Dimitri Payet
Dimitri Payet
Dmitri Payet and West Ham reaching for the stars!
West Ham midfielder, Dmitri Payet, pulled the strings in the middle of the pitch, as the Hammers beat Chelsea 2-1 and go up to third place in the Premier League. The East London team took the lead in the 17th minute, when Mauro Zarate scored after a Payet corner had caused chaos in Chelsea's penalty area. Chelsea thought they had equalised, but goal-line technology showed that Adrian, the West Ham goalkeeper, had just stopped all of the ball from crossing the line. Things got even worse for Chelsea, when they had a goal disallowed for offside and then Nemanja Matic was given a red card just before half-time. Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, was also sent off at half-time for protesting to the referee. Chelsea equalised in the second half, through Gary Cahill, but West Ham had the last word. Payet played a fantastic ball to Aaron Cresswell, who crossed the ball for Andy Caroll to score with his head. This season is Chelsea's worst ever start in the Premier League (after 10 matches), but for West Ham things are looking much better - it's their best ever start to a Premier League season!
"He works hard and has proved himself in every game. Everyone likes Dmitri Payet." West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic.
It's a long way from the Indian Ocean!
Dmitri Payet was born on 29 March 1987 in Saint-Pierre on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Despite being nearly 10,000 kilometres from Paris and a 12 hour flight away, Reunion is an official region of France and is also part of the European Union and Euro. Payet's first football club, as a youth, was AS Saint-Pierre on Reunion, but when he was only 12 he moved to France to play in Le Havre's youth team. It wasn't a successful time and after four years he returned to Reunion. After a year back at home, Payet was given a second opportunity to play in France, with Nantes, and he took the opportunity with both hands. Over the following 10 years, Payet made 368 appearances in Ligue One for Nantes, Saint-Etienne, Lille and Marseille. In June 2015, Payet joined West Ham and in his first 10 games for the club has helped them to famous wins over Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of other famous French footballers that have made a big impression in the Premier League.
"Eric Cantona, David Ginola and Thierry Henry are inspirations. I’m just starting, but who’s to say, one day I might be at their level." Dmitri Payet
Who is this season's surprise package?
Each season there is usually a team that is called the 'surprise package' by commentators. Last season it was Southampton, who, for much of the season, challenged for the Champions League places before finally finishing seventh. In 2013/14, it was Everton who surprised everybody by finishing fifth. Back in 1993/94, it was Newcastle Utd who challenged for the title after only being promoted the previous season - they eventually finished third. This season there are three teams that are surprising bigger teams in the Premier League. West Ham are up to third place and are only two points behind Manchester City at the top. Leicester City are in fifth place and have only lost one match all season and Crystal Palace are in seventh and have also had some great wins this season.
Which team is going to be this season's surprise package? Where will they finish in the Premier League?
Click on talk and quiz and let us know what you think!
What did you understand?
Did you know......?
- Dmitri Payet has created more chances in the Premier League than any other player this season?
- Payet has played 8 times for France.
- The French manager, Laurent Blanc, missed the World Cup Final in 1998 after getting a red card for hitting (now) West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, in the semi-final against Croatia.
- West Ham scored their first goal against Chelsea in 467 minutes in this game.
- West Ham have won all three London derby matches they've played this season.
Quiz
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What do you think?
Dmitri Payet is part of a West Ham team that has had a lot of surprising results this season.
Do you think West Ham can finish in the top 4 of the Premier League?
What's the most surprising ever football result? Why?
When someone moves to another country, what do you think they find most surprising?
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Comments
16/07/2021
points
The 7-1 Germany winning against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. It was a shock because anyone expected it. The score didn't showed the real difference between two sides.
The food!
16/07/2021 18:38
Arsenal
1512
The 7-1 Germany winning against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. It was a shock because anyone expected it. The score didn't showed the real difference between two sides.
The food!
22/06/2020
points
The culture and the language are the most challenging parts when a player moves from one country to another.
22/06/2020 18:06
Manchester United
6539
The culture and the language are the most challenging parts when a player moves from one country to another.
19/07/2016
points
he will be surprised by the language and traditions of that country.
19/07/2016 10:36
Manchester City
1734
he will be surprised by the language and traditions of that country.
19/07/2016
points
he is a great surprise
19/07/2016 10:35
Manchester City
1734
he is a great surprise
19/06/2016
points
West ham United couldn't finish in top 4 but I believe they did their best
19/06/2016 17:02
Manchester United
4779
West ham United couldn't finish in top 4 but I believe they did their best
06/03/2016
points
It's really difficult but it might be.
Galatasaray 3-2 Milan.
06/03/2016 03:22
Leicester City
1761
It's really difficult but it might be.
Galatasaray 3-2 Milan.
06/01/2016
points
I do not think that west ham is going to finish in the top four.The most shocking result was when Celtic won Inter Milan 2-1 in the final of UCL in 1967.
06/01/2016 12:39
Liverpool
3705
I do not think that west ham is going to finish in the top four.The most shocking result was when Celtic won Inter Milan 2-1 in the final of UCL in 1967.
17/12/2015
points
No one can deny West Ham's resilience and solid defence even now when they are injury-hit.
17/12/2015 12:45
Arsenal
2453
No one can deny West Ham's resilience and solid defence even now when they are injury-hit.
06/12/2015
points
Even if they don't finish in the top 4 they made a huge success because they rest undefeated against top 4 clubs this year. 3 wins and a draw.
06/12/2015 15:12
Arsenal
3557
Even if they don't finish in the top 4 they made a huge success because they rest undefeated against top 4 clubs this year. 3 wins and a draw.
27/11/2015
points
West Ham have a distinct football type of playing, but I don't think that they will finish in top 4 as there are Arsenal MU and Man. CIty and many other dangerous teams.
27/11/2015 08:23
Arsenal
47
West Ham have a distinct football type of playing, but I don't think that they will finish in top 4 as there are Arsenal MU and Man. CIty and many other dangerous teams.
20/11/2015
points
I think Hammers will finish around 7-8 place. Because Bilic is a good motivetor but often it helps only in the first half of the season.
20/11/2015 05:10
Liverpool
774
I think Hammers will finish around 7-8 place. Because Bilic is a good motivetor but often it helps only in the first half of the season.
16/11/2015
points
It can't happen that West Ham can finish in top 4 of the league. It's a dream for me
16/11/2015 15:53
Arsenal
2320
It can't happen that West Ham can finish in top 4 of the league. It's a dream for me
05/11/2015
points
Dimitri Payet is fantastic this year. Hammers fans reward him with the song ''he's better than Zidane" ;)
05/11/2015 01:31
West Ham United
538
Dimitri Payet is fantastic this year. Hammers fans reward him with the song ''he's better than Zidane" ;)
23/11/2015
points
Rema, do you think West Ham could do without Dimitri?
23/11/2015 12:19
Arsenal
2453
Rema, do you think West Ham could do without Dimitri?
23/11/2015
points
After yesterday's match and defeat against Spurs I must admit that we are not the same team without Payet. Although we had many mistakes (Tomkins gave the ball to opponents and they had used that gift and scored the goal ) which can fix in the future and lack of lucky in a situation when Kouyate had hit the crossbar with an attractive scissor kick we haven't adequate substitute for magnificent Dimitri Pay
23/11/2015 17:42
West Ham United
538
After yesterday's match and defeat against Spurs I must admit that we are not the same team without Payet. Although we had many mistakes (Tomkins gave the ball to opponents and they had used that gift and scored the goal ) which can fix in the future and lack of lucky in a situation when Kouyate had hit the crossbar with an attractive scissor kick we haven't adequate substitute for magnificent Dimitri Pay
24/11/2015
points
Just like Arsenal lacked a little bit of luck while playing away against the Baggies ( I think you are right to say that it was a fluke when Tomkins gave the ball away to the opponent team and the Spurs showed their class by benefiting from it with a goal. By the way, do you think Kouyate was onside when he hit the crossbar with an attractive scissor kick? IMHO, he should have been ruled offside.
24/11/2015 09:16
Arsenal
2453
Just like Arsenal lacked a little bit of luck while playing away against the Baggies ( I think you are right to say that it was a fluke when Tomkins gave the ball away to the opponent team and the Spurs showed their class by benefiting from it with a goal. By the way, do you think Kouyate was onside when he hit the crossbar with an attractive scissor kick? IMHO, he should have been ruled offside.
25/11/2015
points
Maybe he was in offside, but can you imagine what fantastic goal will be in the situation that he hit the net, certainly one of the best since starting this season. Referees made mistakes and can't estimate on right way all situations because they are only flash and blood. We have already had a lot of cameras which recording all situations on the pitch and we at home can watch that from many angles and that is advantage. But referees need to make a decision in one short period of time.
25/11/2015 18:30
West Ham United
538
Maybe he was in offside, but can you imagine what fantastic goal will be in the situation that he hit the net, certainly one of the best since starting this season. Referees made mistakes and can't estimate on right way all situations because they are only flash and blood. We have already had a lot of cameras which recording all situations on the pitch and we at home can watch that from many angles and that is advantage. But referees need to make a decision in one short period of time.
27/11/2015
points
I see your point! Fair enough! It could be one of the contestants for the Goal of the Month title, if scored and allowed) By the way, do you support the idea of running replays just like in hockey to improve the quality of refereeing?
27/11/2015 10:56
Arsenal
2453
I see your point! Fair enough! It could be one of the contestants for the Goal of the Month title, if scored and allowed) By the way, do you support the idea of running replays just like in hockey to improve the quality of refereeing?
01/12/2015
points
I support that idea but only in the case that referees make quick decision. On the other side, if they can't bring the decision quickly I don't support that idea. Because one of the reason why I love so much Premier League is pace of the game and if they(referees) bring their decision slowly that's can slow the rhythm of the game and that situation might decrease level of interesting for the game. What you mean about that? Do you agree with me and what are your suggestions?
01/12/2015 09:40
West Ham United
538
I support that idea but only in the case that referees make quick decision. On the other side, if they can't bring the decision quickly I don't support that idea. Because one of the reason why I love so much Premier League is pace of the game and if they(referees) bring their decision slowly that's can slow the rhythm of the game and that situation might decrease level of interesting for the game. What you mean about that? Do you agree with me and what are your suggestions?
01/12/2015
points
I do agree with you on your point about the pace of the game. That's what many PL fans like most. As for the modern technologies used in football, I'm not saying it's right or wrong to bring in new technologies and benefit from them losing that human touch, or better to say, an emotional part of football when you clearly see on replays that the refereeing decision was unfairly taken against the team you support. I just think that football will become more technological going forward. Take for example the recently introduced goal-line technology (sometimes referred to as a Goal Decision System). It doesn't slow down the pace of the game yet delivering a huge benefit of assisting the referee in awarding a goal or not. I clearly remember when our national team was playing against the English squad at EURO 2012 and on the 62nd minute Viktor Kassai (referee) disallowed our goal that might have made a difference. This decision was strongly criticised by media, although the attack itself started from an offside position - a foul that was also omitted by the officials. This introduced a debate on the effectiveness of the inclusion of two additional officials and the need for goal-line technology. All in all, I am for Fair Play and some technologies do support it.
01/12/2015 13:10
Arsenal
2453
I do agree with you on your point about the pace of the game. That's what many PL fans like most. As for the modern technologies used in football, I'm not saying it's right or wrong to bring in new technologies and benefit from them losing that human touch, or better to say, an emotional part of football when you clearly see on replays that the refereeing decision was unfairly taken against the team you support. I just think that football will become more technological going forward. Take for example the recently introduced goal-line technology (sometimes referred to as a Goal Decision System). It doesn't slow down the pace of the game yet delivering a huge benefit of assisting the referee in awarding a goal or not. I clearly remember when our national team was playing against the English squad at EURO 2012 and on the 62nd minute Viktor Kassai (referee) disallowed our goal that might have made a difference. This decision was strongly criticised by media, although the attack itself started from an offside position - a foul that was also omitted by the officials. This introduced a debate on the effectiveness of the inclusion of two additional officials and the need for goal-line technology. All in all, I am for Fair Play and some technologies do support it.
02/11/2015
points
I used to like Slaven Bilic's Croatia national team's playing style so I was really happy when West Ham hired him, he really fits in the EPL and his club's current results are clear proofs of that. Payet is a great leader of 'The Hammers'. Since I always support the suprise packages, I wish them all the best but I don't think they're able to end up in top 4. I agree with Nikosonris' statement that top 6 is more likely final rating. With reference to the most surprising ever football result I have to mention about Denmark national team winning the 1992 European Football Championship. It was an unprecedented thing as they didn't even qualified for this tournament! They were allowed to take part after Yugoslavia's disqualification and in the end they lifted the trophy. Peter Schemichel, propably the best goalkeeper in United's history, was an important part of this awesome team.
02/11/2015 21:10
Manchester United
146
I used to like Slaven Bilic's Croatia national team's playing style so I was really happy when West Ham hired him, he really fits in the EPL and his club's current results are clear proofs of that. Payet is a great leader of 'The Hammers'. Since I always support the suprise packages, I wish them all the best but I don't think they're able to end up in top 4. I agree with Nikosonris' statement that top 6 is more likely final rating. With reference to the most surprising ever football result I have to mention about Denmark national team winning the 1992 European Football Championship. It was an unprecedented thing as they didn't even qualified for this tournament! They were allowed to take part after Yugoslavia's disqualification and in the end they lifted the trophy. Peter Schemichel, propably the best goalkeeper in United's history, was an important part of this awesome team.
05/11/2015
points
Denmark replaced us on this tournament and lifted the trophy. Former name for my country was Yugoslavia. Six countries were part of Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia. If we lead with the thought that Denmark national team winning the 1992. European Football Championship, we certainly would been in the battle for medal that year. Our squad was magnificent in that time.
05/11/2015 01:22
West Ham United
538
Denmark replaced us on this tournament and lifted the trophy. Former name for my country was Yugoslavia. Six countries were part of Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia. If we lead with the thought that Denmark national team winning the 1992. European Football Championship, we certainly would been in the battle for medal that year. Our squad was magnificent in that time.
02/11/2015
points
I remember Denmark winning that trophy - a real surprise. I know the Danes didn't even qualify for the tournament but they still had a pretty good team as you said, so I would have to say that, in my opinion, Greece in 2004 was the bigger surprise. They didn't really have any star players and won the trophy through sticking together as a team.
02/11/2015 21:29
Liverpool
594
I remember Denmark winning that trophy - a real surprise. I know the Danes didn't even qualify for the tournament but they still had a pretty good team as you said, so I would have to say that, in my opinion, Greece in 2004 was the bigger surprise. They didn't really have any star players and won the trophy through sticking together as a team.
31/10/2015
points
I don't think west ham can finish in top 4 , their win over Chelsea doesn't mean they are strong enough .
Most surprising football result is Germany over Brasilia in the last World Cup 6-0 because brasil is the strongest team in the world .
I think the habits.
31/10/2015 02:29
Chelsea
1814
I don't think west ham can finish in top 4 , their win over Chelsea doesn't mean they are strong enough .
Most surprising football result is Germany over Brasilia in the last World Cup 6-0 because brasil is the strongest team in the world .
I think the habits.
30/10/2015
points
IMHO, the most suprising ever football result was the Greek National team winning the UEFA Europe 2004. Nobody (except for their most loyal fans, of course) expected Greece to do what they had done - a real dark horse.
30/10/2015 09:44
Arsenal
2453
IMHO, the most suprising ever football result was the Greek National team winning the UEFA Europe 2004. Nobody (except for their most loyal fans, of course) expected Greece to do what they had done - a real dark horse.
30/10/2015
points
Dmitri fully deserved the 'Player of the Week' award for his unrivalled (so far) ability to create chances. Now with Slaven Bilic pulling the strings of West Ham the team might reach for the stars if they keep their pace and composure. My prediction of West Ham final league rating is top 6. (Regarding the article: I believe it was a field player, NOT a goalkeeper, who stopped all the ball from crossing the line)
30/10/2015 09:39
Arsenal
2453
Dmitri fully deserved the 'Player of the Week' award for his unrivalled (so far) ability to create chances. Now with Slaven Bilic pulling the strings of West Ham the team might reach for the stars if they keep their pace and composure. My prediction of West Ham final league rating is top 6. (Regarding the article: I believe it was a field player, NOT a goalkeeper, who stopped all the ball from crossing the line)
05/11/2015
points
I think that you have right, I think that Lanzini was stopped the ball from crossing the line.
05/11/2015 00:49
West Ham United
538
I think that you have right, I think that Lanzini was stopped the ball from crossing the line.
30/10/2015
points
I like hummers ans wish them more vicnories(espesially with London teams) . But I think, they will not be at top four this season!
30/10/2015 05:14
Arsenal
379
I like hummers ans wish them more vicnories(espesially with London teams) . But I think, they will not be at top four this season!
29/10/2015
points
excelent Team.
29/10/2015 21:01
Chelsea
1339
excelent Team.
29/10/2015
points
Yes, I do believe they can finish 4th. I do not expect them to win every derby but also I think they will not lose at home against underdogs like it happened on the start of the season.
29/10/2015 18:51
Arsenal
3557
Yes, I do believe they can finish 4th. I do not expect them to win every derby but also I think they will not lose at home against underdogs like it happened on the start of the season.