Saturday, October 31

The Zarate Kid

Good to see Mauro Zarate score a cracking goal against Chelsea, and having also scored against another top team in Arsenal this will give his confidence a big boost. When he's started he's tended to score, having also netted a fine individual goal against FC Astra and a deflected shot against Leicester in the League Cup.

The way Bilic has handled him has been impressive, as Zarate is clearly high maintenance. Mauro fell out with Big Sam after being dropped last season and was loaned out to QPR only for Harry Redknapp to try and swap him for Matt Jarvis. After Redknapp went he so offended Rangers' new boss Chris Ramsey that he was sent back two weeks' early from his loan. Back then it looked like Zarate had no future at West Ham.

When Bilic fell out with Morgan Amalfitano and had him training with the kids before being released, it set an example that he wouldn't tolerate any outbursts from players. Yet he's handled Zarate sensitively, we've had no strops even when he's been out of the side and Slaven seems to be finally getting the best out of Zarate. And with Payet, Lanzini and Zarate we now have three number ten-type players who can turn a game.

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