Avram Grant’s rebuilding program at West Ham continues to click through the gears with the addition of explosive winger Pablo Barrera from Mexican club side Pumas de la UNAM for £4m. The Mexico international arrives at Upton Park on a four-year deal and, as his performances at this year’s World Cup illustrate, will add some much-needed speed and trickery to the Hammers side.
Despite having a multitude of strikers last season, West Ham lacked any real pace going forward and mustered a mere 47 league goals all term, with their goal threat away from home, in particular, being a cause for concern; 17 goals and only one win on their travels was indicative of the lacklustre performances that led to Gianfranco Zola’s departure from the club.
Following on the back of Thomas Hitzlsperger’s signing, Grant is certainly endearing himself to the Hammers faithful, with the type of additions guaranteed to get the supporters firmly back on side. Barrera -nicknamed Dynamite in his native country- looked to curry favour with the fans at his unveiling, as he announced:
“I am very happy to sign for West Ham United and have been really taken by the reception I have received from the players and the manager. I knew about West Ham when I was in Mexico. They are a big club and I have heard about the great players they have had in the past. I have heard a lot more about the club and its traditions since I have been in London and I am very excited to be here.”
The Statistics
Opinion…
Da Beeez
“Avram Grant has been working diligently to bring in new blood at West Ham, but I’m very skeptical about Barrera’s immediate prospects.
I wish him the best and recognize that he’s got the potential to stretch opponents with his speed on the flanks, but Mexican players have historically found it difficult to adapt to the English game. As a result, I can’t see getting him anytime soon, particularly with West Ham’s fixtures for the first 6 gameweeks.
If you are inclined to go for a 5.5 West Ham midfielder, Hitzlsperger seems a no-brainer over Barrera given his previous Premier League experience.”
Barrera has been a one-club man until his move to Upton Park. He joined the Pumas youth system as an 11 year old, making his first-team debut at 18. He featured 79 times, scoring 18 goals and assisting 12 times, an indication that he’s just as likely to make a goal as he is to grab one.
He has also represented his country 27 times, netting 4 times and making 3 assists.
The Prospects
Despite taking over the reins at both Chelsea and Portsmouth in difficult circumstances, Avram Grant has shown himself to be an adept manager in England‘s top division, and West Ham will certainly be a different proposition this upcoming season. If their season transpires to be a successful one, Barrera has the qualities to play a pivotal part; expect him to bag not just the occasional goal or two, but also have a hand in a good few assists.
He’ll be unlikely to be on set-pieces or penalties though, which perhaps makes other Hammers players more viable propositions. On the other hand, he does have a directness and dynamism to his game which could well endear Barrera to the FPL Bonus Points judges. In his own words:
“I am very fast and can use both feet. I like the one-on-one situations and to take on my opponent and beat my rivals. I like to excite the supporters. People have said that I am the sort of player that the fans want to have the ball as often as possible because I can make things happen.”
With Grant expected to instill a more direct, attacking streak to West Ham’s play this season, Barrera’s ability on the ball definitely suggests he could well be a stand out player. As West Ham have acquired Hitzlsperger and were also, until recently, in pursuit of Graham Dorrans, it would seems Barrera’s first-team place will be on the right-wing as Avram looks to push on from last season’s dire seventeenth-place finish.
Barrera, for one, is certainly optimistic over the Hammers chances:
“For sure, I think it is possible for us to win trophies. I want to do my best and to succeed at this club. It would be great to win some trophies here. I am very excited about the possibilities with West Ham and excited about working with the new manager and the team. My goal is to win my place in the team with my skills, to show the fans I will do my best for West Ham and to win a title with West Ham.”
The Fantasy Premier League (FPL) have priced him at £5.5m, though with West Ham having a difficult first few games, most Fantasy managers will understandably take a step back and let Barrera become accustomed to the rigours of a new league before deciding whether he’s worth take a punt on. If his performance against England at Wembley this summer is anything to go by, however, it shouldn’t take him too long to settle.