Last night I wrote a piece about Axel Disasi and asked Claret & Hugh readers to give their opinions on West Ham United’s new central defender.

Lots of you did, and it made for interesting reading. But there was one particular post from Phil Baker that really made me think — and it wasn’t actually about Disasi at all.

Phil wrote: “Pleasantly surprised by Disasi. Ever since Paquetá left the squad it’s as if a curse has been lifted from West Ham. From Paquetá’s failed transfer and every day since, just terrible — and now he’s left and all West Ham’s players seem better and West Ham can win again. Big, big matches coming up, but now there’s belief.”

It’s funny, because I’d already spent some time mulling over the Hammers’ uplift in form and, as you may have seen, wrote about the impact of Paco Jémez. I’m also of the belief that having Taty Castellanos in particular has helped — but Phil definitely makes a valid point about Lucas Paquetá.

Has Paquetá’s Exit Freed West Ham?

Because ever since Paquetá was removed from the squad with his phantom back injury whilst trying to push through a move...