The rise and fall of Pablo Fornals and Giovani Lo Celso sums up the differences between West Ham United and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur right now, Trevor Sinclair has told talkSPORT (1 November, 9.50am).
While a former La Liga playmaker is enjoying the finest form of his English football career, the same can hardly be said of another highly talented attacking midfielder snapped up after impressing on Spanish soil.
The industrious, energetic and increasingly influential Fornals scored his third Premier League goal of the season during West Ham’s 4-1 thumping of Aston Villa yesterday, tapping in from close range after Jarrod Bowen’s shot deflected into his path.
Lo Celso, in contrast, has failed to trouble the scoreboard since November 2020, when a Jose Mourinho team inspired by the outstanding Harry Kane swept Manchester City aside in front of a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
West Ham star Fornals is on top form but what’s next for Lo Celso at Tottenham?
“I look at Lo Celso and I think what player is he similar too? He’s a very similar player to Fornals,” says Sinclair, the former West Ham and England winger.
“Because West Ham have had that consistency with the manager – with the coaching staff working on that player – Fornals’ rise has been incredible. Lo Celso has stood still (or) gone backwards.
“Two players who were on level pegging – one of them is absolutely flying and the other one’s gone backwards.”
By the time Tottenham choose a replacement for the now-departed Nuno Espirito Santo – Antonio Conte is expected to get the job – Lo Celso will have played under five managers since joining from Real Betis in August 2019, including interim coach Ryan Mason.
“It’s the inconsistency in the managing – (Lo Celso has) had four managers (at Tottenham),” Sinclair adds. How are you supposed to improve when you’re a new player coming into the Premier League and getting used to a new style of play when it’s always changing?
“Look at what Pablo Fornals is doing now at West Ham – he’s done unbelievable.”
Lo Celso started only his second Premier League game of the season on Saturday and hardly staked a claim for a more regular role, producing an ineffective display devoid of creativity as Manchester United ran riot in north London.
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