Lots of West Ham United fans have been reacting on social media after Pablo Fornals offered a personal assessment of his first season in the Premier League.
Fornals joined the Hammers from Villareal last summer when the east London outfit agreed to pay £24million for a midfielder who would help Spain clinch the 2019 European Under 21s Championship with a powerful yet well-placed strike against Belgium in the early rounds.
Irons supporters would not see the 24-year-old firing home in similar fashion for their side during his maiden campaign at the London Stadium, with Fornals scoring his sole Premier League goals with low efforts against Leicester City and Liverpool in games the Hammers would go on to lose.
The 24-year-old was more involved on the creative side of West Ham’s attacks with a joint-team-high five assists over his 36 appearances, yet only boasted the 12th-most key passes (0.8) per 90 minutes, according to WhoScored data.
Fornals also ranked 14th for successful dribbles per 90 minutes (0.6 from 1.4 attempts), 12th for total passes (34.8), 11th for accurate crosses (0.4 from 2.5 attempts), 10th for shots taken (1.5), unsuccessful touches (1.7) and times dispossessed (1.1).
Nevertheless, Fornals has told West Ham’s official Twitter account that he would regard his debut season in claret and blue to have been a success.
“Personally, I will look back at my first year at West Ham as very good because it is not easy to come from another country,” he said.
“Everybody knows the difference in intensity between La Liga and the Premier League, so I think for me it was a good season.”
There are a lot of West Ham fans who are still not convinced by Fornals’ potential and reacted to his positive assessment by questioning how he reached his verdict.
Still not convinced but hoping he proves me wrong this season https://t.co/f1iYiWB98o
— Jacob 🍋 #BLM (@wellhat) August 2, 2020
My guy has the audacity to call this good 😭😭😭
— Andrej (@deurenbeuker) August 2, 2020
Next season we aregonna be better ! Go Ham ! Im great fan from Brasil
— Claudio (@Claudio21394685) August 2, 2020
Decent ish first season, he has the talent to take it up a notch next season, bit of a luxury player at times though, hope he gets more time in his natural position to show what he can do ⚒️
— Si ⚒ (@JusterCR8) August 2, 2020
But while some are sceptical, there are just as many who agreed with Fornals’ positive verdict and believe he will only be better next season.
In a season full of struggles and adaption to a new life in England and a new league he’s secured himself as one of the starting players and topped West Ham’s assist chart.
Not bad at all @pablofornals ⚒️
Hopefully we get to see Pablo express himself in the middle next season! https://t.co/RMnEVHdJvn
— Club. West Ham (@ClubdeWestHam) August 2, 2020
I think he’s done great, lots of assists, a couple of goals and can only get better.
— LasVegasWestHam (@WestHaminVegas) August 2, 2020
Kid is going to be good for us I guarantee it. He’s been here one year and shown more passion than a lot of players and has looked good. His ability is getting better each week, next season he’ll show his talent. ⚒ https://t.co/OBjWhh7goq
— West Ham Yank (@TheWestHamYank) August 2, 2020
You did great Pablo fans love you, you work hard banged in a few goals and assists can’t wait for next season ⚒❤️
— Ryan Faull (@Ryan_Faull) August 2, 2020
Only up from here Pablo 😼⚒⚒ https://t.co/zMCnvXUItr
— JT (@jaytehfarabow) August 2, 2020
In order for Fornals to prove his doubters wrong, a few West Ham supporters believe manager David Moyes must play the Spaniard in a more natural, central position having only started the 24-year-old through the middle 14 times over 39 outings across all competitions.
Fornals made a further 15 outings from the left-hand side of midfield and five appearances on the right.
Fornals has been decent in spells, for a youngish player(24) we shouldn’t have expected him to adjust so quickly. He needs to play more central, he’s not a winger and will be able to do the job we signed him for. The situation is very similar to Haller’s..play them properly
#WHU https://t.co/uPTZIlZLN7— Alfie. (@AlfieMulligan) August 3, 2020
He’s a great talent, just needs to be played in his proper position for once.
— Cody Harrison (@codyjharrison9) August 2, 2020