Palace boss Alan Pardew is running scared of Dimi Payet – or more accurately – his free kicks.
And the former Irons boss has told his team to make sure they concede no set pieces against the deadly Hammers hero anywhere near goal.
Dimi’s conversion rate from free kicks to goals is around 50 per cent this season and again showed what he’s all about with a 37 yards stunner for France against Russia on Tuesday.
It seems a bit like stating the obvious but Pardew declared: ““That is a big part of our defensive work not to give away any silly free-kicks, staying on your feet, working on your feet.
“It’s easier said than done — Lanzini running in behind and their type of players, they draw fouls. They’ve got players who take people on so you get these free-kick situations.
“His accuracy at the moment is [such that] from 30 yards he seems to be very able to score. That’s difficult. The free-kick he hit at Man United and the one for France cleared the wall by about six, seven, eight feet. It still found its way into the net. Amazing.
“He has this super-confidence at the minute — or uber-confidence to use a new word. We need to be on our guard against him.”
At this moment in time he is up there with Messi as the best freekicks takers on the planet.Ronaldo has gone off the boil with his,it only leaves Messi as better or his equal imho.
Of course this is only my opinion as a Valarama National League poster,lol
That Valarama national league comment creased me up,this coming from the intellectual hotbed called Wetpants where even after almost two seasons they are still arguing about who’s best Sakho or Carroll.Oh yeah it’s a site full of the brains trust,lol 🙂
That magnificent goal v Russia will be the best free kick for years.
Does the “Stop Payet” plan involve a troop of ninjas?
Stop Payet
Up steps Lanzini
Stop Lanzini up steep Sakho and Valencia
Stop them up steps Antonio and Moses
Stop them here comes Carroll Kouayte and Antonio
But watch out for Cresswell and Noble
And just in case here comes Song and Obiang plus Emineke
They will have more chance stopping Adrien dribbling up the pitch to cross for Ogbonna to head home
We are no longer a one man team what did They say Total football
Or the West Ham Way