqueta decision showcases how deep West Ham’s troubles go
Nuno Espirito Santo has made the decision to play Lucas Paqueta against Brighton on Sunday after his controversial suspension.
The Brazilian was booked twice in quick succession against Liverpool, which saw him serve a one-match ban against Manchester United.
As a result, Paqueta was slammed for his actions at the London Stadium, with the incident potentially costing the Hammers multiple points.
Yet, Nuno is now set to play Paqueta against Brighton, showcasing how deep West Ham’s troubles go.
Lucas Paqueta should be nowhere near the West Ham team after Liverpool red card
While Paqueta has since apologised for his red card at the London Stadium and given his side of the story, it does not excuse the incident.
His poor decision essentially cost the Hammers the match against Liverpool when they could have easily still won a point.
On top of this, Paqueta could have made a big impact against Man United on Thursday and potentially turned one point into three.
“It’s ridiculous behaviour” ❌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 30, 2025
Lucas Paquetá is SENT OFF for talking himself into a second booking. pic.twitter.com/Hgjy7kBck3
With West Ham amidst a relegation battle, they cannot afford to have such ill-discipline in their squad, and there is also the chance that the Brazilian international could repeat this foolishness.
There is no doubt the Brazilian is a great player. However, he should have been sidelined for a few weeks as punishment while giving other players a chance.
Therefore, Nuno recalling Paqueta so quickly is a diabolical decision and shows how little quality the Hammers actually have, as he clearly can’t be replaced.
Unfortunately, this showcases how deep their troubles actually go.
Paqueta’s record against Brighton explained
While West Ham’s record against Brighton is poor, Paqueta’s is arguably worse.
The attacking midfielder has come up against the Seagulls four times in his career to date.
This has seen him win once, with the other three matches ending in a draw and two defeats.
However, more concerningly, Paqueta is yet to register a goal contribution against Brighton.
Therefore, the Brazilian international will be aiming to put an end to this streak on Sunday.
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