Paqueta’s Antics Take the Shine Off Nuno’s West Ham Bow at Everton
Nuno Espirito Santo’s first outing in the West Ham dugout should’ve been about structure, bite and a hard-earned point on Merseyside. Jarrod Bowen’s tidy second-half strike delivered the 1-1 draw at Everton, but instead of lauding a solid start under the new boss — appointed after Graham Potter’s exit — we’re left talking about Lucas Paqueta’s daft theatrics. And rightly so.
The flashpoint that spoiled the narrative
Late on, Paqueta harried a ball that Vitalii Mykolenko was shepherding out. The Brazilian gave the Ukrainian full-back a shove, loomed over him, then copped a retaliatory nudge to the ribs. What followed was pure panto: Paqueta hit the turf like he’d taken a forearm smash, clutching his face for good measure. The referee, unimpressed, simply awarded Everton the throw. Veteran commentator Ian Darke didn’t miss, labelling it “embarrassing” — and he’s bang on.
Why Nuno won’t wear it
This isn’t about being hard men for the sake of it. West Ham supporters pride themselves on a side that’s physical, honest and easy on the eye when it clicks. Play-acting like that cuts against the club’s identity and invites trouble. Imagine it sparks a VAR check and a red; then Nuno’s first week becomes a circus. The Portuguese coach loves intensity, but he expects discipline. Paqueta’s overall display was decent — lively on the ball, diligent off it — yet this sort of nonsense is the kind that gets a new manager’s hackles up.
For those tracking the game’s pulse — from form to markets — across the best betting sites, moments like this don’t flatter Paqueta’s reputation. Opposition players will target him, officials will keep an eye on him, and the margin for error narrows when you’ve painted a bullseye on your own back.
Standards, consequences, and what must come next
Nuno’s message has to be simple: cut the antics or sit down. You can’t preach intensity and collective responsibility, then indulge theatrics that could cost the team. If Paqueta repeats it, the only sensible response is a spell on the bench. Not as a public flogging, but as a sharp reminder that the badge comes first and that West Ham’s edge should be in the tackle and the transition — not in auditioning for a stunt double.
Take the point, take the positives from Bowen’s finish and the team shape, and take Paqueta aside. He’s too talented to let silliness overshadow his football. Sort it now, and Nuno’s tenure can build on a respectable start rather than be defined by needless drama.
