A West Ham United starting lineup without the talents of Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville, as seen in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, appeared to lack a certain spark. Despite letting a two-goal lead slip in the second half, the Hammers were able to secure a point against Bournemouth without two key forwards, which is certainly commendable.
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that trying to replace Lucas Paqueta was a challenging task. Instead of pushing Mateus Fernandes forward or starting Tomas Soucek, Nuno decided to opt for a back-five formation, giving Brighton loanee Igor Julio his first start of the season.
Although some fans were eager to see Luis Guilherme showcase his abilities, he was brought in as a replacement for the injured Crysencio Summerville. As West Ham struggled to maintain possession in the second half, Nuno may regret his in-game changes more than his pre-game decisions.
Nuno emphasized that the team struggled to transition effectively against Bournemouth’s pressing tactics. Without the creativity of Paqueta and the dribbling skills of Summerville, West Ham found it difficult to create opportunities in space and were forced to rely on Areola’s stellar performance to salvage a point.
Looking ahead to their next match against Liverpool, Nuno will be hopeful that Summerville and Paqueta will be available to play. With Summerville recovering from a minor injury and Paqueta’s suspension lifted, West Ham will be looking to capitalize on their advantage against the struggling champions.
