All eyes will be on the West Ham starting XI selection is revealed tonight at 7 pm to see if Issa Diop starts.
The 24-year-old has hardly played since catching COVID at the same time as David Moyes and Josh Cullen and losing his starting place.
That happened when West Ham received test results shortly before the start of their Carabao Cup third-round match against Hull on a Tuesday evening in late September last year.
Since then he has made just two appearances totalling 117 minutes on the pitch.
He made no appearances in October with a substitute role against Fulham in November when he came on as a 63d minute replacement.
His one start came in December against Crystal Palace but there have been a couple of games where he has not even made the match day squad leading to speculation he is fallen our favour and could be off this winter.
Moyes insists this is not the case telling reporters he has no intention of selling Diop despite the player falling down the defensive pecking order.
“I’ve got no intention in letting any players go,” said Moyes. “Issa’s one of the players we really like.
“He started in the team, he picked up the virus at the same time as I did. Fabian Balbuena has come in and played very well, you know that’s what happens in football. But we’ve got no intention whatsoever letting Issa go. None.”
That all sounds pretty emphatic but begs one big question – how come 30 year Craig Dawson, well though he has played, be selected ahead of a £20 million 22 year old when Balbuena is rested?
I see no real answer in the manager’s comments particularly in view of him regularly claiming he wants a YOUNG and energetic West Ham,
In recent weeks Issa has been linked in reports to a move with Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and even Chelsea but it difficult to imagine that when he can’t get into the Hammers first eleven.
He said he wants a young energetic team. But didn’t he also emphasize the importance of experience in defence? Not sure I see any inconsistency at all.
I think it’s pretty clear there may be an issue. Dawson was koaned as an insurance policy. Not quite sure what Diop has done to fall so far out of favour
Looks like we need to summons Diop to testify and provide the answer. A truthful answer. An answer that doesn’t conflict with anything that David Moyes has ever said, intimated or indirectly implied. At the same time perhaps we can find out why Reece Oxford fell so far out of favour when he was at his peak at 16 years old.
So many issues – so many answers needed. Would be good to clear this up before the cup tie against Stockport this evening. Was thinking of a nap this afternoon but can’t possibly sleep now worrying about David Moyes’ lack of consistent truth.
COYI
I’ll be honest. every time i have seen him play since his first season he looks a bit of a liability. The amount of times you see him trying to cut out balls near the half way line is really worrying as they just skip past him and charge straight at our then weakened defence. If we can get decent money for him take it and give moyes the money to invest. From the signings he has brought in i trust him completely to bring in the right players for the club regardless of age. Youth and hunger is great but it has to be coupled with some experience or it just does not work.
I absolutely agree with this, PH. I imagine there IS a problem due to the amount of goals conceded by the team that appear a direct result of Diop’s weaknesses which i imagine is why Dawson came in. Dawson is actually a steady pair of hands, although not as good as Diop with the ball at his feet. Seeing as we don’t play a system that suits ball playing defenders due to Moyes’ desire for us to lump the ball forward more often than not maybe Diop is deemed surplus to requirements.
I would imagine that Dawson came in at Southampton and Everton based on Diop’s awful performance v Palace
Yep – and his bang average, at best, performances more generally.
I remember people saying before this season that Moyes didn’t fancy Balbuena – before “the General” made a strong comeback – so maybe Diop will also make a strong comeback – let us just wait and see
We need two back-up central defenders – so four in total which is currently what we have (I feel that we cannot yet count on Alves) – so I would not like to see Diop leave in this window
He might secretly have long covid issues like a few Newcastle players tbh..
Possible. He did ghet a game tho which I would have expected if so
The defence for Dawson – he might have been brought in on loan as insurance cover. He might have performed better than expected when getting the opportunity. Be a shame to toss him aside whilst he’s doing OK. Diop has time on his side, His turn will come. Fingers crossewd that he’s up to it when that happens. Could still do with The Spanish Inquisition, though. Spices everything up.
COYI