There weren’t many West Ham United fans who knew too much about El Hadji Malick Diouf before he arrived in the summer.
As reported at the time by ExWHUEmployee, it was during West Ham’s scouting of his international team-mate Habib Diarra that Diouf first came onto the club’s radar.
What became immediately apparent in pre-season, however, was that whilst Malik showed some defensive naivety, he was an outstanding crosser of the ball.
That ability was on full display at the start of the campaign. The wing-back-turned-full-back racked up three early assists, getting many of us excited that West Ham might just have landed one of the league’s most dangerous attacking defenders.
The player even spoke openly about one day representing Real Madrid — and at just 20 years old, it certainly felt like he had a bright future ahead of him.
Unfortunately, much like the rest of his teammates, Diouf’s form dipped dramatically.
By December, when he departed to link up with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations, he was struggling badly. The assists had dried up and Malik was offering neither defensive solidity nor attacking threat to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.
Burnley Display Shows What West Ham Have Been Missing
He was replaced in the back line by Ollie Scales, who — aside from an error against Fulham FC — performed admirably.
I was certainly among those who would have kept Scales in the starting XI for the game against Chelsea. In fact, once Malik was substituted in that match and Scales replaced him, I felt the Hammers’ back line looked more solid.
What I was guilty of forgetting, though, was exactly what Diouf offers going forward.
We saw that in full during Saturday’s win over Burnley, where he created a goal with one of his trademark crosses.
The build-up was excellent and should give hope that West Ham’s reinvigorated tactics will allow Diouf to get into more advanced positions. What was particularly telling was that the assist came from deep — proof he doesn’t always need to beat his marker to deliver something dangerous.
It was a timely reminder of what Diouf can bring, and of the player many thought West Ham were getting when he arrived for £19 million in the summer.
Long may it continue.
Really fantastic to see a cross like that on Saturday. It has been very frustrating to see players out wide going forward with no end product. Not just West Ham but football clubs in general.
Benrahma used to do it. Head down, one trick pony. Drives up the left wing. Our men in the middle left high and dry. Eventually, if we are lucky, comes back at the box and tries the shot into top right of goals. It worked a couple of times but we could not rely on a couple of goals each season to bring us success.
Forget possession. Forget training ground positional practice. Forget having to put a foot on the ball whilst looking up to check who’s where. Play instinctively. Get the ball crossed over into the mix where our advancing centres have the advantage over the opposing defence.
Yes, it won’t always guarantee a goal and we might lose possession more often than not. But possession is not everything if there is no end result. Opponents on the back foot and in chaos is the dream scenario for every match.
Just like the goalkeeper kicking the ball up to the front guys. Much better than pussy-footing around and losing the ball in our own half. Of course, the rest of the team can’t just take a time out, watch and wait for the inevitable return. They need to be aware and moving forward in support. England could have won a couple of World Cups with this kind of attitude. All too easy for Southgate to stuff the ball up his jumper and hope that possession will bring success. We suffered for generations with lost opportunities for players and supporters alike. Southgate could have stifled Lionel Messi and turned him into an international Vardy.
So, I am all for it Diouf. Keep on crossing and encourage the other guys to do the same. Rest of the team? Expect this kind of play, get up there and take advantage.
As for the ‘dip’ in form before African adventure, that can be put down to nobody being quite sure of what they were doing in that period. Too many people giving conflicting advice replaced with no advice at all. Plenty of support but no definitive advice.
The last few games have shown that we may have hit on a theme which brings us watchable and exciting football. I hope so and also hope that it continues.
COYI
Lovely piece Taffy.
It’s so refreshing to read a passionate supporter espouse football philosophy.
I wholeheartedly agree with no nonsense backwards and side ways football at this juncture.
Get it forward, get to the line and get it onto the box.
Needs must.
COYI