Issa Diop’s exclusion from the Hammers team thus far has been puzzling…indeed it’s the one issue which has had me scratching my head more than any other.
Having arrived at the club for a £22 million fee to be followed by another – Fabian Balbuena for just £4 million – I assumed that Diop’s inclusion was a given.
Yet here we are two games and six goals down, Arsenal on Saturday’s horizon, and the former Toulouse 21 year old nowhere to be seen.
Injury is obviously not an issue as he was on the bench last Saturday. He came from Toulouse with a big reputation so quite why Balbuena and Ogbonna is preferred is a mystery. After all £22 million is a not inconsiderable sum even in these days for a 21 year old.
Plunging him in against Arsenal shouldn’t be a big call given the defensive errors of the past couple of games and if there was confidence to splash that sort of cash on him surely there has to be the confidence to call him up.
I can’t believe that with the figures involved he was bought for the future – we have enough of those – and it’s now a big question for me as to why he hasn’t been seen.
Balbuena or Ogbonna for the hook – dunno but it seems to me Diop’s debut is due as right now he remains a man of mystery!
Pellegrini’s first priority we were told was tighten defence and the youngster was his first stop so, as someone once said: ‘Let’s be having yer.’
I agree-Diop should be in the starting line-up..
Arthur should be playing left wing-back, and what has happened to Antonio??
I don’t think transfer fees mean anything. In pre-season, Diop looked far more nervous than Balbuena, so he hasn’t played. Now though he should get his chance ( if it’s not Rice ), because we can’t go on with Ogbonna.
Diop was a very accomplished CB in his old club, whose physique and presence made him a mainstay of his clubs defense. Although his club was Silly United in the Mickey Mouse league, he still showed his class, and ability. We need him now.
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I’m fearing Pelle’s insistence on a high line may be a sacred cow. I sense experienced defenders are caught in two minds what to do when it’s breached, with the default being to look at the linesman for a flag. Ogbonna’s not a bad player and the new pair haven’t proved themselves yet. I’d put Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna and Cress across the back and rotate Diop with Balbuena until such time that they prove they’re better than Oggy. I also think Zaba is a great assett and wonder if he could play rear midfield.
Sorry to say Ogbonna was involved in both Bournemouth goals high line or not.Diop will surely get the nod and wouldnt it be prudent to get Oxford and Rice in the squad again.
I said from the start this high line is suicide the defence has to be so confident and trust each other and that’s and that’s 2 things we havnt been in !ing time
If you get the high line right and VAR is in play then it is not a bad tactic but the players have to react for bad decisions in our non VAR FAPL play to the whistle was the old term, just get on and defend, the other thing with a high line at Liverpool or City show is you have to make smart fouls around the halfway line if it is breached, what is the point in 4 or more players sprinting 60 yards to get into a defensive line, Liverpool must have committed at least 20 fouls around the halfway line on us, they got away with it time and again, we should do the same as it is a safer more energy efficient way of playing.