They say why let the truth get in the way of a good story? The rumour mill has gone into overdrive with the news that the Prodigal Son or Judas may be on his way back over the Channel to reignite his love affair with the Hammers.
Wow, I never saw that one coming. Did you?
Dimitri Payet was a key player in the final season at Upton Park and apart from and it’s a big apart, tarnishing his reputation when he hopped back over the water to the annoyance (that’s putting it mildly) of the claret and blue faithful.
Payet was a player in the right place at the right time. He forced the move from Marseille that brought him to us, then forced the move to take him back.
It’s alleged that he’s been offered back to us, as well as being keen, Pellegrini is open to the idea as is Payet.
The Bilic in Bilic out and the Moyes for and against are nothing compared to the great Payet debate. For the savvy few who kept their 27 shirts, it might be time to dig them out from the bottom of the wardrobe.
That forgotten memorabilia that is languishing on eBay might be getting a few bids. Really? I mean really?
I don’t know what way to go with this one. Take him back, forgive and forget or let him go somewhere else and help them win the league, doing the double over us in the process. You can see him saluting at the corner flag as Fabianski / Adrian picks the ball from the net.
You can’t deny Payet was a one of a kind, hit and miss performances saw him drop in and out of the French squad prior to his arrival at Upton Park. Dazzling displays with us saw him drafted in the squad for the 2016 Euros culminating in him getting a runners-up medal.
He lit the Premier League with outrageous flicks, tricks and amazing goals. Payet was hero-worshipped like Di Canio, Tevez, Brooking and Moore but his departure left the bitterest of tastes.
The club took down the 27 shirt hanging alongside other legends inside the London Stadium and took away his image outside too.
It was like he was erased from the club. Flashback videos rarely show his goals and only the naughty version of his song is ever sung.
For me, he was what I want as a West Ham supporter, a hero, someone who is what we’re all about. Payet played with flair, arrogance and, at times, a lazy nature.
He isn’t your box-to-box midfielder, he isn’t heading off the line at corners, but he was special. Payet was a luxury player for us. He thrived at Upton Park and lapped up the adulation from the fans.
The main man got a little too big for his boots after the Euros and for whatever the personal reason was buggered off. I remember when he left for Marseille and hearing the fruity version of the Payet song, the atmosphere was toxic.
Is Payet that arrogant that he thinks he can walk back into town and finish the unfinished business? Probably and I reckon more would take him back than those that wouldn’t.
He’s been by far our best player in recent years. He made the team tick and created so many chances. He made an average team better and wanted the ball at every opportunity.
In the full season he was with us, we took a point at least off of every team we played. If it wasn’t for a spell on the sidelines halfway through the season, who knows if we’d have done a Leicester?
So do we forgive our unfaithful ex and ravage him with adulation and feed his ego or give him a swerve?
Can’t live with him, can’t live without him.
