Valentín “Taty” Castellanos scored his first goal for West Ham as the team beat Queens Park Rangers 2–1 in the third round of the FA Cup. The Argentine striker, who joined from Lazio for close to €30 million earlier this week, gave his new club the win in extra time.
West Ham tried to find a winner during regular time, but the match went to extra time. There, Castellanos scored with a header to make it 2–1 and decide the game.
The win was important for West Ham, who are fighting to stay in the Premier League. The team is in 18th place, seven points behind Nottingham Forest.
With Xabi Alonso gone and Brahim Díaz in red-hot form at the AFCON, Mastantuono unfortunately will not get many opportunities. Not sure if RM will allow him to leave in the January transfer window.
Soule has to be there in WC squad
Mastantuono being benched again and not getting a single minute is worrying. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s left out of the next international break. Scaloni should seriously consider calling up Soulé instead since both Mastantuono and Almada are not getting any minutes whatsoever.
Taty’s header was excellent today. If he can keep scoring consistently, won’t be surprised if he is recalled in the national team as a tall third striker option for aerial threats.
Buendía has quietly been one of the more consistent performers this season as an attacking mid. Scaloni clearly needs midfield depth, outside of Mac Allister and Enzo, most midfielders have dropped off in form and pace. However WC experience matters, so Scaloni will naturally lean on Depaul & Paredes.
With Lo Celso and Palacios struggling with fitness, Buendía may have a chance for a comeback. He is a papu Gomez, type player. If he can operate deeper as a CM, he could be a very useful bench option, or even a starter. But Scaloni mostlikely views Almada and Paz as his attacking mids.
Taty has an imposing frame but that distorts his real height, he’s actually only 178 cm. If we are going to have a third striker it needs to be someone different, Panichelli or Lopez type, they are both 190cm. Castellanos is like poor man’s Lautaro, with all due respect.
I might be wrong but Mastantouno came in around the 80th minute or so, hence he got *some* minutes. To be honest, thus far in the season, he played way more than I ever thought he would, I mean he was practically starting almost every game before his unspecified groin injury and I was certain that he would rot the bench and not get a single minute and would have to be loaned out like Diablito is doing right now, so this season hasn’t been a total waste for him and who knows maybe he’ll get alot more minutes if he keeps working hard because he seems to have the right attitude and Alonzo likes him.
Taty is ok but I think Santi Castro, Panachelli or Jose Lopez are ahead of him if Scaloni opts for a 3rd striker.
I like Buendia alot but if he is to be selected then his best position is that of Messi (RFW or CAM behind main striker) not as a LMF in Villa, which really blunts his potential IMO.