saint lard Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Quicker,better vision,turn of pace,faster footballing brain....not so ponderous in possession. He must start ahead of Romeu. Nothing against Oriol....but he’s not as good in most departments. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 (edited) Great dilemma for Ralph to have. Diallo's pace to break down that Arsenal attack today has got me thinking he could well warrant a starting berth ahead of Romeu. Romeu offers a bit more in the strength department though, and obviously has experience on his side. Too close to call. Edited 23 January, 2021 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 (edited) It’s going to be tough on someone as Oriol, despite your summing up of his, in your view, lack of talent, has been immense this season. Best that’s not forgotten. Edited 23 January, 2021 by beatlesaint 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baird of the land Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 A nice problem to have. Hopefully Romeu is back fit and can start against Arsenal Tuesday, giving us a set of fresh legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALK DMC Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 1 minute ago, beatlesaint said: It’s going to be tough on someone as Oriol, despite your summing up of his, in your view, lack of talent, has been immense this season. Best that’s not forgotten. Nicely said and I'm not sure I agree with the comparison on football brain. However, there was a break early in the 2nd half by Pepe and we were exposed on our left. Diallo outpaced Pepe and the threat was nullified. I'm not writing him off and he brings other elements to our team, but Romeu just couldn't have done the same. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austsaint Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 1 minute ago, WALK DMC said: Nicely said and I'm not sure I agree with the comparison on football brain. However, there was a break early in the 2nd half by Pepe and we were exposed on our left. Diallo outpaced Pepe and the threat was nullified. I'm not writing him off and he brings other elements to our team, but Romeu just couldn't have done the same. I doubt JWP could have either. At the moment Diallo looks a more complete player than both Romeu and JWP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 How long is Diallo's contract? Anything less than 4 years and we should be looking to extend it as early as possible! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry_SFC Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Diallo is better in possession and playing on the half turn but Romeu is stronger and better in the air. I think they are both very good players and Diallo deserves to keep his place until he has a poor run of form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint77 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 37 minutes ago, saint lard said: Quicker,better vision,turn of pace,faster footballing brain....not so ponderous in possession. He must start ahead of Romeu. Nothing against Oriol....but he’s not as good in most departments. Agree with all your points think it will take an injury or suspension for OR to get back in 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totton Saint Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Could play both at some stage and give JWP a rest for a game or two if we have good cup run, especially if Vest is back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Great selection headache. Romeu was outstanding before his injury. One of the best players in the league, possibly. Diallo has been excellent, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Our biggest accruement of points this season has been with Romeu in the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Conundrum is, can we accommodate Diallo, OR, and JWP without ruining the balance of the side ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 I think he's absolutely class. He's so quick, so agile on the ball and surprisingly strong as well. On the ball his passing is pretty much spot on too. I really like him, I think he's a huge find. He will without doubt evolve into the starter in front of Romeu, but Romeu has earned his rep with us at the mo. Very nice conundrum to have though, as others have said. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Mario who ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefizzy14 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 (edited) He is an absolute gem, insane buy we are spoilt for choice in midfield now with Diallo, Prowsey and Romeu. Edited 23 January, 2021 by davefizzy14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 29 minutes ago, badgerx16 said: Mario who ? Licka. He hasn’t been here for a while so it’s unusual that you would bring it up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 I actually think the biggest improvement in Romeu’s game this season has been his forward passing and contribution to attacking play. Diallo has undoubtedly been outstanding, but I think the OP’s assessment of OR is a little harsh. He’s far more of an all round CM these days. I agree that Diallo has earned the shirt for now. Up to Romeu to win it back. Great to have some decent competition in there, just need some more of that in other areas. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 9 minutes ago, Lighthouse said: Licka. He hasn’t been here for a while so it’s unusual that you would bring it up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 36 minutes ago, Lighthouse said: Licka. He hasn’t been here for a while so it’s unusual that you would bring it up. 27 minutes ago, badgerx16 said: Immediate thoughts on seeing his name was his other half... although I don't recognise her from that photograph... Off the top of my head I can't think of any other Saints player whose time at the club and reputation is linked to his wife/girlfriend/Doris at the time he played for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Just googled to see what happened to Mario Licka. At one point he was playing for Brest. On leaving the club one of their fans commented on a forum: Quote It is his wife who will be missed at the PVB (Brest visual landscape). Courtesy of Google Translate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Diallo was always going to be a good signing. At the moment he looks an insanely good signing. I particularly like the way he's been eased into the team. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMidfieldGeneral Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 2 hours ago, Badger said: Conundrum is, can we accommodate Diallo, OR, and JWP without ruining the balance of the side ? Yes.. JWP on. The right instead of Armstrong. Our possession stats would go up 30% 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKD Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 He’ll end up at the very top. Easy to forget he’s only 21, give how composed he looks on the ball. Romeu has been superb this season, but diallo starts all day for me, he’s the future. a lazy comparison I know, but the similarities to Kante are astonishing, and he’s got everything to be just as good if not better. Fantastic signing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyell Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 And we only went for him after missing out on Ibrahim Sangaré. Lucky break: younger, higher ceiling, fits the team like a glove. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexLaw76 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 He looks like he has a brilliant future in the game. I think next season, he is going to be awesome 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwbu Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 (edited) Romeu must be the most under appreciated player we’ve ever had! The only player whose reputation consistently goes down when he’s not playing, normally players who are out of the team become known as saviours! He’s been absolutely superb this season and the end of last, and one of the best CM’s in the league topping all sorts of stat charts for interceptions, tackles etc. Diallo looks brilliant, a real good find, and thankfully they both have very different qualities so give us a nice variety of options in the middle. Exciting trio of CM’s we now have. Edited 23 January, 2021 by saintwbu 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Looks like Les was ahead of his time in stating we have the best midfield options in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Johnson Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 What a signing, he was bought in as Hojbergs replacement, he’s looking like an upgrade right now. Really excited to see him progress. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 I'd be interested in seeing Diallo in the 10 role further forward. A player with great technical ability, passing range and wins the ball back with ease is perfect for our high press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 To the tune of I am the music man i am Southampton man, I come from over seas and I can play, where do you play? I play midfield dia dia Diallo, diallo, dia dia diallo, diallo, diallo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry_SFC Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 43 minutes ago, Saint_clark said: I'd be interested in seeing Diallo in the 10 role further forward. A player with great technical ability, passing range and wins the ball back with ease is perfect for our high press. I agree - I think he is dynamic enough to play there. Against the better teams I would be tempted to give it a go as he keeps the ball better than Armstrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsaint1 Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 Diallo just keeps getting better but lets not forget how influential Oriol has been end of last season/this season until he got injured. Great conundrum for Ralph to have with them both and JWP as CM options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKD Posted 23 January, 2021 Share Posted 23 January, 2021 25 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said: I agree - I think he is dynamic enough to play there. Against the better teams I would be tempted to give it a go as he keeps the ball better than Armstrong. Armstrong is probably one of our most important players, generally speaking, we are a much better team when he plays. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 24 January, 2021 Share Posted 24 January, 2021 17 hours ago, Badger said: Off the top of my head I can't think of any other Saints player whose time at the club and reputation is linked to his wife/girlfriend/Doris at the time he played for us. Redknapp? ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 24 January, 2021 Share Posted 24 January, 2021 not in same class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceandfriendly Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 On 24/01/2021 at 02:05, SKD said: a lazy comparison I know, but the similarities to Kante are astonishing, and he’s got everything to be just as good if not better. Not lazy, you're right. Diallo actually looks quicker though 😍 Not sure Kante would have been able to catch Nketiah like Diallo did that time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totton Saint Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 On 23/01/2021 at 16:18, CWD said: I actually think the biggest improvement in Romeu’s game this season has been his forward passing and contribution to attacking play. Diallo has undoubtedly been outstanding, but I think the OP’s assessment of OR is a little harsh. He’s far more of an all round CM these days. I agree that Diallo has earned the shirt for now. Up to Romeu to win it back. Great to have some decent competition in there, just need some more of that in other areas. OR stepped up when the Dane went to Spurs and excelled and more than plugged the gap after playing second string for so long. I do not think he should be rewarded by being dropped again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 (edited) On 23/01/2021 at 14:16, saint lard said: Quicker,better vision,turn of pace,faster footballing brain....not so ponderous in possession. He must start ahead of Romeu. Nothing against Oriol....but he’s not as good in most departments. False comparison. Totally different type of player so it is not either / or as you suggest. Romeu is a DFM, Diallo is an AFM. It will be horses for courses as far as Hasenhüttl is concerned depending on the opponent and the way they're set up. At SMS expect to see Diallo more often whereas away most likely Romeu will feature most of the time. JWP's position is not sacrosanct so expect a Romeu / Diallo partnership from time to time with JWP operating in the No 10 position. Edited 25 January, 2021 by Charlie Wayman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 4 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said: False comparison. Totally different type of player so it is not either / or as you suggest. Romeu is a DFM, Diallo is an AFM. They are both "no.6" players (in Ralph speak) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 (edited) 23 hours ago, SFC Forever said: not in same class You are correct but probably for the wrong reason. Diallo is not in the same class because he is a class above and has a much higher ceiling. I'm not disputing Romeu has been superb, but Diallo looks extremely promising. Edited 25 January, 2021 by Matthew Le God 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 12 minutes ago, Totton Saint said: OR stepped up when the Dane went to Spurs and excelled and more than plugged the gap after playing second string for so long. I do not think he should be rewarded by being dropped again Absolutely and when Diallo has moved on to a BIG club in a couple of years Oriol will still here grafting away at Staplewood, setting an example to the kids and generally banging in great performances on the pitch. Ralph values him very highly and rightly so and will not want to demotivate him in any way. Like Bertie, another Chelsea "reject" he has found a natural home here, seems more than happy with his lot and is as loyal as they come these days. When the chips are down he's the sort of guy you want beside you in the trenches. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convict Colony Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 Think it I will sum up as Romeu is out performing his norm this season in my opinion but with him and JWP we do not have the pace factor to help launch attacks and recover possession when needed. Consequently I would rotate Romeu in and out of the team starting XI dependent on teams we are facing (burnley, newcastle etc) and give Diallo minutes against the fluid ball playing ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild-saint Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 will it be Romeo and Diallo once the inevitable JWP transfer rumours start to surface this summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totton Saint Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 53 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said: Absolutely and when Diallo has moved on to a BIG club in a couple of years Oriol will still here grafting away at Staplewood, setting an example to the kids and generally banging in great performances on the pitch. Ralph values him very highly and rightly so and will not want to demotivate him in any way. Like Bertie, another Chelsea "reject" he has found a natural home here, seems more than happy with his lot and is as loyal as they come these days. When the chips are down he's the sort of guy you want beside you in the trenches. Thanks for your support Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 One thing he certainly adds is recovery pace. None of Stephens, Bednarek, Vestergaard, JWP or Romeu is quick and a few of them are positively slow in pro footballer terms. This means that when a team breaks our defensive midfield line they usually end up with a pretty decent chance of doing some damage because we can’t recover. Having said that, Romeu probably wins a lot more headers, which is important against teams where you’re fighting for the second ball. Good to have options. Also, we have been lucky that JWP seems to have superhuman endurance and resilience but surely he is going to miss some matches at some point and we will probably need both Romeu and Diallo to play together. As long as we don’t sell JWP we look well set in midfield for the next couple of seasons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 For a 21 year old from another league to come in and perform the way he has is excellent. Seems to have everything he needs to play in that position and should only get better. Different kind of player to OR but it's good to have this competition for places. Think Diallo probably has the edge in terms of playing the ball forwards quicker and more accurately and also has a bit more pace. Certainly deserves to keep his place in the side at the moment. One thing I will say though - he's been better than Hojbjerg ever was for us. More energy, much better range of passing and far better at releasing the ball quickly and enabling us to keep momentum going forward. Probably slightly worse at giving bland interviews where he tells us the players take responsibility, know what they need to do to get out of relegation scraps and are disappointed at the recent run of results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 2 minutes ago, benjii said: One thing he certainly adds is recovery pace. None of Stephens, Bednarek, Vestergaard, JWP or Romeu is quick and a few of them are positively slow in pro footballer terms. This means that when a team breaks our defensive midfield line they usually end up with a pretty decent chance of doing some damage because we can’t recover. Having said that, Romeu probably wins a lot more headers, which is important against teams where you’re fighting for the second ball. Good to have options. Also, we have been lucky that JWP seems to have superhuman endurance and resilience but surely he is going to miss some matches at some point and we will probably need both Romeu and Diallo to play together. As long as we don’t sell JWP we look well set in midfield for the next couple of seasons. Who was it he outpaced on saturday to win the ball back in the left back position? It was one of Arsenals quicker players, Pepe maybe? didnt realise he had that in his locker. What a find he's been for that money, just goes to show they are out there. Personally i'm happy with returned to the model of buying players, developing them and selling them to big clubs for a profit. Some of our more special fans need to realise that this is how it needs to be for us to have any chance of relative success. Obviously this relies on scouting being spot on and getting a few through the academy too and we still need to have that balance of a few more senior players who have been here a while and get saints even if they're not the best but i think with Romeu, Long, Bertrand, Stephens, JWP we've got that right now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 4 minutes ago, Turkish said: Who was it he outpaced on saturday to win the ball back in the left back position? It was one of Arsenals quicker players, Pepe maybe? didnt realise he had that in his locker. Yup, our £11m 21 year old defensive midfielder beat Arsenal's £72m supposedly quick winger for pace! 😁😇 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Posted 25 January, 2021 Share Posted 25 January, 2021 Good article on his contribution and statistical comparison to other players here: https://www.prostinternational.com/2021/01/25/ibrahima-diallo-the-multi-string-jewel-in-southamptons-revamped-scouting-crown/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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