Lucas Paqueta SIGNED

[Alan]

"Lucas Paqueta: Lost in Milan, reborn at Lyon – and now West Ham’s statement signing By James Horncastle From the mountains overlooking Rio de Janeiro you can, on a clear day, see a small island across the Guanabara Bay. It was here, in 1997, that the man set to become West Ham’s club-record signing, Lucas Tolentino Coelho da Lima, was born, a player better known by the name of his birthplace, the once-glamorous Ilha de Paqueta. The journey he embarked on to become a professional footballer began with his grandfather Mirao ushering him and his older brother onto a ferry to cross the water between their home and Rio de Janeiro, where Lucas Paqueta attended Flamengo’s Gavea academy and Matheus trained at Ninho, another of the club’s facilities. Paqueta has a tattoo on his forearm of a star and the letter “M” in recognition of the contribution his late grandfather made in making him who he is today; an established Brazil international upon whom clubs in Italy, France and England have lavished more than €100million (£84.8m; $100m) in transfer fees before his 25th birthday. The “Brazil premium” is still very much a thing, although just imagine what Paqueta would go for had he been born and raised on Canvey Island in Essex and called Luke Canvey. Presumably, he’d make Jack Grealish look cheap. But we digress. At Gavea, the boy off the boat impressed. Growing up on an island with no cars, Paqueta played uninterrupted for hours in the streets and on the beach. He had a rare touch and feel for the game. One of his youth coaches Ze Ricardo marvelled at Paqueta’s universal skill set. He was like every midfielder rolled into one. “He could develop into a No 5, 6, 7, 8, a No 10,” Ze Ricardo told France Football. “He was very intelligent. He knew how to position himself and was fearless.” But at 15, Paqueta was under-sized for his age. The growth spurt his peers experienced didn’t arrive and all of a sudden the star of Flamengo’s youth sector couldn’t get into the team anymore. Paqueta didn’t take it very well. He cried and was irritable. Maybe this was it? All those nights catching the last ferry, the 21-mile roundtrip with Mirao. All for what? To go back to being a tour guide on the island, a job Paqueta did for some extra pocket money in his spare time? His mother wouldn’t stand for it. She went down to the academy and kicked up a fuss. Flamengo came round to her point of view and drew up a bespoke plan for Paqueta. Targeted nutrition, a bit of power training and fitness work had the desired effect and he shot up, gaining about a foot in height. It was all worth it. Paqueta ran the show as Flamengo’s under-17s won the Copinha and when the club’s first-team coach Muricy Ramalho asked the academy chiefs if they had anyone for him, one teenager stood out. Not long after making his debut in the Rio state championship, Paqueta scored his first goal in the professional game. It was no ordinary goal either. Tricks in tight spaces and his knack for making a mark on big occasions — Paqueta scored in the 2017 Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana finals — then quickly made him the darling of Flamengo fans. Among them was one of their former players, Leonardo, who was back at AC Milan as the club’s sporting director. After hanging up his boots, he had cut his teeth in recruitment working under former chief executive Adriano Galliani. As the only Brazilian in Milan’s old offices on Via Turati, the signings of Thiago Silva and Alexandre Pato were widely credited to him. One of Leonardo’s first moves upon returning to the club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and trying his hand at coaching again with Antalyaspor was to attempt to sign the next big thing out of Brazil. A deal worth €35million was struck with Flamengo in the autumn of 2018 and Paqueta joined the following January. There were echoes of Pato’s arrival a little over a decade earlier and the nostalgia hit hard. Leonardo had accompanied Kaka to Paris to collect his Ballon d’Or in 2007 and, as he left, famously remarked he’d be back with Pato. Injuries ultimately stopped him from fulfilling his potential but the talent was obvious. Memories of the early Pato, along with the illustrious association between Brazil and the last great Milan sides, loaded tremendous expectation on Paqueta’s shoulders. The rainbow flick he performed on his Serie A debut against Genoa only added to it. Had Leonardo only gone and found the new Kaka? Fans at San Siro certainly hoped so. After all, this wasn’t 2003, when Kaka joined a Champions League-winning team and people wondered whether this preppy-looking kid from Sao Paulo would get a game amid competition from Manuel Rui Costa and Rivaldo. In 2019, Milan needed a saviour. The club hadn’t been in the Champions League for five years and would have gone to the wall had Elliott Management not repossessed it from Li Yonghong. The hope projected on Paqueta was that he might almost single-handedly make Milan elite again. Paqueta’s adaptation wasn’t easy. Whereas in the past there would have been a group of players like Dida, Serginho, Cafu, Thiago Silva, Pato and Kaka to help him settle in, by the time Paqueta arrived at Milanello there were no Brazilians left at the club. The second language at Milan these days is French, not Portuguese, and when Leonardo left six months after signing Paqueta, his protege felt isolated. Paqueta was only there a year, but the club went through three coaches. When he joined midway through the season, Rino Gattuso had already settled on his best team and couldn’t find a spot for him. Marco Giampaolo told Paqueta to be “less Brazilian and more concrete, less showy”. By the time Stefano Pioli got the job, the direction of travel was hard to reverse and the midfield player who benefited most from his appointment turned out to be Hakan Calhanoglu. Paqueta, in Pioli’s mind, needed to be “more incisive”. Internally, Milan were of the opinion they had overpaid Flamengo for what Paqueta was at the time. The €21million Lyon were prepared to pay for him in the late summer of 2020 was therefore considered something of a miracle and the 15 per cent sell-on Milan cleverly negotiated means they will get their money back and have a nice windfall ahead of the final week of the transfer window. There are no regrets, even though Lyon will make close to three times what Paqueta cost them. He has flourished in Ligue 1. “I put myself under a lot of pressure in Milan,” Paqueta reflected in L’Equipe. “Too much even. When I moved to France I told myself I didn’t have to put myself through that again. I just had to do my best. “Sometimes there isn’t a reason for failure. My time at Milan wasn’t extraordinary by any means, I probably achieved less than expected, but it served me well and made me a better player; a different, stronger player who rediscovered the essence of what he was at Flamengo. The pressure is still there but it doesn’t come from myself anymore.” In Lyon, Paqueta found another big club, just not one on the same scale as Milan. The environment was less demanding than San Siro and the league less tactically strait-jacketed than Serie A. Behind the transfer was another legend of the Brazilian game, the free-kick maestro Juninho Pernambucano, who had been enticed back to Lyon as the club’s sporting director to build a team mixing the best products of Europe’s finest academy with the technical refinement of his home nation, namely Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes and Thiago Mendes. The team that reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Champions League under Rudi Garcia, upsetting Juventus and Manchester City along the way, evolved from an aggressive, transition-based 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 which sought control through a neat possession game made possible thanks to the quintet of Brazilians, Houssem Aouar and Maxence Caqueret. It promised a lot and a 1-0 win away to Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG before Christmas showcased the elegant press-resistant side to Paqueta’s game as he helped Lyon relieve the pressure around their penalty area and get up the pitch. Paqueta offered glimpses of a complete midfielder, whose ability to disrupt opponents as they progressed towards Lyon’s goal married the aesthetic with the aggressive. On the ball, as his smarterscout profile below shows, he often kept his passing short and sharp, with neat interchange (link-up play volume 86 out of 99) rather than longer, searching balls upfield (progressive passing 27 out of 99). Those actions seemingly kept possession at an above-average rate compared with other central attacking midfielders (ball retention ability 59 out of 99). Off the ball, Paqueta’s ability to disrupt opponents with his high volume of defensive actions such as tackles and blocks (disrupting opposition moves 98 out of 99) was also highly effective in preventing opponents from progressing towards Lyon’s goal (defending impact 73 out of 99). Halfway through his first campaign in Ligue 1, L’Equipe named him in their team of the season so far. Once the polemic subsided about Tite prematurely handing Lucas Paqueta the Brazil No 10 shirt for a friendly against Argentina in 2019 — a decision Rivaldo took as a lack of respect for Rivelino, Zico and Ronaldinho — he established himself as a regular. His versatility means he will probably start at the World Cup. “He has the talent to be one of the top players,” Emerson Palmieri told The Athletic earlier this summer. The Euro 2020 winner spent last season on loan at Lyon and will be reunited with Paqueta after joining West Ham from Chelsea. “He’s still young and I believe we have to have patience with him because sometimes youngsters have ups and downs.” The oscillating performances Palmieri touches upon refers to the Lyonnais perception of Paqueta as an absolute joy to watch on his day. But he lacks consistency. Garcia felt he needed to show more killer instinct in his passing rather than playing simple, short and sideways. The team also went backwards in Paqueta’s time, declining from Champions League semi-finalists to no Champions League football at all in back-to-back years. Last season under Peter Bosz was the worst the club has experienced in a quarter of a century. Either the team underperformed or wasn’t as good as people thought. Guimaraes was sold to Newcastle in January to offset some of the lost earnings from missing out on the Champions League and Lyon have gone back to players they can rely on like Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso. More substance, less style. Paqueta was ready for a new challenge but the lacklustre showings he put in over the second half of the last campaign also made Lyon open to moving on. Romain Faivre can replace him between the lines and Jeff Reine Adelaide’s return from injury covers Lyon in midfield. A fee of up to €60million from West Ham is frankly too good to turn down and would make Paqueta the club’s most lucrative sale after Tanguy Ndombele. West Ham fans will be hoping they get more bang for their buck than Tottenham did for their record signing who returned to Lyon on loan last season and is now at Napoli. “His quality is there for all to see,” Palmieri said of Paqueta. “He’s a dedicated guy, someone who is obsessed with winning games and competing for titles. He has everything he needs to develop further. I think he has a brilliant future ahead of him.”"

[Russ of the BML]

Side of Ham 8:07 Fri Feb 17 But who has accused Paqueta of cheating by not working for Moyes? I haven't.

[chim chim cha boo]

...I mean how many times did we see Billy Bonds do that to a thug who hoofed Sir Trev?

[chim chim cha boo]

The reason Paqueta is injured is because he's been targeted by opposing teams and thoroughly kicked around without much protection. The thing is that if I were an opposing coach I'd advocate for that too. As he gets his head around that fact I'm sure he'll come good. The next lairy tackle he receives should result in Coufal kicking the fuck out of whoever did it.

[13 Brentford Rd]

Last couple of seasons of relative success and few injuries were clearly a blip Rio's.

[Side of Ham]

"Russ of the BML 5:50 Fri Feb 17 It has everything to do with Haller & Anderson you div, they both got accused of the same thing, not trying hard enough, footballers especially the foreign players with little affiliation to the club they've signed for do it all the time especially if they don't like the style or speed or physicality of our game or indeed the mangers persona or set up. Oh and it's not the mincey crime you are trying to advocate it is, it's life , it's sport and many can lose their drive to play to their peak ability. And I'm not advocating it I've suggested it you utter moron."

[riosleftsock]

"Paqueta is out for tomorrow Aguerd is doubtful Scamacca recovered but ""nowhere near ready"" Ings available"

[13 Brentford Rd]

So any news on his injury? As it's West Ham and he's starting to settle in and has been playing well recently I'm expecting a long complicated and rare injury.

[Lee Trundle]

I reckon 99.9% of people view a cheat as someone who breaks the rules.

[Russ of the BML]

"Side of Ham 10:26 Thu Feb 16 Your going off point. Its got nothing to do with Haller and Anderson. I said Paqueta needs to grow a pair and start winning some games to which you commented, what if he doesn't want to due to the managers style and coaching. So I said that makes him a cheat. You responded by disagreeing and saying that made him a modern day footballer. I said there's no excuse for cheating by not putting effort in, then you've brought other players into it. So again, are you advocating cheating by a pro footballer by not putting effort in?"

[Side of Ham]

"Funny that Russ, as we’ve had Haller, Anderson and now Paqueta all accused of not giving their all….now embarrassingly you have Come On The Swiss as your tag team partner…."

[Come On You Irons]

Russ of the BML wrote... Re: Lucas Paqueta SIGNED Side of Ham 11:17 Wed Feb 15 Don't make yourself look foolish. He can't help it. Foolish is Snide of Spam's default setting.

[Russ of the BML]

"Side of Ham 11:17 Wed Feb 15 Don't make yourself look foolish. I understand your point and spinning it to be Moyes responsibility. But to defend and advocate a professional footballer cheating by deliberately not putting effort in is, in my opinion, skewed logic. There is absolutely no defence for that. None whatsoever."

[Eerie Descent]

"dealcanvey 1:21 Thu Feb 16 I know what his weaknesses are, I've said as much myself. But you said he's getting a free pass, when he's not. Some are just waiting (hoping) for a new manager who wants the team to play actual football, before completely writing him off. I said back before the world cup, that this player and the manager are a match made in hell. It should be the manager and club getting pelters for that, not the player, he's always had the same attributes. At least this lad has stayed in this country and tried, unlike that absolute FLAKE Cornet, and that's not a pun. He has without doubt just sacked it off, which he's had form for at other clubs."

[ATHammer]

"Whether he is a £50m player or not I am not sure. What is clear is that Moyes was wrong about Anderson, wrong about Haller and appears to be buggering up with Scamacca and Paqueta. This should not be a shock. Moyes has not had any success with talented players throughout his ""winning"" career. It is extremely unlikely that Rice would have come into the team under him, and entirely understandable that youngster seek to leave. I do enjoy watching Paqueta although he does seem to tire after 60 minutes, that said as he was taking the Leeds game over Moyes hooked him. He is a talented player being played out of position and wasted."

[Side of Ham]

"deal, all your reasons can just as well be explained by the notion he doesn't want to extend Moyes's stay at the club any longer than it needs to be......call it the modern day imported footballer...."

[SullyHammer]

"I'm still scratching my head at what Newman is doing exactly? Is he just on a constant jolly up in South America scouting, if so what a life!"

[dealcanvey]

"Eerie I think that under a different manager Paqueta will still not have the physical attributes to be a hit in the PL. he's slow, weak in the tackle, shooting poor and loses the ball too often. He is creative and I don't doubt his effort but I would rather have Downes next to Rice than Paqueta. There is a reason why none of the big clubs wanted to shell out 50m for him. I do blame Moyes completely for how badly he has spent 180m so yes, it does fall on him but I dont see Paqueta becoming a man reborn under a different manager. Our best serving players have pretty much all come from the Championship and cost a fraction of what we are paying for the likes of Paqueta and co. We dont seem to learn. What we need is a proper scouting network and not a manager that gives the job to his son (who was previously an agent). Laughable."

[marty feldman]

Moyes is one clueless cսnt . But I suspect the only way he goes before the season ends . is if the clubs sold on the date the embarrassment clause ends march 22nd .

[Westham67]

Moyes said Soucek will be Paquetas replacement then Fornals or Downes and then Lanzini Moyes needs to go

[Westham67]

Moyes said Soucek will be Paquetas replacement then Fornals or Downes and then Lanzini Moyes needs to go

[Eerie Descent]

"dealcanvey 11:09 Wed Feb 15 I don't think it's giving him a pass, it's saying that it's hard to fully judge him under a manager that sanctioned his £50mil signing, and didn't even know his best position. He's not going to be unbelievable, but under the right manager, he could be much better. That might be as much in hope as expectation, because fuck me, we need him to come good, we can't have another expensive cast off."

[Mad Dog]

"If you buy a ferrari and use it to plough fields it will do a shit job. Paquetta is not being used properly. Same with ings Same with scamacca Same with haller Same with downes Etc Don't blame the monkey, blame the organ grinder"

[Side of Ham]

"Russ of the BML 10:31 Wed Feb 15 Nope, it makes him a modern day footballer who wants to play modern day tactics…."

[dealcanvey]

Dont usually agree with COYI but tend to on this one. Not sure why Paqueta is given a pass. For 50 million i expected much more. The Newcastle midfielder Bruno hit the ground running from the off. You can see he is a much better player and would look it whether he is playing under Moyes or not. Not too fussed about his injury. Aguerds is much more gutting.

[Hammer and Pickle]

"As far as I can tell, the problem was not Paqueta being signed as a 10 but Moyes's insistence on playing Soucek in the position Paqueta is most suited for in ANY system. The fact it has taken Moyes the best part of a season to work this out, and that he still insists on replacing Paqueta with Soucek rather than Downes, reveals Moyes to be an awful manager. Thankfully, in the Chelsea game, especially when Downes came on, Soucek was actually deployed further up the pitch. This indicates there is hope the team can weather Paqueta's injury providing Downes plays in his place."