Dimitri Payet Forced To Defend Rabona Assist. Why?

One of the shining lights from the Watford game was Dimitri Payet’s return to form. His two assists helped West Ham get off to the best possible start, before some poor defending let everyone down. So why does he have to defend his skill?

The Case Against Payet

After the match Troy Deeney said this:

"“I go into every game thinking ‘I’m Troy Deeney and I’m going to show you what’s what,'” the Hornets captain told The Times.“I just want everybody else in our team to do that. We just felt they were disrespectful to us.“I can appreciate the rabona when a team is 5-0 up with ten minutes to go but not when we’re still in the first half.“But it got the boys up and running. West Ham tried to mug us off."

So Deeney views the rabona as a purely showboating piece of skill. Something that would be used only in the case of a complete outclassing. Something that would prove the gap, but can’t be used in any practical sense. He viewed Dimitri Payet’s decision as purely aggressive towards Watford’s perceived standing.

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In some ways I agree. The rabona is audacious and requires such timing and poise that many don’t even consider trying it on the pitch because of the fear of messing up. Why use the rabona when you can just pass with the other foot? Surely that makes more sense.

Dimitri Payet’s defence

Why should he have to defend something that lead to a goal? He hasn’t done it to mug someone off, he’s done it to benefit his team! The speed at which he does it actually helps create an angle he couldn’t have got with his left foot, and by doing it like that he actually catches the whole defence and the keeper off guard. Tactically it was the perfect decision.

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There are very few players in the world that can pull of that trick. And even fewer that can pull it off with any meaningful result. The idea that he has to apologise for it or consider not doing it is laughable.

Imagine if Messi had to apologise everytime he nutmegged a player to get past him? Or Ronaldo for every long range goal? What about when Neuer Cryuff turns attackers? They didn’t have to do it, but they do it to benefit their team and scoreline, and because they can.

If we stop people doing skills then what’s the point? Let’s start making people apologise fro being two footed. Let’s start making people apologise for long passes that have lots of curl on them. They’re audacious. They don’t need to be.

Grow up.

Social Media Reaction

I know these are all West Ham fans…but if you can find some reaction that says it is disrespectful I’d be interested to find it. Most fans appreciate the if you can do it, do it attitude the world’s best have. We can’t start reigning it in because some players can’t do it.

Soon then we’ll be sitting around, saying people can’t score because it hurts people’s feelings. It’s professional sport. People play in different ways, and people will just have to accept that. Dimitri Payet is a football genius, and he has the right to play the way he wants. The same way any player does.