Exclusive
ClaretandHugh has this morning been told exclusively that Dimi Payet is set to play for half an hour or so in the Saturday lunch time match against Liverpool.
Payet – ruthlessly hacked down by a member of the other Merseyside team, James McCarthy – has made a faster than expected recovery and is set to parade his mesmerising skills as the New Year gets off to the best possible start for the Irons.
And we have also been told that both James Collins and Enner Valencia – who were reported to be limping as they left Upton Park after the Southampton victory – are both fine and available.
Payet’s recovery is the best New Years news possible and he is set to renew his partnership with Manu Lanzini who will be joining the Irons permanently in February or March according to chairman David Sullivan.
And both Winston Reid and Victor Moses are reported on schedule to join training in early January.
A senior source told us: “Dimitri is recovered and the plan at the moment is that he will play 30-45 minutes.”
Brilliant news. I’d love to do the double over them.
Oh wow! Fantastic news after the amazing win against Southampton.
The unexpected early return of Lanzini & now, Payet, will add heaps of confidence to a squad who have played with so much heart and soul!
COYI
Maxie
Great news unless your name is Zarate,his agent will get busy again in January,
Hope they start Lanzini and Carroll,Valencia Antonio from the start and bring Payet if needed on later,
Hope Cresswell will be fit as we missed him,
Now the nightmare starts for Slav,how do you keep everyone happy,
Carroll in Sakho,s absence will be Joined by Lanzini,Payet and Valencia as first choice,
Antonio and Zarate will be bench warmers,
Kouyate is a must that leaves Noble ,Song and Obiang playing for 1 spot,
Same with the defence Ried will come back in Cresswell,Obgonna,
Leaves Tomkins,Collins and Jenkinson playing for 1 spot
With Sakho,Moses,still to come back
What a lovers problem to be in
COYI
If there’s anything we have learned so far this year its that all are needed as injury,s have proved that !
We all know that only 11can start a game and waiting you’re turn when handed one has to be grabbed and put to good use for the players benefit who has his chance .
That’s the requirement of a honours chasing side !
Next year Slav has a further 30 mill to spend !!
Progress has its pitfalls and will be a pain for the players who are involved with team selection , but the players coming in should know and understand that problem .
The thing to remember is that when you attract big part players you have to pay big salary,s
It all looks good on the new front but could turn into a nightmare for Bilic ?
We must sign the right personnel as one bad apple can upset the applecart ,
Maybe the answer is to bring in the fringe players , the young one,s , and keep with what we have and progress slowly but with purpose, the side has proved that it can handle a crisis
And we have been deprived in the last few weeks of our best players going forward and that seems to be coming back with the return of the injured and assassinated !
We can match anyone in this league with our squad fully fit . the future looks great again
And the gloom is lifting,
We have more than enough cover for moses and jenks who will not be joining us and maybe a couple more , so 30 mill spent well will make us even more stable moving forward
than we already are ,
Hey John boy, taking it line by line the back 4 and back up are settled and will do the job better than most teams. May be a high class RB is an option. 10 million.
The midfield we know we have 2 jewels. Lanzini & Payet. Song and Kouyate compliment those two with Samuelson, Zarate, Antonio and Obiang are great back ups. If we do get another jewel in the midfield then I can only see Noble departing at the end of next season at latest.
Which leaves the forward line. A 25 million & 15 million dollar striker should make CL candidates
Striker/ RB 25/15 million combo
Striker/RB/Mid 20/10/10 million Combo.
That would get us close.
Top sides 6 sides world wide have expensive cattle on the bench. They accept that and know their chance will come. No player should think they have a god given right to play even when they are out of form.