OPINION
West Ham supporters have long adored flair players, from Paolo Di Canio to Joe Cole, you can be sure to get a good reception in East London if you provide a bit of excitement on the football pitch.
One of the most beloved Hammers stars in recent memory – until his acrimonious departure – was Dimitri Payet. The Frenchman took English football by storm after joining from Marseille and quickly cemented his place in West Ham fans’ hearts.
Now, it finally appears that the club have found their next cherished playmaker in Felipe Anderson. The Brazilian seems to have found his groove after his summer signing from Lazio and looks like the most talented player in Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
He scored twice against Burnley last weekend and continued his fine form against Huddersfield on Saturday. The 25-year-old grabbed his third goals in two games as he slammed home the equaliser late on to give the team a 1-1 draw at the John Smiths’ Stadium.
He was the bright spark in what was a fairly pedestrian performance by West Ham. He was always looking to make something happen and eventually made the difference in the game.
Payet was a transcendental talent who produced moments of magic on a regular basis for the Hammers. Anderson does, indeed, have a long way to go until he reaches that level of course.
However, there is little doubt that the Brazilian is the closest the club have come to the mercurial Frenchman since he returned to France in 2017.
The pace and trickery that Anderson employs, coupled with his tremendous vision, make him a hugely important part of this West Ham team – particularly since Andriy Yarmolenko went down injured.
Payet was a huge talent and a talismanic figure for the club, but Anderson could be on his way to matching him – his recent form certainly suggests so.