Payet’s new deal – the fans react

West Ham fans at the ClaretandHugh Facebook group have been responsing to the news that Dimi Payet has signed a new deal to 2021.

Here’s what some of them are saying:

O We don’t get to reduce players wages when their form dips or if they are injured. I don’t really understand why a contract that is less than a year old should be torn up so quickly.

O Personally I think this is fantastic news for the club. People can comment that the contract was only in its infancy but in the real world of today’s football we all know that if Payet keeps up this form, many clubs would be trying to buy him.

O If he was happy to sign the contract 7 months ago what’s changed I’d like to know what he was getting paid in France

O This isn’t just a WHU situation, this is the global football way. In the 80’s we were all armchair managers. What’s worse is that we are all armchair owners/directors now. I didn’t care what Billy Bonds / Trevor Brooking / Phil Parkes were earning, I just wanted them to play for us and no one else. Payet has extended his contract, we didn’t have to sell any of our best players in the Winter, we are buying more quality in the Summer. We are going to finish top half and win the FA cup. We have the best manager since Lyall and the best owners I can remember. We are moving into a fantastic stadium. I’ll still sit in my lounge and bore my wife with the 4/4/2 or 4/5/1 system every Saturday, I just will not concern myself with how much a player earns. And yes, I do wish I still owed a sheepskin

O For us, maybe Payet is the irreplaceable player, like Suarez was for Liverpool or Bale was for Tottenham. If Liverpool could have convinced Suarez to stay rather than have his head turned by Barcelona I’m sure they’d have paid whatever they could.

O We had a similar situation with Sakho last season didnt we? Smaller numbers but he started like a house on fire and was rewarded with improved terms. My guess is that to strengthen our position down the line for any potential transfer we’ve probably in we’ve probably increased a release clause figure, and we’ve had to agree increased salary with Payet in the short-term. I found the “love affair continues” spiel from the club a bit much, but the business-angle probably doesn’t generate as much emotion and joy.

O First bit of the Bilic puzzle sorted. Well pleased, this will promote other players to join the mighyy Irons