Saturday 28 November 2015 18:09, UK
Manuel Lanzini has been a surprise hit at West Ham following his loan move from Al Jazira but the onus is really on him now following Dimitri Payet's injury. Adam Bate looks at his impact so far...
Many of the West Ham fans had already begun to trudge their way down the Seven Sisters Road by the time that Manuel Lanzini lashed in the team's consolation goal in their 4-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. Slaven Bilic wasn't in the mood to make excuses and so the moment couldn't offer too much comfort, but it was a reminder that Lanzini has been a success since his summer arrival.
After playing just 15 minutes of West Ham's first three matches, the Argentine announced himself at Anfield in late August. He opened the scoring inside three minutes before muscling Dejan Lovren off the ball to set up Mark Noble for the second goal in a 3-0 win over Liverpool. Further goals against Crystal Palace and Everton have established him as a favourite among fans and team-mates alike.
"He has been one of the players of the season so far for us," said Winston Reid. "He's not just an attacker, he also defends and he can run from box to box. He's very creative, so it's good. He's only a young kid, there are going to be some difficult games for him, but fortunately for us he's having really, really good games at the moment. The main thing is that he keeps developing."
However, there were no guarantees that would be the case. Lanzini, nicknamed 'The Jewel', did have a considerable reputation as a teenager having been part of the River Plate first-team at 17. Wearing the No.10 shirt, he later played a big role in River's promotion and their subsequent title win. Twice he scored against Boca Juniors in La Bombonera. But he has joined West Ham from Al Jazira not River Plate.
The Arabian Gulf League might not conjure exciting thoughts of young talent readying themselves to make an instant impact upon the Premier League, but those preconceptions have been challenged. Sure, Lanzini's spell there would've been motivated by money but spare him the sanctimony. Big contracts are scarce in Argentina and the player has found his way to Europe nevertheless.
Any concerns that Lanzini might be too lightweight for the Premier League have proven erroneous too. In fact, only four of his team-mates have made more tackles and there's been an appetite for work that - prior to the weekend - saw West Ham flourish on their travels. "He does not look strong but some players can defy that physicality to impose themselves," said Bilic.
The West Ham boss has been an admirer for some time. Indeed, he wanted to take Lanzini with him to Turkey when he was coaching Besiktas. A further clue to how highly he regards the 22-year-old is that he recently compared him to Luka Modric, with whom he worked during his time in charge of the Croatia national team. It's high praise and a reflection of Lanzini's quality in possession.
"He always wants the ball," Bilic explained in his column for the Evening Standard. "That's why we put him in midfield. He could play in a number of positions but his best is wherever the ball is. So he has to be central where he can have most contact. He always makes himself available. If the players are in trouble, he comes and gets it."
It would have been easy for Bilic to banish Lanzini to the fringes of the game. Instead, he has gone with the brave option - rewarding the player's own bravery in trying to make things happen. The responsibility is greater following Dimitri Payet's injury but it seems as though Lanzini has the character to embrace it. "He's always playing pranks and having a laugh," says Enner Valencia.
Lanzini's Ecuadorian team-mate is one of a number of Spanish speakers within the West Ham dressing room. It's helped him to settle and he's on record in wanting to make his loan stay permanent. There have been reports of interest from Liverpool but David Sullivan has stressed that the option belongs to the Hammers.
A battle for Lanzini's services was not necessarily what was anticipated when this deal was confirmed, but it's a testament to the speed with which he's made the adjustment. His former River team-mate Erik Lamela took rather longer to adapt. West Ham supporters will now be hoping that Lanzini's Premier League stay lasts as long as that of his compatriot.
West Ham v West Brom is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1pm on Sunday
