Can Lanzini Step Out Of Payet's Shadow And Become A Star?

The young Argentinian has everything it takes to step up a level.

- Stuart Plant

It seems a common trait within most people to always focus on the negatives, and for weeks we were held captive to negativity by the rumblings of Payet-gate.

Prior to Bilic’s condemning of the Frenchman we were, unbeknown at the time, put through the rigours of a team playing poorly because they were divided both on and off the pitch.

Payet’s career, in my mind, was over as soon as Bilic put the truth out into the public domain.

To me, he was no longer at our club. For many it was the same, other than the squabbling regarding his price tag.

Why? Because many feel we needed to replace the Frenchman.

But did we really need to sign someone when we have a ready-made, younger, loyal midfielder at our disposal?

In the games against Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, Manuel Lanzini has shown he is ready to step forward out of Payet’s shadow.

He was able to take the role of the main creative force in our side, and he notched two assists and a delightful goal, not too dissimilar to Payet’s chipped goal against Palace last year.