Slaven Bilic has revealed that Diafra Sakho is “very happy now” and that is terrific news given the tension between the pair a few months ago.
That Slav should made a point of speaking about Sak’s state of mind is significant given previous issues between the pair a few months ago and the failed medical at West Brom.
Many fans have held the view that the Senegal striker is still looking for a way out of the club so Slav’s words are an encouragement to those who remain big fans of the player.
Speaking on the shape of the the squad’s fitness he said: “Diafra Sakho is very happy now. He’s running and doesn’t feel any problems.
Hopefully the back problems that were the cause of all those problems with his hamstrings, which the doctor says is quite common, (have gone away).
In a few weeks time he will start to train with us. He will be a like a great new signing.
On other fronts Slav revealed: ” Aaron Cresswell is good and looks sharp. Robert Snodgrass missed training during the week with diarrhoea but he was back in training on Thursday.
Arthur Masuaku is back and sharp, looks really good. So we have options now in basically every position. Even Angelo Ogbonna is recovering really good from his knee operation. So it’s good.”
…which is good news…but presents a wider issue:
Our current central attackers are:
Carroll (“unplayable” when he plays, but more frequently unplayable because he’s injured)
Sakho (excellent at stretching defences, stretching his back and stretching our patience with his attitude)
Calleri (no real evidence of the great potential we were told about)
Fletcher (reasonable on the ball, but usually locked away like Norman Stanley)
Ayew (£20m – such a lot for so little)
Martinez (Needs a chance)
My main concern is that a Carroll fit 75% of the time (if we’re lucky) and a return of Sakho, will persuade the Daves that we don’t need to spend big on a striker in the summer. This is not a sensible solution.
Berardi scores “when he wants” and has only just returned for Sassuolo from injury, so he is off the radar at the moment. Start making enquiries now he nab him for €30m or so.
Good summary . If Sakho’s problem injury has been solved we will not need another big name striker as we have Martinez . Calleri and Fletcher can move on and I hope Ayew will have a lot more to show . Concentrate on a wide man with pace ( Feghouli may keep improving as his history is very good ) , a right full back and a holding midfielder as Noble has to go .
Noble is our new Nolan
He is stopping us going to the next stage
Obiang and Kouyate are our first choice and anyone who can not see that should take up watching another sport,
If we need a club born player in that role bring in Oxford
Why comment on Noble when the thread is about Sakho?
disagree on the noble front. fair enough, i agree he isnt as good as kouyate, and certainly in worse form than obiang but he is so important for this team and the fans. leads by example, never leaves anything in the tank every single game. would rather see the locals play and get relegated than watch a team full of foreign players. thats not who we are, its not west ham.