David Gold has no hesitation in naming Dimitri Payet as the club’s best midfielder since Alan Devonshire.
And that takes some saying from a man who has held the club legend among his personal gallery of greats for many years.
But the co chairman – even after only a handful of games from the Frenchman – is as seriously impressed as every other Irons fan.
His two goals were classics against Newcastle and manager Slaven Bilic summed him up perfectly when saying that he is such a good player that he makes everyone around him better.
Gold agrees making it clear that he believes the 28 year old to be right out of the top drawer from which Dev arrived back in 1976 before making 359 appearances and scoring 29 goals in his 14 year reign at the Boleyn.
The co chairman recalled his glory days saying that he could not understand where such skill had come from and said: “He was one of the most extraordinary talents ever to grace this club.
Speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh he added:”I loved watching him – couldn’t get enough of the guy. He was utterly brilliant and I thought I’d never see another like him in our colours.
“But Dimitri is right up there. He’s amazed everybody since he arrived at the club and I have to say it he’s the best since Dev.
“He’s a truly exciting player who – just like the great man – has the ability to get the fans out of their seats and that’s what this game is still all about.”
ClaretandHugh has spoken to Dev and collected HIS views on Payet.We will be bringing you his thoughts very shortly.
Devo was similar to Sir Trev and Payet has his own style but he is the best since,
We have others who have been good but not who were game changers,
The difference at the moment is the finishing,Payets 2 goal this week were brilliant to place the ball both times perfectly while the ball was moving wea outstanding,his awareness of others around him is special including defenders trying to take him out,
Just hope he can stay injury free but I am sure some unskilled knumbnut will try to remove his calf very sooner,
Granted, the guy looks class, but we’re only a few games into his time with us.
Also, Di Canio was a game changer in my opinion, and if hes as good as DC then we are in for some good times.
The chairman is right. He looks like the best since Dev, although chirpy is also right; he’s only played a few games.
Dev was the best dribbler of the ball I’ve ever seen in English football apart from George Best, but he was never a major goal threat. He still scored some important goals though. Payet doesn’t equal Devs dribbling but he scores great goalsm and has other tricks.
His first goal the other night was actually Brookingesque, as he sold the whole defence a dummy, before passing the ball into the opposite corner. Like Dev and Brooking a very quick football brain.
I think the Di Canio fans would beg to differ. But theres no denying Payet is definitely already showing signs of becoming a west ham legend. Id also like to say Moses looks just as dangerous. Not quite a silky as Payet but powerful and hard working. Exciting times ahead!
I’m a Di Canio fan too but unlike Brooking Dev and Payet, he was never very much a team player, so it makes him a different type of player. Also he was a striker not a midfielder. Hard to compare.