We are under absolutely no illusions that we’re yet to see the best of Pablo Fornals for West Ham. The Spanish midfield man has featured eight times in the Premier League and twice in Carabao Cup, but so far he just has not found any rhythm at West Ham so far.
Whether or not this is because of the change of culture, language, wheather and environment is unclear, but so far the midfield maestro that looked such a smooth operator in the middle of the park for Villarreal is yet to show what he can do for West Ham in the Premier League.
However, we’re wondering if this could be down to something more than just the change of league and scenery, as we’re wondering if Manuel Pellegrini could be doing more to get the best out of his £24m man, who signed over the summer before going on and becoming a European U21 champion.
Last season for Villarreal, the youngster made a whopping 50 appearances in all competitions, and whilst he was used in different roles in the midfield, 30 of his 50 games came as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers, with only two coming as a central midfielder in a two or a three, Transfermarkt.
Now we know that it is very early days at West Ham, but the way that the Hammers player hasn’t yet seen the Spaniard given a major shot or a run of games in that #10 attacking midfield role, as instead he’s been used deeper in a role that is certainly unfamiliar to him given his lack of game time there last season.
Out of his ten appearances this season, games that have seen the Spaniard rack up just 522 minutes, only 247 of those minutes, spread across three games, have seen him used in the role hs thrived in whilst plying his trade in La Liga, stats by Transfermarkt.
It’s obviously up to Pellegrini to use Fornals where he sees fit, but the obvious trend here is that Fornals is a more attacking player who thrives at linking up play and bringing those deeper than him into the game whilst also providing for those ahead of him, and that’s a role that he hasn’t been able to play so far at West Ham.
