Marko Arnautovic

[Colours never run]

Sometimes a player and club, or rather the mentality and spirit of it’s fans are just made for each other. Some players lift the fans and in return there is something elusive, intangible, in the water here for them that raises them above what they previously were. Julian, PDC ....Arnie is simply the latest to have found the place he was absolutely born to be at. And like Paulo, I think he knows it and appreciates it. And that raises him still further.

100%. This is a cast iron fact.

[Jumby]

A maverick who puts a shift in.

I'm sure there is an arrogant, narcissistic part of Arnie that plays for himself, but there is no doubting that he is a team player, his greatest concern is getting the win, he just wants to have fun doing it, which, for me, is just brilliant.

I remember going to watch us at home to Charlton a few months after we signed Paolo. I was still a young teenager and had yet to really see a true maverick in a Hammers shirt. In the second half Paolo got the ball and twisted past a couple, I'll never forget the sound of seats flipping up as everyone got up. We lost 1-0, utter bulls**t, but I went home buzzing that I'd seen a player, live, that got the crowd excited. Arnie has that about him, he gets the ball and you think something is going to happen, that's what you want, entertainment.

[Colours never run]

I think he's embraced the Club and fanbase in general which he feels relates a lot to his character and what makes him tick as a person. You can see the pride and pleasure he gets from genuinely satisfying our faithful and the joy he feeds off from the fans admiration. There's a definite mutual respect there now that wasn't there when he ****ed up. I've lost count of the amount of times he's replicated the crossed Hammers and pounded the crest with passion.

He loves playing up to the hard man, skillful, stylish image which mirrors exactly what we love to see in a player. Once he quickly sussed we won't tolerate a ****ing idiotic selfish tit that gets himself sent off easily, knowing we won't accept anything less than hard graft, it was the catalyst he needed to please us in the right way.

In a weird way that early sending off for the beginning of his career with us was probably a blessing in disguise as he's done nothing but prove himself in every game 100%, even whilst srill playing for Bilic once that incident happened. You could see the lightbulb switch on in his head that the half hearted displays and daft behaviour couldn't continue. I hope he neber forgets that moment as a constant reminder because both he and us benefit greatly now from it.

Just like Paolo, it looks like Arnautovic has finally found his spiritual 'Home' at our Club.

We are one of those rare Clubs that it's not until you actually play For us, do you fully appreciate how truly special it is. Only us Fans and Players can ever understand that unique feeling.

[Lil Joe 17]

In a weird way that early sending off for the beginning of his career with us was probably a blessing in disguise as he's done nothing but prove himself in every game 100%, even whilst srill playing for Bilic once that incident happened.

Really good post, except this part just makes me laugh.

[westham,eggyandchips]

He is a beast and a snip at £25m

....and worth double that right now, in the current climate.

[wizzo_66]

He won me over when he sunk that elbow into the Scummer.

Huge player for us now. I get the impression he enjoys being the main man but at the same time we need to get bags more quality around him. Look how much we struggle when he is out of the side. Starting to have the same level of impact on results as Payet did.

[BenniBlanco]

I disagree - I wouldn't take any of them over Arnautavic!

That's kinda what I was trying to say

Looking forward to seeing Arnautovic, Lanzini, Mario, Antonio and Hernandez

[fmgod]

Football is so fickle

In regards to Arnie

First two months of the season, west ham fans gutted, Stoke ultra smug
Few months later, West Ham fans estatic, Stoke fans gutted

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thr ... tovic-main" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:lol:

[Turns to Stone]

As Dan says, it's just ridiculous how 'West Ham' he is. Like he's spent his entire life preparing for us.

[Patito]

Football is so fickle

In regards to Arnie

First two months of the season, west ham fans gutted, Stoke ultra smug
Few months later, West Ham fans estatic, Stoke fans gutted

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thr ... tovic-main" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:lol:

Why would we have been smug about spending 20-odd million on him after that Soton game though?

[Hammerite]

Imagine if we were still at the Boleyn with Arnie feeing off the energy the old girl produced under the lights.

[Al Fisti]

Sometimes a player and club, or rather the mentality and spirit of it’s fans are just made for each other. Some players lift the fans and in return there is something elusive, intangible, in the water here for them that raises them above what they previously were. Julian, PDC ....Arnie is simply the latest to have found the place he was absolutely born to be at. And like Paulo, I think he knows it and appreciates it. And that raises him still further.

Spot on

[the celestial insect]

Football is so fickle

In regards to Arnie

First two months of the season, west ham fans gutted, Stoke ultra smug
Few months later, West Ham fans estatic, Stoke fans gutted

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thr ... tovic-main" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:lol:

That thread is so horribly familiar, talking about the board's recruitment and replacing class with free/cheap.

[MB]

Let's hope all those praising him now don't turn as quickly when he has the inevitable dry spell/elbows someone in the face again.

We build them up...

[goingunderground]

Imagine if we were still at the Boleyn with Arnie feeing off the energy the old girl produced under the lights.

Oh man, don't! What a fantasy.

I wonder if he ever played there?

[bubbles1966]

He scored against us in Allardyce's last season IIRC.

Him and Nzonzi dominated the game - Cresswell scored with a direct free kick.

[sendô]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but it should be noted that after the game when all the players hot footed it off of the pitch, Arnie hung around, and then moseyed over to the Bobby Moore end of the west stand and gave his boots to someone at the front - I assume a kid.

Seemed like a nice touch.

[The Gibbins]

Oh man, don't! What a fantasy.

I wonder if he ever played there?

He did, scored a lovely last minute equaliser :lol:

[ironsjh]

Iirc that was the only goal he scored all season, he also had two disallowed for offside :lol:

[The Gibbins]

That is true actually, i remember the offsides now you mention it