When West Ham United splashed out a club record fee on Felipe Anderson in the summer the pressure was on.
West Ham have had countless great footballers over the years.
But never before had the club spent so much – a reported £42.5 million – on a single player.
With the big price tag came big expectations.
The weight of sheer hope from Hammers fans was tangible.
This is a club where the shadow of Dimitri Payet was still cast over the London Stadium.
The shadow of Payet has loomed large at the London Stadium
Had Payet remained at West Ham he would undoubtedly have gone on to be remembered as one of the greatest in the club’s rich history.
Instead he effectively went AWOL and in doing so sullied his status with the fiercely loyal Hammers faithful.
Of course West Ham fans will always remember Payet’s ability as a player.
His behaviour, though, left a bitter taste.
His 12 goals and countless assists and overall impact on the team meant he has been difficult to replace.
Anderson the heir apparent
West Ham have flirted with relegation since Payet departed in January 2017.
But now nearly two years on West Ham looked to have finally found that man, in the shape of brilliant Brazilian Felipe Anderson.
In fact Anderson is proving not only to be an adequate replacement but could even eclipse the Frenchman.
His brace away at Southampton on Thursday gave West Ham their fifth win from six games in December.
Payet record well within reach but Anderson significance runs deeper
It also took Anderson’s Premier League goal tally for the season to eight at the halfway stage.
That’s just four shy of the 12 Payet scored in his debut season.
Anderson has 19 games to score five goals to surpass Payet’s statistics.
But his influence and importance goes so much deeper than that.
West Ham have a new hero, a new talisman.
Let’s hope this time it doesn’t end in tears.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
