Title: “Backbone Restored: West Ham’s £72 m Flops Turn Key Men in Vital Victory”
For the long-suffering fans of West Ham United, Sunday’s 3-1 triumph over Newcastle United at the London Stadium was more than just three points—it was a long overdue flipping of the script. After months of meek performances, two of the club’s most criticised signings finally showed the steely resolve the Hammers desperately needed.
From the first whistle it looked like more of the same: West Ham conceded in the 4th minute via Jacob Murphy. (Reuters) But instead of crumbling, the side rallied. Rigidity turned to purpose and bravery replaced hesitation. And most remarkably, the two high-price acquisitions—those once labelled embarrassing for their lack of impact—stood up when it mattered.
One was the club-record or near-record fee man, Lucas Paquetá. Signed for around £51m in 2022, he had become a focal point of frustration for what was deemed under-delivery by a player with vast promise. (3 Added Minutes) But on this afternoon he showed the character the club hoped for: bouncing back from an early blunder by the defence, he curled home the equaliser and then was central to the move which led to the second (an own goal by Sven Botman) several minutes before half-time. (ESPN.com)
The second was less often highlighted, but equally important: Jarrod Bowen. While his transfer fee wasn’t quite in the “£72 m duo” bracket, Bowen’s transformation in recent weeks signals a player ready to carry the burden. He spurned an early post, got worked on by the defence, and instead of sulking stepped up, tracking back, defending, pressing and linking the attack. His presence allowed the two expensive recruits to breathe—and perform.
What changed? It was mindset. Previous games had seen the Hammers lacking backbone: slow to react, passive to pressure, and haunted by their own poor recruitment and overpaid underperformers. The board’s heavy spending had raised expectations; the squad’s relative lack of fight had frustrated them. But here, under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, something clicked.
Paquetá admitted post-match that this was “exactly the kind of response needed.” The Brazilian looked engaged defensively and proactive in attack. Bowen’s intensity lifted those around him. The defence, too, although shaky early, stabilised. The midfield pressed with more urgency. The message: no longer victims, but contenders.
Credit must go to the club hierarchy for showing faith in the duo when many called for them to be sold or benched. But more importantly it’s the players themselves who trigger the shift. Paquetá didn’t look like he was simply “on” for 45 minutes—he looked committed for 90. Bowen didn’t drift—he took the game by the scruff. When players like them adopt a “we will not lose” mentality, the rest of the team follows.
The nature of the result—coming from behind, breaking a winless home league run of 248 days. (whufc.com)—makes it even more significant. For West Ham supporters who’ve endured mis-signings, recruitment blunders and seasons of under-whelming effort, this win offers hope. Not because it was glamorous, but because it was gritty.
If this is indeed the start of a new spine—Paquetá and Bowen, once under scrutiny, showing backbone, leading, delivering—then West Ham might just have found more than three points. They may have discovered the mental switch required for survival, and something more: ambition. The next step is consistency. But at long last, the big-money duo who looked like liabilities are now emerging as assets—and that’s what East London has been waiting for.
