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He seems to be self-aware, knows he needs to improve, Rafa rates him and we're not even in November. I'm confident he'll come good in this new era...if he doesn't then he won't play and we'll probably strengthen again in Jan. Don't get the vitriol he's getting personally.

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He's obviously got energy, hunger and quality but he's only showing the former two at the moment.

 

Just find it bizarre that Rafa has rotated most other players and not him when he's clearly so lacking in confidence/form. Hopefully he'll get sat down for Mitrovic or Perez soon and come back into the team a few weeks later.

It's for what he offers tactically - strength & presence in the final third (particularly with Gayle as a lone striker), effective high pressing, legs on the break etc - rather than end product IMO. I reckon he's a starter until at least January where I think we'll look at signing a specialist number 10 and move Diame back to rotate with Hayden and Colback.

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He's obviously got energy, hunger and quality but he's only showing the former two at the moment.

 

Just find it bizarre that Rafa has rotated most other players and not him when he's clearly so lacking in confidence/form. Hopefully he'll get sat down for Mitrovic or Perez soon and come back into the team a few weeks later.

 

Mitrovic is a totally different player, Rafa would have to change his entire system to bring him in. Perez is an option but he's played worse when he's been handed the chance. Atsu could maybe another option, although I think Diame has probably not played as badly as people make out. Even in the reports on yesterday's game he apparently had a decent header saved and had another effort which wasn't that far off.

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He seems to be self-aware, knows he needs to improve, Rafa rates him and we're not even in November. I'm confident he'll come good in this new era...if he doesn't then he won't play and we'll probably strengthen again in Jan. Don't get the vitriol he's getting personally.

 

Nah, no reason for abuse at all. But you know football fans.

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He seems to be self-aware, knows he needs to improve, Rafa rates him and we're not even in November. I'm confident he'll come good in this new era...if he doesn't then he won't play and we'll probably strengthen again in Jan. Don't get the vitriol he's getting personally.

Think we'll buy someone in his position in Jan anyway,  just because he's at the African Nations and we've only got Ayoze who can play as an AMC

 

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Guest palnese

He seems to be self-aware, knows he needs to improve, Rafa rates him and we're not even in November. I'm confident he'll come good in this new era...if he doesn't then he won't play and we'll probably strengthen again in Jan. Don't get the vitriol he's getting personally.

Think we'll buy someone in his position in Jan anyway,  just because he's at the African Nations and we've only got Ayoze who can play as an AMC

 

Judge?

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I liked Diame as a player before he arrived here. He proved for West Ham he was good enough in the PL playing CM, he was a massive asset to Hull in their promotion in a more advanced role so he's proved he's capable at this level as well. He admitted fitness issues when he first arrived but now he's fully fit he's still not producing on the pitch. His attitude seems spot on though and he clearly wants to succeed but he's finding it a big struggle right now.

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The abuse is a joke, like. But what more can you expect from the mong element of fans who booed Laurent Robert at the end of a 12-goal/multiple assist season?

 

Issues come down the fact that, although him playing off a striker essentially contributes to Rafa's system, it doesn't really allow him the space on the field to exhibit his talents. He's usually got a man on him for one and there's little happening up ahead of him. He's basically being used to get the best out of those around him, he knows it and it's one of the reasons he's snatching at chances the Diame at WHU and Hull would've tucked away.

 

I like him a lot. He's a boss of a CM if used correctly but if there is one genuine criticism I can level at him it's the fact he looks absolutely done at 70 minutes, especially away from home.

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Guest firetotheworks

I still don't think there's any reason that he can't make that position his own in his own way. He's had the chances and missed them, I'd be much more concerned if he wasn't getting those chances at all. He's still someone that I see as being an effective player in that position once he (hopefully) sorts his end product out.

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There's absolutely no way he's the medium or long term answer to that position, though. The Norwich game being a very good example of us looking instantly better with another striker on the field instead of a square peg in a round hole. I'd definitely like to see him in CM with Shelvey at home.

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Guest firetotheworks

It would be a good idea, but if Rafa's going to persevere with it, I think it'll work out. It really is just his finishing that's letting him down. You know how it is, a player scores one or two and suddenly their whole performance is seen in a different light. I suppose it depends what you mean by long-term. I think it can work this full season, but obviously not beyond that.

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Guest firetotheworks

As if its only his finishing that's letting him down. His all round game has been extremely underwhelming on an individual level. Possibly because he's in the wrong position, possibly not.

 

I disagree, he's had good moments and bad moments. If he'd finished the chances he'd had, the overall perception of him would be totally different. Look at Gayle, he hasn't played badly aside from him goals, but chances/goals are pretty much his sole contribution. He's a quiet player aside from that. Perez scored and assisted the other day and suddenly the last 18 months never happened.

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