By CandH follower
Mark Baker
The parallels between Dimitri Payet and Marko Arnautovic’s Hammers ‘careers’are are uncanny.
-
Both joined West Ham at the age of 28 – pretty late in their careers – having not achieved much to that point.
-
Both had outstanding first seasons with West Ham.
-
At the end of their first seasons and during the first half of their second, both were linked with transfers to top clubs.
-
Both played less effectively during the first half of their second season with the club.
-
In January both said they wanted to leave West Ham, not for the likes of Man United or Real Madrid, which may very well have been an option for them, but for poorer teams.
The question I’d like to ask is WHY??? Look, for example at what has happened to Payet – his Marseille team is in crisis, languishing mid-table in the French league.
He’s lost his place in the French national side. While he was with us, he seemed to have the world at his feet. Who can forget his amazing performances at Euro 2016? Finally, after a long career where he had failed to live up to his potential, he was fulfilling it. He seemed to be on the brink of real success. Then he threw it all away.
The same can be said of Arnautovic. He achieved nothing before he came to us and in fact it was only in the second half of last season that he started to play well. Like Payet though, come the end of his first season, he was at the top of the tree, and it seemed as though he too, finally, might be about to enjoy sustained success. And he too is throwing it away!!
It’s so bizarre!! I can’t get inside their heads but it seems to me they’re afraid of success. They’re afraid of consistently testing themselves at the highest level. They’re much happier playing for mediocre teams where they can be the star. What a shame!
Also, Arnautovic is prioritising money over success. Does that make sense? No it doesn’t!! It’s not as if he’s impoverished, and the value of success in your playing career should not be underestimated. Look at Trevor Brooking – still adored by hundreds of thousands for his achievements in his playing career forty/fifty years ago! How much is that worth!?
Should Marko or Dimitri come to watch a West Ham game in 40 years time, what would people say to each other?
“Now, who is that guy? Was he somebody?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
COME ON MARKO!!! STAY!!! BE SOMEBODY!!!
I think I feel the same as many fans: torn between jilted anger and acknowledgement that in his place we’d probably do the same.
It’s a concern that contracts only seem to bind the employer these days and money is king. Will we ever again celebrate someone signing a long contract? Worth the paper it’s written on? etc.
If he has been cavalier with contracts at Stoke and with us, there’s nothing to stop him taking one or two years wages abroad and then doing the same to them; coming back to a European or American side age 32 with a few years left.
I wish him well whatever but hope he stays.
i really don’t think Arnie leaving for the money is the issue here. Really what most are annoyed about is the way his Agent/Brother has gone about things with his big mouth in the public domain
Coming out with things like we paid peanuts for him and top club for medals. he has manipulated every club his brother (Arnie) has been at and left a sour taste everywhere and Arnie has never said anything in his defence but i’m sure he does talk to his brother about everything
His Brother has no class what so ever and it shows in how he goes about his business
“Both had outstanding first seasons with West Ham
Both played less effectively during the first half of their second season with the club”
Hardly true of Arnautovic: First season – Rubbish first three months (by his own admission) then 11 goals in 35 games; Second season (so far) – 8 goals in 18 games. That seems to make his second season better than the first…
I do not believe for one minute, if ANYONE was offered 4 times their salary, no matter what they were earning, that their head would not be turned. Just because someone is already earning well, does not mean they do not want to earn more.
Yes people could argue become a legend etc etc, but to someone who has no links to the club, is not homegrown, does he really care if hes not? I am certain when he looks at the extra 16million in his bank account he wont be worried.
Look, i will be gutted if we lose him, but he doesn’t owe the club a thing. He hasn’t done a Payet and thrown a strop (Yet) and yet I have seen him branded a traitor etc. It just doesnt make sense to me, his attitude hasnt been terrible etc.
If he feels that’s the best opportunity for him and the club get the money they should for him, let it be, we move on.
To be clear, I do not agree with the ridiculous money involved in football and yes I am a season ticket holder.
To say he does not “owe the club a thing” is incorrect. He owes the club his contract terms… And the club owes the same back to the player. He owes professionalism.
He owes the bums in seats for train fare, season tickets, concessions and shirt sales.
With that said.. Can’t blame him to be disloyal for silly money. Greed is good, no? At least he is still putting on the shirt for a shift, I suppose.
Or maybe they are frightened of better and classier players stealing Thier crowns .
Wanting to move for the money is fine especially at his age, maybe he could “be somebody” but chances are that wont pay the bills for his family down the line so that is a call that is up to him.
Throwing his toys out of the pram because a fairly rubbish bid for him was rejected half way through the season is another matter.
I think the key difference is money Arnie is moving for one last big payday. If you were offered £400k a week or £21m a year compared to £5m I think you would have your head turned also. He has two young kids and a wife to support, judging by his interviews I don’t see a media or mgmt career following his football one, although perhaps in his native tongue he is more charismatic… I would rather see him stay but if he wants to go and we have replaced him then we should let him.