Sometimes all you can do is heave a God almighty sigh and hold your head in disbelief.
The Dimitri Payet saga has come to a point where unless you say “he will definitely 100 per cent stay” you are going to be abused all day long by a section of supporters.
And that is an entirely ludicrous and illogical reaction when you have perhaps the best player in the world – certainly in Europe – on your hands.
For God’s sake – let’s get real!
Let me make this clear AGAIN for the umpteenth time. I do not believe for a moment that Dimi will be moving away from West Ham this season and given his age, every season he stays thereafter makes the possibility more remote.
He is nine months away from his 30th birthday and with a £50m-£60m price on his head plus wages, any club that may be remotely tempted would need to dig up around £100 million for a player who probably has around two years at the peak of his powers left.
Co-chairman David Gold has been quoted over the last 48 hours as saying the club would “fight tooth and nail to make sure Dimitri pulls on a claret and blue shirt next season.”
He added: “We want to improve our squad and Dimitri is an integral part of what we’re trying to do. But we also must be realistic. If Barcelona or Real Madrid made a bid and he wanted to move there, it would be difficult to keep him.
“You can’t have a great player like Dimitri and expect no one to make a bid, especially with the performances he’s producing at the Euros.”
What the co-chairman was saying – and should have added – is that in 21st century Premier League football, a player who gets an opportunty – along with his agents – will ensure he gets a move if the numbers are of the order we have outlined.
Blimey, even Cristiano Ronaldo left MANCHESTER UNITED when the figures became so big it became impossible for him to refuse. And of course United knew they couldn’t keep him.
It’s a given, and it really is time some took a reality check and understood the facts of financial life.
Instead, we see all sort of ridiculous abuse directed at the co-chairman on Twitter or anyone else who dares suggest there may be a battle on to keep him.
I don’t believe there will be – a statement confirmed by his agent and the guy who joined in bringing him to West Ham, Mark McKay.
Dimi’s had a fantastic Euro 2016 and we are all very proud of him so let’s stop the snarling and back-biting as we look forward to welcoming the top man back.
Let’s also try to add a dose of realism into this debate and not lose the plot completely when somebody is saying something sensible which we may not want to hear!
West Ham is a club with chairmen who attempt to give honest answers to honest questions – so let’s give them a break given the job they have done since leading us from the brink of the knackers yard.
COYI
I will pray every day that he stays,but if he chooses to leave for one of the 2 big Spanish clubs and we make £50 million profit,I will just thank him for a great season last year that brought my club back from the brink,
I am sure if he leaves the money would be spent on at least 2 brilliant players that we would never buy other wise and that is what I would like to hear from our owners,
Yes we will try everything we can to keep him but if he chooses to leave them will be spent on more great players
Then no criticism
Well said Hugh.
Can’t understand all the angst really .He either stays which is brilliant or we get £50 million to spend if he goes ,also brilliant .Win win situation either way Hugh ! COYI
Sensible article, but most of us will still be keeping our fingers crossed!
Most fans are very calm about the Payet situation.Its seems though we have a minority of supporters who always expect the worst & want the world to join them in being gloomy.Much the same as the premature outrage over the transfer window.One week in to it,the best part of two months of it left & our support or some should I say are already blowing a fuse.
Hugh you are completely correct and bubs too. But wholeheartedly I’m with petebonds, win win. I don’t want him to go and I don’t think anyone does BUT if Dimi decides he does then I think we should get the most we can and ONLY sell him abroad, NO premiership club. He knows where he’s loved, he’s played champ league footy, now all he wants is to hear his song…. I reckon every time he hears the “Don’t take me home” song he thinks “Zat ees wat see West Ham fans sing to mi…”
No panic, yesterday after the match I called Dimi to congratulate him on his victory and his performance and he told me “Thanks Matte, my best friend, I can’t wait to join my West Ham mates, I really feel so happy with them… Real Madrid or Barcelona? Quite frankly, I don’t give a s#it… ” After this call I slept like a baby…. lol 😉
We won’t know untill or if it happens ,,I hope he stays but if he doesn’t ?? tough**untill then ** all silly gossip.