Tore Søyland, leader of the Scandinavian Hammers, writes...
I am not sure if all West Ham supporters know how good Dimitri Payet is.
Friday afternoon we had it confirmed. Dimitri Payet has signed for West Ham. A top class midfielder from Olympique Marseille and a regular French international. Last season the 28-year-old offensive midfielder created more chances than anyone else in the top five European Leagues. That includes big names as Messi, Hazard, David Silva and so on. In the last four seasons he has played 177 matches, scored 34 goals and created 59 assists. Amazing stats.
I am therefore pretty surprised when I read today - several times - on Twitter and in discussion forums questions like ”Who is Payet?” and ”Have you heard about this Payet guy?”. To be crystal clear to all of you: We have signed one of the best midfielders in the world of football! He will be an attraction in the Premier League. We have not signed (permanent) a bigger world class player since the famous 31 August in 2006.
Back here in Norway we watch a lot of football from the Continent. French Ligue 1 as well. Our national league is really a weak one so we are in many ways forced to follow other European Leagues besides the Premier League to watch some decent football.
In Norway the French Ligue 1 is broadcast on Viasat Fotball, a TV channel were I work as a sports journalist, and that is why I have followed Ligue 1 very closelly over the last years. Which player has impressed me the most? Payet. Of course. He is really quick and brilliant with the ball at his feet and he has blinding ball handling. But he is also a very clever footballer; Always focused on attack and he works his socks off for the team. Unlike many other well know French footballers he is the definition of a team player. The stats don´t lie. 17 assists in Ligue 1 last season is the perfect proof of that.
I asked one of Viasat Football's commentators who follows Ligue 1 maybe closer than anyone else in Norway, Arnstein Friling, what he thinks of West Ham's new signing. He told me he rates Payet very highly and descibed him as a versatile and creative offensive midfielder who never hides. He wants to have the ball. All the time. And always choses the right descision when having it.
Friling, a big Liverpool supporter, ends our converstation with the following words: ”I think Payet will be a big hit at West Ham and I must admit I would rather see him in a Liverpool shirt.”
It is the same story all over Twitter, Facebook and other places this Friday; Supporters of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City all say the same. They would love to see Payet at their own club.
Remember: It is not often supporters of the big teams write those words when a new player has just signed for West Ham United.
Up the Hammers!
Tore Søyland,
Leader Scandinavian Hammers
Follow Tore on Twitter at @toredicanio
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United