It’s going badly at West Ham: Paqueta leaves the field early, expensive reinforcement doesn’t get into the game

Needing a win to give them some respite in a busy schedule, West Ham’s players still only drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa on Sunday. The fans are unhappy and the mood in the booth is clearly not ideal either. Not surprisingly, the Hammers are playing for relegation again after three years.

West Ham knew before the game that they had to at least draw with Aston Villa to get out of the relegation zone. But it was the visitors who went into the lead after a good start. A header from striker Ollie Watkins split the net.

Said Benrahma equalised in the 26th minute and the Hammers were more active in the second half. That’s why Pablo Fornals replaced Lucas Paqueta in the 76th minute. The Brazilian international did not take the early end well and went into the tunnel immediately after leaving the pitch.

“He wanted to stay on the pitch, but I explained to him that we will need him in the next games and we don’t want to risk being sent off,” commented David Moyes at the press conference.

The non-recruitment of Gianluca Scamacca, who arrived in the summer for 36 million euros, was also a big topic. Danny Ings is currently the head coach’s number one, Michail Antonio is in the Conference One, while Scamacca is sitting on the bench in the meantime.

“He is a very good back to goal but his physical data has to be much better. The team needs the Gianluca we bought,” Moyes continued.

Fans, in any case, are not buying the coach’s opinion. They don’t like the defensive approach to the game against the teams the Hammers have beaten with ease in the past two seasons, and they see Scamacca as one way out of the crisis.

West Ham supporters can’t be too surprised. Their team has won only one of the last five rounds and, for example, suffered a 0:4 debacle at Brighton. They are just a point above the relegation zone and two points above last place.

Source: Twitter, West Ham