Dimitri Payet and Kalvin Phillips had two very different experiences at West Ham but both left the club with their reputations tarnished.
In terms of what they brought to West Ham cult hero Dimtri Payet and anti-hero Kalvin Phillips are like chalk and cheese.
It may have been short and oh so bittersweet, but mercurial French star Payet is one of the best players to have ever graced West Ham. Hands down.
Payet’s sudden departure in January 2017 tarnished his name among many Hammers fans who had worshipped him.
The wonderfully talented wizard of a footballer effectively downed tools to force a return to Marseille nearly eight years ago for family reasons.
Time is a great healer and that has certainly been the case with Payet.
Most West Ham supporters now look back with great fondness and a wistfulness about Payet’s unforgettable 18-month spell in east London. He is a player the streets will truly never forget.
The Frenchman, now 37, ended up making a surprise move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in the summer last year.
Footage last season showed Payet looking in the shape of his life and still pulling off audacious skills and goals.
Payet is a player who will go down in West Ham folklore for his unbelievable talent despite the way it all ended.
Kalvin Phillips will go down in Hammers folklore too. But for all the wrong reasons.
West Ham could have been be forgiven for thinking they’d been the victims of a prank when they signed Phillips on loan in January.
That’s how bad his short stay at the London Stadium proved to be.
Payet and Phillips had contrasting fortunes at West Ham
West Ham were just thankful they had only agreed to a straight loan deal with no obligation to buy.
Phillips has gone down as one of West Ham’s worst signing since Roberto.
The timeline of Phillips’ spell at the club is so bad you almost couldn’t make it up.
A series of awful early performances from the former England midfielder saw him give the ball away leading to goals before he was then sent off in defeat at Forest.
After his suspension, Phillips was then stuck on West Ham’s bench until a chance at redemption arose against then Premier League whipping boys Burnley at home.
Phillips turned in another woeful display and was dragged off at half-time with West Ham 2-0 down. They came back to draw in his absence.
Edson Alvarez’s suspension for three games in the league and Europe should have given Phillips a golden chance at a run of games to try and redeem himself.
Shock revelations about ex West Ham duo Payet and Phillips
But on 69 minutes of the first game of Alvarez’s suspension at Newcastle, Phillips came on for Michail Antonio with West Ham 3-1 up.
What happened next is now seen as the moment West Ham’s season – and hopes of Europe – capitulated.
Against a makeshift Newcastle side, who lost several more players mid-game due to injury, Phillips infuriated supporters by walking around the pitch as West Ham surrendered the lead to inexplicably lose 4-3.
To rub salt in the wound Phillips was caught on camera after the game swearing at a Hammers supporter who had called him ‘useless’.
Ahead of his return to West Ham with Ipswich before the October international break, Phillips criticised West Ham fans for their treatment of him.
He went on to make two mistakes leading to West Ham goals as the Hammers beat the Tractor Boys 4-1.
Ex Hammers duo could have contracts terminated early
Now shock revelations have emerged about ex West Ham duo Payet and Phillips.
The likes of The Yorkshire Post claim Phillips could have his loan deal at Ipswich terminated early in January.
It is claimed Ipswich have been unimpressed with Phillips’ condition and will consider terminating his loan deal if he cannot get up to speed.
While that may not actually surprise many West Ham fans who watched Phillips play in the second half of last season, many thought with a full pre-season behind him he might show what he can do under less pressure at a smaller club.
The opposite has been true, though, as his career takes another downward turn.
Meanwhile over in Brazil, Payet is facing a similar situation.
According to Globo, Vasco da Gama are considering terminating Payet’s contract.
It is said that the club’s hierarchy they are unhappy with his ‘cringeworthy’ performances.
The report also states Payet is unhappy being far from his family – sound familiar West Ham fans?
The arrival of Philippe Coutinho initially rejuvenated Payet but he has since lost his place in the team to the ex Liverpool star.
Cue calls for ‘one last dance West Ham’. But that surely wouldn’t even be on the agenda given the Hammers already have what is officially the oldest squad in the Premier League.
Related Posts
