Morning all,
How much longer is this International break?
It feels like months already, six more days though and proper football is back and no more interruptions before the season ends…
These few words are from Diaby, one of a few players who isn’t away with his country. His job is to keep the official website ticking over:
I am very happy to have made this number of starts, I got injured for three months, which is a large part of the season, but even so I have still made 14 starts, which is really good.
We also have nine games to go, so I will get to 16 or 17 or more, which is good.
I have tried to look after myself a lot this season by having good treatment, a good recovery [period] and all the things that make a player better.
I have improved my diet a lot, my lifestyle has always been OK because I don’t go out too much and have always been a guy who stays at home and rests. I do all the exercises I need to improve my strength and my muscle weaknesses.
I am still young and I know that I have many years left at the top level. I just need to look after myself every day and everything will be OK.
I recall a few months back now, here on HH, there was a little debate, well, maybe it was just a bit more than that but basically, someone kept saying that there was nothing more Diaby could do to ensure he remained fit. I can’t remember who it was who said that and it matters not but if they are reading today, they’ll finally realise they were indeed wrong about the French sicknote midfielder.
Finally, Diaby has changed his diet and lifestyle.
Why has it taken him so long to do all these things when he admits they have made him feel better and keep fitter?
Anyway, he’s started fourteen games this season and as he said, he aims to feature in two, maybe even three more out of those nine.
If we are lucky, that number might increase but is it worth taking the chance?
Fourteen starts in one season, is that enough to justify him staying?
There is a huge decision for Arsene Wenger to make. Does he play him as we fight for a finish inside the top four or keep him fit for the summer sales?
Does he keep him, use him sparingly and just accept him as being a luxury player?
Does Diaby just accept that’s the way it is in the PL, or does he grow a pair and finally realise that this league is just too much for him, just like it was for Eduardo and move away?
Decisions decisions ahead of July for both player and manager! I hope they both get it right, finally!
Talking of the summer, but staying with Diaby, the player has not only been talking about himself but his dream during his early days in the game.
I would definitely have liked to play in the NextGen Series, when I was younger we always used to talk about this kind of competition, to play all over Europe against big teams.
That was a real dream but unfortunately at that time it didn’t happen. But I think it is really good for the youth players, it is great experience for them. At a young age they can feel the atmosphere of playing in the European Cup, so that will really help them.
Shame for him really, he was fit back then and would have played more….
Yes I’m being ironic…
It’s the International break, what do you expect…
Bit of gossip regarding Mamadou Sakho, he’s told French paper L’Equipe:
In the mind of the PSG coach, I’m the third (in the pecking order of central defenders).
I finally come to accept it even if I do not understand it. I have to play at club level to qualify for the France team. Next season will be important.
It’s been a difficult year and a half for me at PSG. To continue my progress, I must be playing.
That of course means he’s ready to move away from PSG and head to the PL. Oh, but not only that, but maybe Arsenal.
Of course that is very tongue in cheek, but at 23 years old, 6′ 2″ and lean and mean – he’d look good in red and white wouldn’t he?
Have a good day all……
Had the Next-Gen been available for Diaby he probably would have got the games because it was pre Dan Smith. My mind tells me that he needs to go especially if his ambition is only to play in a half of a season’s fixtures. However I can’t help feeling sorry for him that he got the injury he did. But sorry doesn’t make it in this cut and thrust world.
BTW Morning all.
Morning Potter and all.
I’m of a similar opinion. Yes, what he suffered was cruel and wrong but rather annoyingly, that seems to be acceptable play under this current FA.
We have had our share haven’t we but unlike Ramsey who seems to have recovered well, Diaby just doesn’t seem to be able to get fit and stay fit.
Another country may suit him better.
We have 9/10 games left, and he aims to start two. That to me says an awful lot….
The word ‘always’ means something here. He has never had a party lifestyle and I gather is religious. He wasn’t at fault for getting his leg broken, neither was Eduardo. He may never fulfil his huge potential but let’s see once/if he gets a run of games. I understand that he is getting to last chance saloon but also know that he is still young enough and talented enough to succeed.
Try to be a supporter or even realise that Diaby is a human being, though maybe you are trying to be funny.
Sorry CB, Arsenal are more important than any player who gives the team as little as he does. I know its not his fault he is so prone to injury but he’s costing the club money.
Money it suggests we have little of..
Off for an hour as its so quiet…
Too those of you who compare Ramsey and Diaby, Diaby injury was in the ancle, which is a much more “complicated” break than the tibia and fibula leg break ramsey suffered. Ramseys leg break insured that Ramsey would play with hesitasion and was out of practise for a year, but Diaby’s injury has been the source of almost every injury he has suffered since.
Not sure of your point here CB. I don’t think anyone has derided Diaby only expressed a feeling of sympathy to him. When I first saw him I felt that he was raw but had the potential to improve and develop into a regular first team player.He joined us young but at 26 should now be the ready made player to dominate our midfield. Unfortunately and not by his own design he has the experience of a 21 year old . As is mooted in the post , how long can The Arsenal wait for him to fulfill his potential and at what cost. The physical nature of the premier league has proved to be too much for him and although it’s where the money is , perhaps he would be better off retuning to France to play a less demanding game and free up the resource for Arsenal to bring in a regular starter of similar ability.
I think the Arsenal have found the ultimate position for Diaby. He is to become the new BtD! Behind the desk! He is to become the next office manager! If only they manage his injury prone fingers and thumbs. But that will be for Lewin and his team of fully trained first aiders to manage.
I think he has a real future at the club. He could become a legend in his own by-line. A star! If only he learns the language properly, with its cliches, rhetoric, banter, colloquialisms, slang and even oaths. But as he says he doesn’t get out much, although he trains hard with his personal tutor!
As a footballer I think he had the potential to be world class, but life is a hard task master, and to be fair he has been really unlucky. He is still suffering from Dan Smith after shocks, or at least his body is. A shame. A real shame. However, perhaps he is now ready for moving on to the next level – behind the safety of an office desk, but then again how many accidents occur in the haven of the office…………….?
Diaby is essentially admitting he is a part time player here, and says he is ‘really happy’ to have played that amount of games. Should the club be paying full time wages for a part time player? Thing is, I think Wenger will continue to do so.
Diaby doesn’t pick the team. What would you say if he said ‘I should play all the remaining games’? I doubt anything positive.
My point is that the worst interpretation of what he said is being taken eg ignoring ‘always’ and saying ‘He’s even said he doesn’t go out so much, well yippee doo dah, about time too’.
Morning All
The strange part of the diaby puzzle for me is,
wengers refusal to give up on him,
Its like………you wait till next season when his got a few games under his belt,
then you will see the true diaby,
I’ve telling you all about,
In my time watching football,I could reel off 100’s of players who have had injury after injury,and not been given the chances wenger has given diaby,
yet he still includes him,
with the dream that one day,
he will replace the great Paddy V.
I’m afraid not time nor space for sentiment in football when he costs us approx 60k a week. He’s been paid handsomely over the years and as much of a shame that it is regarding the injury sustained from that Smith animal enough is enough. We need to get rid and get in a quality reliable player who does not have to spend every other week wrapped in cotton wool. Sad but true.
Give him an office job then?!!
WATH, I agree he has few chances left.
Let’s get rid of the true wasters first – Arshavin, Sqill, Bendtner, Denilson, Chamakh, Santos, Park. I’d rather save their 60ks before worrying about Diaby. Even getting rid of two of them would have paid RVP’s extra wages.
I believe we all know the reason why we are stuck with the list that you have posted . Natural selection will have to do for them as it will for Diaby when their contracts run out. As we are well aware they will not go whilst being so handsomely paid as much as we and the club would wish them too.
Happy with natural selection. And the possibility that Diaby does a RVP and comes good in his mid-late twenties after a series of injuries.
Let’s wait and see.
Hello again all…
Must be fun in your house CB…
Arsenal can afford to keep Diaby on the grounds that he is very good player when fit. I know the big words are when fit but who will buy him in he’s current condition at the moment. Like CB says what if he does an RVP and keeps fit and comes good.
Is he that good when fit though Gjoe? When did he last play ‘that’ well,
Can you spend the whole of your budget on what if’s ? Fortune favours the brave so they say, it’s the clubs decision and a bullet they may have to bite.
When fit he is look at the Liverpool game also he had a much better game against Swansea than he was given credit for.
No Potter, not in my opinion. We have Diaby, Rosicky, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Fabianski and maybe even Sagna who are out often..
How much is that costing the club in money terms and how much has it cost us in terms of trophies?
My answer is, far too much….
Cheers RICO, just standing up for someone. Your comment reminds me why I don’t come to this site often.
Note to self:don’t bother again.
Potter the fact is after this season a lot the so called dead wood(hate that term) will be gone I think Arsenal can afford to keep him around the team because of he’s in built talents.
The Liverpool one is the only one I really think he was good in…
That fact alone shows he has it in him also the stats show he had a good game against Swansea and some times fans have different views on players. Look at Gio’s run around 4 players yesterday to lay on a goal for the Ivory Coast.
I like that note to yourself CB…
Do let me know your blog details, I’ll come and see what makes the perfect place to blog..
That’s why it’s called choice CB.. your choice is don’t bother then pretty simple if your not here then someones comments won’t upset you am sure you’ll read far worse about him elsewhere.
He’s had many years and many chances. Sell him for what ever get him off the books and get someone else in. We all know the others that need to go but he needs to be added to them in my opinion. It’s one of the reasons why we have stood still last few years… not buying because of what if… Well bu what we needy and then sell the weakest links when we have a fully fit squad thing is thats a what if as well when is the squad always fully fit… what “if” me aunt had balls, she’d be me uncle……………..
A lot worse Wath. I guess some people are a tad too sensitive, and maybe protective over their favs. I don’t dislike Diaby, just don’t think we can afford to be soft with players any more…
Gunnerjoe , that might be the right thing to do , it might turn out to be the lesser of two evils , but the lack of playing time must be addressed with another player of similar stature being bought in to cover the deficiency .
We won’t miss what we’ve never had Rico……! 😉
We sure won’t Wath. I went on a mission earlier, you were right, it’s very hard to find…
Potter – Capoue 😉
I take it you came up empty handed then Rico…?
I’d say we need better than Diaby Potter, a man thats fit 90% of the time will be an improvement but we also need a player who is more physical…! That would be a good move in the right direction.
Afternoon Rico, Wath and all. I see you’re upsetting people again Rico. 🙂
“Fourteen starts in one season, is that enough to justify him staying?”
Are you serious???? How many midfielders do we have? Given Santi and Jack would start a lot and Arteta is the captain by default…..how many starts would Diaby realistically get? What about Ramsey, Rosicky, Eisfeld etc….Do you see a slight problem with letting players go if they are not starting every match? Arsenal would be down to 3 midfielders using your system? You really did not think that all the way through did you?
Not really following the Chiang Mai logic there. Run that one past me again.
He ain’t being let go cos he don’t start games you maybe need to read it through SoCM…. It’s about letting him go cos he’s only even fit for 14/15 starts….! Completely different to what your saying.
I did Wath, but it was only a small branch. Next time to the big beast 😉
Afternoon Adam. You cheeky one, just someone who lacks humour.
Ah! I don’t think I follow.
🙄
Having an injury prone player (or players as the case is with arsenal) is not the problem, depending on them is the problem.
If we had a player with the ability Wenger believes Diaby has to take his place when he’s out, I don’t think people will mind that much.
The yipee doo dah part might be a tad harsh in some peoples’ view (myself included). He doesn’t pick himself to play, he did not offer himself the 60k(alleged) a week contract and I would like to think he doesn’t injure himself on purpose (anything is possible these days)
Being unable to do your job properly does not sit well with most athletes, we’ll find out which side of the fence Diaby’s on when he’s fit… which means we may never know.
And I thought I struggled sometimes….
You may be lucky with the big beastie Rico…. it does take some hunting down though.
Speaking as a very simple man I do not understand irony.
You’ll never catch me. 🙂
I can’t believe Yipee doo dah has offended so many, I blame the 3 bottles of Cava for that…
I’ll remove it shall I 😛
Where is it?
I will be giving it my all Wath 🙂
Adam, I thought you created it??
I prefer it in myself Rico. Put it back – please. 🙂
😆 Adam. Me too….
I was wondering. 🙂
I dread the end of season, we’ll all be ‘really bored’ 😉
I am going to have to get a paper-round to save up for the season ticket that will enable me to watch all those World-class players we at going to buy.
I’am sure the transfer speculation will keep you going rico
Hope there’s an evening paper where you live Adam 😉
Oh I am sure you are right fred 😉
That’s a good point Rico. We don’t.
Pizza delivery then.
Could you deliver one to me please Adam. After next Sunday of course as I have given up cheese for Lent..
No problem Rico. I am often in your area. 🙂
You have been spotted Adam 😉
Popping off for an hour. Skipped lunch and now I am very hungry…
Evening… I am full to the brim 🙂
What on rabbit food and cava…?
Morning all.
Poor old Diaby.
He should definitely be kept at the club, but on a pay for play deal.
Simple.
I do remember everyone, well nearly everyone was excited at the start of the season when he strung a few games together, and we were looking pretty good.
We are all whispering “what if he CAN stay fit”.
We should all have known better, of course.
On a brighter note, our rumoured striker target has scored again on the weekend.
He put 6 away.
3 games for 17 goals.
Sean is already ten times the player his old man ever was 🙂
Cheeky git Wath 😉
Hi Scott, see that is the difference, a pay as you play deal or similar would make more sense.
But £60k a week for doing little is wrong….
I know Rico, but it is a tough call at the time of contract negotiations.
It is hard to envisage a players injury woes would continue for so long.
You really need to pay a player based on his potential, because if you don’t, he will be snapped up elsewhere and then the fans would be asking why we have sold another player.
In this case, the club obviously got things wrong, but it is not easy to predict what will happen.
Now, the club is in the box seat and can demand he sign an incentive based contract or let him go.
In full flight, which he was early in the season, he is dominant.
I’d hate to see him leave, but we can’t keep him unless the circumstances are right.
That is just what I said in the post Scott, tough decisions for the manager and the player… Only they can sort out what happens, regardless of what we fans think…..
I would be astounded if he gets a similar contract again.
Fingers crossed.
So will I…
I’m off for the night folks. Catch up tomorrow …
Stay safe,
Night all…..
Later Rico.
Night Rico…. stay away from the carrots….
Evening Scott, Glad Sean doing well
My eyesight is rubbish.
Well done to Sean Scott, nighty to you…
Night Wath you cheeky one…
Just been doing the post, but now I’m gone 😉
Hiya Wath.
The academy training is really making a difference mate.
Anyway, back to work, so will check in when i can.
Have a great night.
Enjoy ya day Scott.
At work?
Not a chance of enjoyment mate lol
Nah, i have a got a pretty decent gig….sometimes it is easy to forget that, though 😉
I agree with David Rubio…
Morning all,
Missed you all yesterday, Diaby might get 16 starts that’s a joke, fancy telling your boss that your only going to be fit sixteen days a year for £80 thou a year disgusting. There’s only about 50 games a season anyway hardly pushing him to his limit is it. a Professional sportsman who has a lifespan in top football of about 10 years is a very bad return for that kind of money. sack him and let someone else fund his lifestyle,. Its not as if he’d be missed. Who is he.
Not a bad job, is it Steve lol
Morning mate.
Morning Scott or evening for you,
Kinda job i’m looking for 🙂
Me too Sp,
Morning …..
New Post going up…
Kinda job we all looking for SP………….. Hmmm ooooh the cases of vino and GG bring it on….!