Some players attract criticism, others are “marmites”. We all know who I am talking about, those players whom Wenger trusts yet divide the fans. It is my intention to make a case for those players over the next few weeks.
Vassariki Abou Diaby is a player who can infuriate the blogworld. The man appears to have all the attributes to make a super player, physique, power, wonderful technique, an accurate shot, heading ability – who can forget that wonderful header at Old Trafford? – and high workrate, yet half the fans would have him removed from the team immediately and sent to Coventry (or Wolves or anyone who could afford him).
However, let us take a closer look. Diaby is 24, just coming into his prime, and at last fully recovered from the horrific injury sustained at Sunderland. His season has been stop/start due to a mid season injury (against Wolves), yet he scored 7 goals and made 5 assists, which should be compared to Walcott’s 4 and 4. More to the point Diaby has been played all over the pitch. His natural position is as a deep lying attacking central midfielder, but as we possess the best in the world in this position (and others who crave it), he has been moved to the left, the right, to defensive left, defensive right and recently as the holding defensive midfielder. This is clearly not his game.
Diaby’s season highlight was the home game against Porto when he and Nasri ruled the Emirates. Why? Because Song was playing DM, and therefore both Abou and Sammi were able to roam without needing to concentrate upon their defensive duties. Similarly, when Denilson is playing Diaby improves creatively. The horrendous end of season injury list which saw Ramsey, Song and Denilson injured led to our recent decline and highlights the importance of a disciplined DM, a role in which Diaby struggles. 6 of Diaby’s 7 goals came prior to Xmas and the injury epidemic, proving that given the freedom to express himself Abou can be a destructive attacking presence when played in his natural position.
It should also be pointed out that Diaby is not a first team starter when the squad is fully fit. That he has started over 30 games this season is testament once again to our injury problems. Wenger clearly believes he has the talent to become an important cog in the team, though my gut feeling is that Abou is unlikely ever to get a starting role in our first 11, yet as a squad player, we will struggle to find his equal.
Sadly for Diaby his physical similarity to Vieira has been problematical. He is not and never will be a player of Paddy’s stature – he is a different style of player and should be recognised as such.
Arsenal News 24/7
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Morning all
Clever angle for a post BR and a good point that Diaby shines more when playing in front of Song.
Morning. Nice piece, I can see a lot of sense in what your saying which is a surprise because I am one of those who feel that he just isn’t good enough. I dont doubt that he is good even great at times but to compete at the highest level for the best teams you have to be more consistent. He has sadly as many bad games as good and I know that he plays out of position but again why employ someone to play out of position when he would have to be at least 4th in line for his favoured position. My issue with him is that he’s not good to do the role that we need doing so why keep him ? Because he’s French perhaps, would a young English player have been kept so long ? Or maybe thats just me.
Lazy player with a terrible attitude. Anyone who thinks this guy is anywhere even near top class is simply wrong.
Diaby is a sign of what is wrong with Arsene’s youth development plan – players with above average ability who get paid wages well above their performance levels and a never criticised by their manager.
sell him now. For all his ability i would take Scott Parker over him any day.
Morning
True Andy.Perhaps AW is also trying to fit him into a different and more needed role in the team.
My defence of Diaby to your comment refers to the “I know that he plays out of position but”. It is similar to the D & G’ers saying “I know about the horrendous injury list but……” – the team is not as good without 5/6 major players, and Diaby clearly struggles without a strong DM alongside him.
Good to see Domenech appreciates Diaby as well. Not that that is a recommendation!
Galway Gooner.
We disagree.
Morning all, I think Andy hit the nail on the head when he says he’s inconsistant. One game you think, right he’s got his head right and seems to be in control of it but too many games where his passing has gone and appears lazy leaves his future up in the air for me.
How many seasons can we let pass with “it’ll be a big year for Diaby”
Sure he’s had lots of injuries but he needs to find some middle ground in his game. Instead of being brilliant or awful he needs to battle through his awful games so they don’t stand out…
In my opinion of course 🙂
Diaby got a terrible attitude.he is lazy,not commited.he would never make it in any top.he really can fuck off,useles cunt
BR. I think the problem is more that AW is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. He is not a DM, but nor is he our 1st 2nd or even 3rd choice for creative midfielder so can the squad continue to accomodate him, and shouldnt wenger be looking for a round peg instead ?
We dont see any fight in diaby,and alot of other players.would he have played like this if adams and keown was stil there?not a chance
Livers. I have to point out I am playing devil’s advocate regarding Diaby.
I share your criticisms, though I do not accept he is lazy or has a poor attitude. He is without doubt inconsistent and it was the thrust of the post to explain why that may be so. May, being the operative word 😉
I think you are being emotional here. Available statistics would contradict your claims here. Diaby is clearly lazy and inconsistent. He has a casual approach that is sickening. He loses possession most often and does nothing to re-claim it. He closes no opposing player down. This attitude often puts the defence line under immense pressure. It is reduntant to say that he plays out of position. He must be versatile. Does Eboue not play both defence and midfield. Did Arshavin not lead the attck line in some games? Was Arshavin a winger in Zenit. Did Gibbs not start his career as a winger? Was Ashley Cole not converted from a winger to a left back. Was Kolo Toure not converted from a midfielder to a central defender? The list is not exhaustive. Diaby is just not good for a club like Arsenal that ought to be ambitious. He should in consequence be released for unproductivity. If i may ask, “is the author a French man?
Good point Andy.
Nice subject choice though BR. defo one to get people talking
i think the only problem with wenger’s alleged “yoof project” is that because of freaks of nature like cesc, any player over the age of 20 who isnt “world class” is over the hill.
firstly, the guy is 24, he’s got more time to develop.
secondly…he has been inconsistant this season, but not like the diaby of old when it was one game this one game that, but rather that he was excellent for months on end, and his form dropped considerably (along with the rest of the team mind) in the last 4-6 weeks. he’s not the finished article yet, but for ages he was dominating midfields: do you remember him vs aston villa, he was almost single-handedly destroying the villa midfield.
stop being such a bunch of moaning spoilt brats. if the blogosphere is anything to go by, this great club of ours is cursed with the most ungrateful, ignorant, and lacking in insight fanbase in the world. it makes me sick to my stomach reading dross like the comments above. scott parker??? diaby kept there because he’s french??? do you really buy into that little englander inferiority complex that english players are being xenophobically excluded? have you not for one second thought that there is one affordable english player with his ability that is available? look at the spanish national team, the french, the brazilian…the reason there arent many english players is because they simply arent good enough! our academy is seeing to that and in 3-5 years they’ll start breaking into the ranks, but as it stands english players are largely overpaid, egotistical and as deluded as their fans. give me a team full of talented, well behaved and demure “frenchies” any day over the dj-punching, gambling, adultery-ridden chavs which blight this country
Ifeanyi. I am not French! And please point me to the “available statistics”
I have yet to see a creative midfielder be a good DM, not even the great Fabregas. No-one criticises him because he needs a DM to play alongside, and check out his stats when we don’t have a DM.
Both Mr Wenger and the French National manager see something in Diaby that you do not. Ask yourself this…..
What could it be that Diaby brings to the game that I am not seeing? Because neither managers are fools.
“6 of Diaby’s 7 goals came prior to Xmas and the injury epidemic, proving that given the freedom to express himself Abou can be a destructive attacking presence when played in his natural position.”
i really like this point.
Jabberwocky. Fine comment. (and may I compliment you on not using any swear words!! )… you are welcome here any time!
One of his biggest problem is that he switches of mentally at times. You do see misplaced square passes even when he is not under pressure. Denilson gets slammed for playing square passes but the fact that he does it so well (high completion percentage) is brushed aside as easy task. Diaby on the other hand is prone even to misplacing square passes! If Diaby improve his concentration, then he can be a top class player.
Thanks Pete.
To all the new bloggers, welcome to the site. Your comments are appreciated
Diaby is absolute class, there are few more skillful players around. Granted he can be inconsistent but I really don’t think it’s through lack of application or effort. Maybe his lanky strides make it look like he’s not running as fast as he can and therefore people are very quick to say that he’s lazy, disinterested etc… We must remember that he’s only 24 and he shows clear signs of improvement every season. Give him a few more years (playing in the right position – i.e. in front of a DM, not as a DM – just coz he looks like Vieira, doesn’t mean he’s the same kind of player) and he will be a force to be reckoned with.
Would you pick him ahead of Fabregas, Ramsey ,Nasri maybe even Arshavin (in a different formation)as creative midfield. Or ahead of Song, Denilson Melo (I know wishful thinking) as DM. If the answer is no then is he a luxury we cant afford ?
lovely Moorfire, just lovely.
someone disagrees with your opinion so he is useless and should just support spurs.
classic measured, mature not to mention intelligent response.
Hello Everybody,
In my opinion i think diaby is generally lazy but when he gets into the game and applies him self hes a wonderful player who do things with the ball that many others can’t.I really do think in a couple of years he’ll be a starter but not now.
When i think of diaby now i remember the birmingham game where he completely bossed the modfield without song and looks like a proper box to box player.
If you can’t remember the game watch this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ckNP2CWDs and i know its just 1 game but its shows you the kind of player we’ve got in our hands.
Moorfire ansd Galway….. We have a “polite policy” on this site and I have adjusted your comments accordingly.
Hope that is OK with you both
big raddy – thanks…its nice to be able to have open debate.
and andy – i think ramsey will be one of the true greats, but at the moment there is no way i would put him above diaby in the pecking order, even fit and on form. granted, one day he may be a far better player, but at the moment stating that he is better now is pure favouritism. if he wasn’t british would people still think so? i think not!
His defensive awareness and positioning is appalling (and going backwards, in comparison to Denilson and Song who this season have both come on massively in this regard).
It’s not good enough to say “he’s not a defensive midfielder”. Any midfielder, especially a central midfielder, will at times find themselves in a position where defending is required. Diaby isn’t anywhere near good enough to be the kind of luxury player that you don’t expect to help out defensively.
Andrew – a clear, unequivocal stance there ! Good attempt to redress the balance against criticism of Diaby Radders, but I have to say I wouldn’t be sad to see him go.
FE. U got it right. Its concentration thats his problem, He does look a bit short of the little grey cells and he tends to switch off. 24 is not a child and if you cant concentrate for 90mins now are you ever gona learn. I am not here to abuse the guy and say he’s utter crap but is he good enough and consistent enough to play at the top level for a top team ?
BR,,
I think the word enigma was designed for Diaby. You have made an excellent point about the comparison with Viera, because it just isn’t there.
I think one of the reasons Diaby and others are not consistent is his lack of ability to play for example three consecutive games in different positions.last season he was played several times on the wide left of midfield in an attacking role.IMO he is an attacking midfielder not a defensive one, well not for the time being.
Inter changing positions is an art in itself and Diaby and others who are still quite young in footballing terms are still learning that art.
I think you probably have a point with Ramsey JAB but its not national favouritism its just I see a spark in Ramsey which I dont see in Diaby..at least not often enough
Roope. Of course Diaby helps out defensively, but he isn’t as good at it as a DM. Does AA “get stuck in”? He defends but it isn’t why he is in the team.
Good call Kelsey.
Chary. I think Diaby is a fine squad player at present, but he has the potential to be so much more. Whether he can achieve it is a moot point.
Swear words?
Tottenham!! Gascoyne!! Brian McClair!!!
Am I banned?
Wash your keyboard out gg 😆
Great post Raddy – nice to see you’ve tickled a few funny bones.
I think Diaby is wasted (and not particularly good) as a DM. He should operate on the fringe of the final third as long as we have sufficient defensive minded midfielders to cover for him. He needs to learn that making an effort to track back is essential in all midfielders and only needs top look at Cesc for a shining example.
Diaby will become one of the best players in the world if we just give him one or two years. He is only 24 and have had a lot of injuries, so now when he finally gets moore consistent playin time he will get better and better. He has the talent the only thing he needs is more tactical skills.
GG. No-one has ever been banned from this site. ……. yet
Not even an Antipodean. (hope we meet you in the finals of the 20/20)
Br i agree with u that diaby is both good and bad in patches, but when he is bad he’s absolutely useless.infact he is a danger to the team too!!!just remember the own goal at OT? no one, i mean no one would have headed a ball towards their own goal like that….the way he waits for teh oppo player to take the ball off him is sometimes appalling to watch.doesnt AW reprimand these players when they slacken on the pitch?
Indian Gooner. I certainly hope so.
But as we play a possession game and have at least 60% of the play, all players will run into trouble sometimes (except Cesc).
I love to see a player take on and beat a man – we all do. Sometimes it doesn’t work.
Hi i.g.
I agree, that OG at O.T. was the most ‘deliberate’ own goal I have ever seen – it was as though he’s forgotten which end of the pitch he was playing. He wasn’t under great pressure from the opposing strikers – inexplicable.
On the other hand, he can turn defenders brilliantly and create an attacking position out of nothing – something that unfortunately Nik B can’t do.
Great article mate! Personally i think Diaby’s a great player, and when played in his preferred position, with a DM behind him, he’s one of the best in the Premiership.There’s not another player in the prem that coasts pass player with such ease. The thing is even when you have so much skill it’s not going to work all the time, some fans seem to remember the few times it doesn’t more than the many times it does. I can appreciate that he sometimes uses his skills in the wrong area of the pitch, but some need to appreciate the guy’s just attack minded.
There are a few players this season who would deserve some criticism but Diaby for me is definitely not one of them.
In that position I would pick Diaby over Nasri and Ramsey any day of the week.
May I be the first to point out that the 2010/11 season marks a significant anniversary
It will be 50 years since THFC were Champions….
“You won the League in Black and White…….” 😀
Ok supposing he is the special talent that many seem to think. What line up / formation would you have to bring out the best in him ?
Sagna Sol Verm Clichy
Song
Nasri Fabs Arshvin
Diaby
Persie
Or
Sagna Sol Verm Clichy
Song
Fabs Diaby
Persi Bentner Vela
Tough one Andy.
With the arrival of Chamakh, I can’t give you my best team, let alone include Diaby!
I guess replace TR.
The first one looks alrite darkins but a little unbalanced for me, maybe thats why i’m not such a diaby fan coz i’d prefer 2 defensively minded players in with Cesc
haha me 2 BR. there’s gona be a lot of rotation up front i think
I think other than the GK that’s the main area wenger needs to strenghen for next season. Denilson’s done an ok job but i just don’t think he’s quick enough, and that lack of speed and clumsey fouling has cost us too many goals this season. If we could get Yaya, another CB on par with Verminator and a decent GK i think we have a great chance for next season. I would still rotate Yaya with Song though and would only play both together when playing a top team.
Different tactics for different opposition, thats a bit out-there for aw i think..haha sorry.
seriously though ur right that prob not necessary for 2 DM against every1 but wouldv’e made big diff in the major games where we came out 2nd best.
Interesting post BR.
Honestly, I sit on the proverbial fence when it comes to Diaby. At times he is wonderful, at other times awful.
He can’t seem to play alongside Cesc and also when he has to think about something he makes a mess of it.
on the money post, br.
Sol staying?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/van-persie-i-hope-campbell-stays-at-arsenal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+arsenal-news+(News+Feed)
If Silvestre is worth a 2 year deal, then Sol certainly is……
We are short of a post for tomorrow so if anyone’s got something they want to get off their chest, please don’t be shy 🙄 A paragraph as a talking point will do.
Rasp – I’ve one in drafts you can use if you like. I mailed you about it earlier. if someone has something else though use it.
Thanks Irish,
I knew there was a reason I’d missed you so much 😆
Ha ha no problem Rasp – bout time I did some writing around here.
http://www.williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=14505
A lot of people will lose their money 😆
Hey Irish,
I had a chat with Pat Rice this afternoon, I didn’t ask him anything cheeky, but I did ask him how Aaron was doing and he said “He’s back in training and doing great and his head’s in the right place” – so I reckon there is a real chance that he could be back for the first game next season.
Great to hear Rasp, very quick recovery for him.
By anything cheeky you mean transfers? 😆
Yes, actually I said “I bet you get fed up with gooners asking you about transfers, so I promise I won’t” to which he replied “You can ask, but I don’t know anything” …… it wouldn’t surprise me if that is true.
What do you reckon on Gary Cahill Irish?
Ha ha probably is true.
He’s good Rasp. Not sure if he’s Top4 good, I wouldn’t have seen enough of Bolton to really give a fair answer on that. I do know Rep.Ireland have really tried to get him to switch allegiances but he wants to stick with England.
Well he’s 6ft 2ins, 24 and good with his head – who knows how much better he could become playing for us? I don’t suppose he’d be that expensive and he would add to our ‘home grown’ contingent, even so, I’m not sure he’s good enough.
From what I have seen of Cahill, he is very good. However, and this is a problem for any defender outside the Top 8, is he good enough?
Not an easy decision considering how much money players cost. One can fully understand why AW concentrates of his youth policy. You know what you get!
My preference is for a player with CL experience, and preferably not from a PL rival.
So we all agree. He may not be good enough.
We need the certainty of SfH:-)
This home grown rule is a bit weird to be honest. Wouldn’t Clichy, Bendtner, Cesc etc all count as homegrown because they came to us under the age of 23 and have been at the club for more than 3 years?
Buying British and Irish for the sake of it won’t be worth it.
Lets just buy Kjaer 🙂
What do you make of him Raddy?
As I understand it they do qualify as homegrown Irish, having come through the academy.
Top player, but he is young (21) and will be expensive. He is Danish Talent of the Year with Nik being Danish Footballer of the Year
Hi Raddy,
I’ve been intending to do a widget listing the more realistic transfer targets – are you hoping for a player like Chiellini then?
So really does it change much Raddy. British/Irish players will still have to compete with the best the world has to offer. Good idea in theory but don’t see it changing a whole load except the likes of City and Chelsea won’t be buying a whole new squad each season.
eeeemh hard to think of a defender that would do the job for us. Kjaer has looked good the few times I’ve seen him – we’ll see how he handles RvP at the World Cup.
We had a long chat about it last week Irish. Rasp is an expert…..
Rasp. Toure, Diarra (Alou). Tell you after the WC and AW’s signings 😉
Gallas is sure to go after this mornings un-Arsenal rant form Hill-Wood.
What does the buffoon think happens when you diss one of your own players in the press? Does he imagine it engenders player loyalty.
Wenger must be fuming
All our signings are going to be done by June 11th yes?
Chamackh, Buffon, Villa, Silva – oh joy 😆 I’m still jet lagged I think….
Galway Gunner obviously drowning in too much milk stout! good post and I hope Denilson gets the same objective assesment!
Hill-Wood tripped himself up too when he said Cesc wouldn’t get into the Barca team.
PHW is doing a lot of ranting lately, surely that should be up to Ivan although he seems too mild mannered to rant.
Thanks for the compliment Raddy
Definition of an expert = an unknown drip under pressure 😆
I have a feeling that Mrs.Nuts is back on line 🙂
I’m off people catch ye all tomorrow.
BR,
I keep repeating myself.We miss Dein, then we wouldn’t get all these quotes from Hill Wood and even Gazidis who maybe a good marketing man ,but he is not the voice of Arsenal.
True Kelsey- butI don’t see Dein returning. Not whilst Fizman and Hill Wood are on the Board (or for that matter Kroenke)
Our Chairman needs to have a natter with some folks who can teach him to be media friendly.
This type of comment is not the Arsenal way.I am sure he was giving a public message to selling clubs and agents that we will not be held to ransom, but there are better and more subtle ways
On a slightly different note, the 500 euro note is being withdrawn as 90% of them are in the hands of criminals. 😉
I’ve never seen one !
saffers doing well here in cricket, lankans no chance.
Aussies in the Final?
seems very likely, although, pakistan started very slowly in 2007 and made the final, they have the players to upset the odds.
talking about odds….. william hill are now ODDS ON that cesc will leave this summer !!!!!
8/11 he is a barca player on 1st september 2010
6/5 he is still an arsenal player come the same date.
Did you get a post?
If anyone is out there can they tell me what Hill-Wood did this time or a link.
Hi London,
Yes thanks – Irish has submitted a cracker 🙂
Sorry, I can’t help with the PHW faux pas
fyi london
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=785905&sec=england&cc=5739
Thanks SFH
I am not really surprised, in fact it crossed my mind that the reason you might not win all our houses before the World Cup was because Gallas will drag his deal out for the whole summer and I don’t believe Wenger will go ahead and sign a CB until that is sorted out.
not a chance mate, gallas was gone a while back, they know perfectly well enough he is gone and they need to replace him.
if there was a chance of him siging… phw would not have uttered those words imo, a parting shot in one way.
i was told a couple of months back that he was offered a very good 3 yr deal with roma and was signing with them as we would only offer a 2 yr deal.
it would now seem the wages were also not going to match an extra year.
i am really glad he is going, he has stunk the place out for long enough the miserable, moody blue git.
“If he can get the money somewhere else, good luck to him. We still hope he will sign, but if he doesn’t, he doesn’t
SFH
You don’t say “We still hope he will sign” if the deal is beyond hope, they are still negotiating. What kind of house do you have 😉
lol, i think there is more than enough in there and with what AW has said in recent weeks to tell us they know full well what is going on.
as i said to you a few days back… when was the last time a player whose contract is out at the end of the season…. renewed after it expired?
😉
Good point SfH-
And AW has repeatedly stated his intention to strengthen the defence. Should WG go, the requirement would be two players, one to replace and the second to strengthen.
I really don’t like those CF4 odds. But with Denilson as his understudy, we are safe! (a joke, before some one gets lairy)
Aw will strengthen the squad? But what if Cesc does go, it will be ground hog day again.
Arsene Wenger appears to be a grumpy old man who will do things in his time. Not really appealing to the fans who want to read about big name signings.
OK so there are the Arsenal fans who say I know exactly whats going on, I know some one, who knows someone who, who knows someone who danced with Arsene wenger @ Stringfellows once in Leicester Square. I don’t give a XXXX. I want to know that the 5 years of procrastinating is over, officially.
New post…….
Sweet, I was looking for something along the lines of this. I was wondering, do you think newsletters are still an way of marketing online? Does anybody still use them well and actually acquire readers?
Thanks!
Jessica
Nice post …thanks
good article thanks
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