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Pablo Felipe’s goalless streak as a West Ham United forward reached 13 games during Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Everton.
The January signing already had a worse record than Nikica Jelavic, Ashley Fletcher, Jonathan Calleri and co, in terms of how long it has taken to open their accounts in a claret and blue short.
Now, with only a month left in the campaign, the most recent of his ten goals in 2025/26 came in a 2-2 draw between Gil Vicente and Arouca on December 28th.
Believe it or not, Pablo Felipe actually scored nine times in his final ten matches in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. As useful as his work rate and physicality has been at West Ham United, there seems very little chance of the £20 million man going on a similar run in East London.
How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔
West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
And Tony Gale, the Hammers legend who was on co-commentary duty when Callum Wilson scored the winner against Everton over the weekend, feels that Pablo is threatening to become his own worst enemy in the final third.
Tony Gale gives advice to West Ham United striker Pablo Felipe
Gale watched on as Pablo did what Pablo usually does for West Ham.
Dropping deep to help out the midfield, drift to the flanks in order to hold up the ball, and generally try and provide an ‘outlet’ going forward.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
But Gale would like to see the Braga-born 22-year-old show a little bit more intent when he receives possession, rather than simply recycling the ball and playing it safe.
“These two boys have given them a bit of energy,” Gale said of January additions Pablo and Taty Castellanos.
“[But] Pablo has just got to play on the half-turn more. Sometimes he turns back [into pressure]. Pablo, hardworking though he is, just tends to slow things down for West Ham in there.”
One moment, coming in the 42nd minute, summed up Gale’s point perfectly. Pablo picked up possession wide on the right-hand side of the Crystal Palace penalty area. He attempted to turn and play the ball backwards, only to be muscled off it entirely.
Nuno Espirito Santo is convinced Pablo will start scoring soon. With every week that passes, though, this barren run will weigh more and more heavily on his shoulders.
Gale suggests Nuno should start Callum Wilson instead of Pablo
Wilson, in contrast, has no problem hitting the target.
Former England international Wilson became the first West Ham striker in recorded history to score two stoppage-time winners in the same Premier League season when he arrived at the back post to convert Jarrod Bowen’s knockdown in the 92nd minute.
DISCUSS: Is Taty Castellanos good enough to be West Ham’s starting striker? ⚽
Alan Pardew does not understand the criticism 🤷♂️
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Gale, who played over 300 matches for the Hammers between 1984 and 1994, is not averse to giving the 34-year-old poacher a greater role. Or, failing that, Jarrod Bowen being deployed in behind Castellanos, with Adama Traore starting on the wing.
Pablo, in this case, would be the odd-man out.
“I look at Pablo in that position [and feel West Ham] missed a trick against Palace,” Gale added, referring to the 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park a week ago. “Get Traore on the pitch and get Bowen central, or get Callum Wilson up there.
“Use Bowen in a central area, and the pace of Traore always gives people problems. They can mix and match it; stick Jarrod Bowen off the main striker and get Traore on, or Wilson.”
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