Paul Merson stunned by what Everton loanee Neal Maupay did for Brentford against West Ham
Paul Merson was left stunned after Everton loanee Neal Maupay opened the scoring for Brentford against West Ham United on Saturday 4 November.
Thomas Frank’s side ran out 3-2 winners over the Hammers at the Brentford Community Stadium, with the Frenchman heading home his first goal for the Bees after only 11 minutes to give Brentford an early lead.
The goal was the 27-year-old’s first since returning to Brentford on loan from the Toffees and his first in the Premier League since September 2022 which also came against the Irons for the Toffees and it left Merson lost for words.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (4 November, 15:12) he said: “Maupay’s scored, 35 games without a goal and he’s just scored. They’ve put real pressure on West Ham. It falls down, it’s a volley mis-kicked, there’s Maupay four yards out headers it into the net and it’s 1-0 Brentford.
“He’s scored, I can’t believe it.”
It’s safe to say most Everton supporters assumed that Maupay was finished in the Premier League given his struggles for the Toffees last season, but with his first goal in over a year, he may well have some life left in him even if it comes away from Goodison Park.
The Frenchman doesn’t fit Sean Dyche’s style of play whatsoever as he doesn’t have the physical ability of a Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto to be able to lead the line on his own and profit from crosses from the likes of Dwight McNeil and Ashley Young.
While that means that he is unlikely to return to Merseyside to lead the line following the conclusion of his loan spell with Brentford, if his goal on Saturday can be the start of the striker’s return to form it may help the Toffees secure a permanent exit for him this summer.
Frank’s side does have a reported option to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign [The Athletic, 1 September] and while that decision may come down to whether or not Ivan Toney is still a Brentford player at the end of next season if Maupay keeps scoring goals, they may be tempted to activate that clause.
Either way, a return to form will only benefit Everton in the long run.
