Add as preferred source on Google
‘Patience’ is not often the first word that comes to mind when thinking about football supporters. Yet, there is a sizeable section of West Ham United fans willing to give Pablo Felipe the benefit of the doubt.
The January signing’s frustrating start to life at the London Stadium took a turn for the worse on Sunday.
Pablo saw his penalty saved by Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri in a shoot-out defeat during the FA Cup quarter-finals. West Ham’s £18 million man hasn’t scored in ten games for his new employers. Though a penalty in the shoot-out would not have counted as an official goal, of course, it would have done his confidence the world of good.
What advice would you give to profligate Pablo? ⛔
How can he save his West Ham career?
But ahead of Friday’s season-defining clash with rock-bottom Wolves, many West Ham United supporters are throwing their weight behind Pablo. Lest we forget, it took Carlos Tevez eight months to get off the mark in English football, and we all know how that turned out.
West Ham United fans come out in support of Pablo Felipe
When Hammers News asked our TalkingPoint users this week to reflect on the Pablo situation, many remain keen to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is, after all, a 22-year-old still new to the league, the club, and the country.
Captain Jarrod Bowen has highlighted the benefits of Pablo’s presence. While not scoring himself, Pablo’s unselfish movement and affable work ethic certainly makes life a little easier for the forwards around him.
Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images
“I said about a certain Kevin Davies for Bolton, who did the same job for [Sam] Allardyce,” one fan writes on our Facebook page, drawing comparisons with a classic ‘Barclaysman’ striker who, while far from prolific, frequently provided the platform for his teammates to shine.
“[Davies] allowed Kevin Nolan and JJ Okocha to score the goals. [Pablo] is only a young player who you can bet Bowen, [Crysencio] Summerville and Taty [Castellanos] appreciate his presence on the pitch.”
Pablo’s presence helps Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen
He’s not wrong.
While Bowen praised Pablo’s impact, Castellanos admitted he feels more comfortable alongside his fellow winter recruit.
“Give him a break, he will come good,” another fan writes.
“So his sheer presence in the team along with Taty didn’t get Summerville and Bowen scoring again then, no?”
“Needs time to acclimatise to the EPL. Give him a break…”
The Hammers have a score to settle… ⚒️ v 🐺
What do YOU want to see in Friday’s six-pointer?
“Believe he will come good.”
“He’s in a desperate situation where everything he does gets scrutinised more than if we were mid-table,” one writes, albeit while suggesting that Callum Wilson’s poaching talents may be required against Wolves.
“He is desperate for a goal and all West Ham fans want to see him score and come good. [But we] need Wilson back and to start scoring to take pressure off all strikers.”
“Pablo and Castellanos need to learn to curve their runs forward and stay onside,” another says, both strikers having a goal ruled out against Leeds. “It’s ridiculous how many times they are caught offside!”
Strikers often talk about ‘Ketchup bottle moments’. After ages of banging the glass and seeing nothing coming out, suddenly your meals are swimming in sauce. Pablo needs one of these. A proverbial ‘one off the backside’ will do.
Pablo’s conversion rate in Portugal was comparable to Erling Haaland’s and Harry Kane’s. Ten goals in his final 12 Primeira Liga starts for Gil Vicente. Clearly, there is a talented forward in there somewhere.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox