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J.Riddle 12:42 Sat May 14
Merson on Payet

I just don't think.....

Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson has suggested in The Daily Star that he is not fully convinced by West Ham United attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet.

Merson believes that the France international drifts in and out of games, and has suggested that he could suffer from second-season syndrome.

The former England international attacker has also suggested that opposition teams will work Payet out next season.

“Some people had Payet in the running for player of year,” Merson wrote in The Daily Star. “But while he’s a great player, he’s not in the running for me. He’s too much of a luxury player and I don’t think he stays in games enough.

“He drifts in and out too much for me. Payer’s had a great first season for West Ham, but they didn’t win anything and teams know all about him now. He’ll have to make sure he doesn’t suffer from second-season syndrome.”

Payet joined West Ham from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille in the summer of 2015 and has taken the Premier League by storm.

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has scored nine goals and created 116 chances in 30 league appearances.

The Frenchman has a pass accuracy of 81% and a shot accuracy of 55%, and has won two headers, 67 dribbles and 16 tackles.

JGW1 2:32 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Infidel 9:23 Sun May

Too true. I've been virtually stalked on here by one massive wanker because I said several weeks ago that there were gaps in Payet's game. It's hardly a forum any more for exchanging views. Too many claret tinted glass wearing tossers.

ironsofcanada 1:02 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Amazing player and makes everyone else's job easier. (Do you really want to foul any our players in front of the box these days?)
So Merson is saying something for ratings/copy but there are elements of truth to it.

Payet is not a great tackler and has looked silly at times trying early in the season and has not tried that much lately. I also remember 10 games in that I expected him beat his man one on one every time, he hasn't and hasn't tried much since his injury. (Before you jump on me, I said much, he has done things like that against 10 man Blackburn and few other times since.)

We'll see what next year especially with a long Euro campaign but if his minimum level makes us better if only because other teams have to respect what he can do.

AVOR 12:29 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

opinions.....its what makes football great, everybody has their view on everything about it! For me, Payet is class, could he do more, possibly, does he drift in and out probably, can he pick out that 1 pass that makes the difference...definitely!

dealcanvey 12:22 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

If he was on top of his game week in week out he would be up there with the likes of Suarez and co.

He can be inconsistent. I thought he was probably our worst midfielder against United. But then he also got two assists with great deliveries into the box. Says it all really. Even when he is not on his A game he still provides real quality.

The Ghost of Braderz 11:59 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

I like merse but he's wrong here.

Doesn't mean I now dislike him.

BRANDED 10:42 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Yeah? Who would you chose to replace him with? Also, we're not a one man team. So fuck off Merse you piss head.

Iron Duke 10:31 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Payet does drift in and out of games and sometimes can "go missing". He isn't that great defensively so isn't that effective without the ball.

But he defintely isn't a luxury player. He creates goals, scores goals and wins games. Against Man Utd, it wasn't one of his best games, but when it mattered he delivered the perfect cross for Antonio to score the important equaliser. He will always have that skill and class as it never goes away. Other players just need to step up and this season they usually have done so.

One McAvennieeeeee 10:25 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

So we dig out payet for the Man United cup game, then go on to say an equally ineffective player in that game and the player culpable for both their goals should have been Hammer of the year?

Yep, I totally get that.

hammer205 10:24 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

At their peak who would you have Alan Devonshire or payet
Has to be Dev all day long. However Dimi has provided us with moments of absolute world class brilliance . We didn't win a game when he was injured
Antonio was still my HOTY though

Marston Hammer 9:58 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Infidel 9:23 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

I don't know the exact numbers but I'm sure your point about his corners is rubbish. I can definitely remember most clearing the first defender.

Good game though - do you feel a bit silly after saying you expected us to lose dismally?

Infidel 9:23 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Astonishing the reaction on here to any criticism of Payet's game.

Dmitri has been both outstanding and inconsistent. Some of his goals and assists have been sublime and have lit up the whole Premier League, let alone Upton Park.

But in the Man U cup game, to take one example, he was very poor - his corners didn't even clear the first defender.

Pointing this out doesn't mean we are not real West Ham fans, it doesn't mean we aren't ecstatic to have Payet in our squad and it doesn't mean we are moaners.

Like Tony Gale, I think Kouyate is HOTY. It's called an opinion and it's what this website is supposed to be about. To call people clueless for picking a different player as HOTY is just absurd.

Charoo 9:01 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Game changers rarely do stay in the game for 90 mins.

There are games when I'd like more, times when he overplays in the wrong areas but ultimately with him on the pitch you always have a chance.

His ability, the sparks of magic, the crosses, etc are superb and of course he always plays if fit for me.

He's not an Antonio or a Vardy or a Mahrez and will drift in and out.

As for second season syndrome, other teams worked him out pretty quickly, he was double marked a lot of this season, it wasn't like he went under the radar was it!

park chan wook 8:50 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Bruuuuno

Same for me. Antonio is my hammer of the year, his been superb. His scored goals in the big game, played out of position alot, and did the Homer celebration, I love him.

bruuuno 6:21 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

And Antonio was my hammer of the year. Seeing him absolutely LAUNCH to score the equaliser on Tuesday cemented that for me

bruuuno 6:17 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Merson is a cunt but he has a point. In the big games this year payet has not been at his best. If he could perform in games like these he would be world class. That said, he will do nothing for 88 mins and score and set up a goal so he is a wonderful player to have on the team.

Sydney_Iron 4:57 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Merson is another who likes to say things that make him look a bit clever and he sees things no one else does, wasn’t it him his made similar comments about Suarez a couple of years ago???

fraser 4:05 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Agree, he can be quiet for 89 minutes but can create or score a goal in the other.

jfk 3:49 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Payet is pure class.
There's not a team in the world who would leave him on the bench.
He's the bollocks.

tobster 3:30 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

I can see why people say he drifts in and out of games.

He is a luxury player and he doesn't ever make a solid challenge or go for a 50/50 ball.

Payet wins games and having him in the team brings believe into the whole team that we can change a game around.

He has given us a whole new mentality in my opinion.

fraser 2:59 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Love Dime, but since his injury he has not been as good and has definitely drifted in and out of games.

Would prefer him in the middle though, and didn't he only move there last season and was his most consistent in France?

jfk 2:53 Sun May 15
Re: Merson on Payet

Merson is entitled to an opinion in the same way as I'm entitled to mine.
Merson fuck off you ginger cunt.

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