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West Ham’s Moyes wants to add more Brazilian flair

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United celebrates scoring the 4th West Ham goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United celebrates scoring the 4th West Ham goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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After weeks and weeks of turmoil on the pitch, it took David Moyes one and a half training sessions to get Felipe Anderson back on the scoresheet. Now, he wants to add another Brazilan to the mix.

The Felipe Anderson of the 2019/2020 West Ham season hasn’t looked at all like the dynamic attacker he was in 2018/2019 when he cruised into the Premier League. You can call him a luxury player or a lazy player who doesn’t try all the time, but perhaps it wasn’t all on him.

In true ‘David Moyes’ style, the Scottish manager made things very simple with Anderson. In a post-match interview Moyes revealed his message to Anderson to try and mentally free him and get him back to the basics he does so well, the manager spelled it out like this:

“I asked him if he was Brazilian. Brazilian’s score goals, Brazilian’s make the difference, they do something which makes us all excited, I said you’re not doing that. Give me a Brazilian goal and to be fair, he did.”

It’s pretty comical in retrospect, but it also makes sense. Anderson was stymied in Manuel Pellegrini’s rigid formation and tactics, but playing as a second-striker and having the freedom to roam really forced the true Felipe to the surface again.

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His goal was the perfect example of this. He stayed wide, took an unbelievable touch, shielded the ball while running toward goal, and calmly finished under the keeper. Vintage Anderson from a season ago and years prior.

Now, it seems Moyes is onboard with the David Sullivan-esque transfer plans to bring in Flamengo striker Gabigol who is currently on loan in Brazil from Inter Milan. The signing has been reported by multiple twitter sources and the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee has hinted that this information will be confirmed on the next West Ham Way Podcast (airs January 2nd).

Gabriel Barbosa, commonly referred to as Gabigol (be still my Sopranos loving heart), is a 23-year-old striker who can play across the front three as either a center-forward or winger. While playing for Flamengo in Brazil last season, Gabigol had 34 goals and 11 assists in 41 matches in all competitions.

His nose for the net seems to be undeniable and with Inter Milan currently sitting atop Serie A and with Romelu Lukako leading the line for them after a big-money move from Manchester United, Gabigol appears to be free to leave the club on a permanent basis with a fee being rumored at €22M.

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More Brazilians, more ‘difference makers’, more flair, more goals, and more post-win comments that make you laugh from David Moyes. Reigniting Felipe Anderson is a great start to Moyes’ Brazilian push at West Ham, but bringing in Gabigol to round out the striker core would be an extremely positive move. Who would have thought the Scot would have a soft spot for some South American flair?