Boro in “advanced talks” with Diedhiou

Reports emerge claiming he could well stay put at Bristol City. Apparently he gets on really well with Nigel Pearson who has just signed a contract
 
He does score quite a few headed goals, they are largely unmarked from within 8 yards. He can get space and get those type of goals, as soon as anyone is touch tight he flops, that's where I would bet on Dhiedhiou over Britt, when someones actually marking him
He doesn't score goals full stop any more
Last ok performance 6 months ago at at Forest - and even then he put a header off target from a couple of yards out in front of a virtual open goal
 
I would say last decent performance was against us! Hence the usual interest of Boro being interested in a player who played well against us!!
 
He's scored 16 goals with his head in the last 4 seasons, Assombalonga has scored 11, and Assombalonga has been dropped for the majority of this season.

I sadly don't think there's that much of a difference in their heading ability.
Yawn........
 
He's scored 16 goals with his head in the last 4 seasons, Assombalonga has scored 11, and Assombalonga has been dropped for the majority of this season.

I sadly don't think there's that much of a difference in their heading ability.
of course there is, assombalongas headers are within 8 of goal and unmarked, Deiedhious are when marked and sometimes a little further out.

Britt doesn't head it outside of 8 yards, Diedhiou does. But then Diedhiou is 6 inches taller so I'm not surprised.
 
of course there is, assombalongas headers are within 8 of goal and unmarked, Deiedhious are when marked and sometimes a little further out.

Britt doesn't head it outside of 8 yards, Diedhiou does. But then Diedhiou is 6 inches taller so I'm not surprised.

I've just watched all 16 headed goals he's scored for Bristol City and all 11 that Assombalonga has scored for us.
Bar a couple of them, they're all much of muchness and headed in from around the 6 yard box and there's not a great deal of difference in the marking either.
That's with a huge size advantage over Assombalonga and in a team that's scored significantly more goals than ours for most of his time there.

That's not me trying to talk down Diedhiou, because if we do sign him I'd love him to bang in goal after goal from set pieces and crosses, but it was an issue raised when we were heavily linked in January and plenty of Bristol City fans were critical of his ability in that regard.

17.56% of Assombalonga's career goals have been with his head.
17.27% of Diedhou's have been with his head.

I think he's bound to be better for our style of play just by virtue of his height advantage, but all the comments from Bristol City fans are that he's not particularly effective with his head or bringing other players in the play.
 
We are clearly after a targetman.

Yet its a amusing that Bristol City fans say Diedhou's isn't good in the air and Sunderland fans say Wyke is woeful at holding the ball up.

Yet both have turned down new contracts. Funny that😉
 
I've just watched all 16 headed goals he's scored for Bristol City and all 11 that Assombalonga has scored for us.
Bar a couple of them, they're all much of muchness and headed in from around the 6 yard box and there's not a great deal of difference in the marking either.
That's with a huge size advantage over Assombalonga and in a team that's scored significantly more goals than ours for most of his time there.

That's not me trying to talk down Diedhiou, because if we do sign him I'd love him to bang in goal after goal from set pieces and crosses, but it was an issue raised when we were heavily linked in January and plenty of Bristol City fans were critical of his ability in that regard.

17.56% of Assombalonga's career goals have been with his head.
17.27% of Diedhou's have been with his head.

I think he's bound to be better for our style of play just by virtue of his height advantage, but all the comments from Bristol City fans are that he's not particularly effective with his head or bringing other players in the play.
highlights of him that I have seen, his sheer size advantage over Britt he looks a handful, maybe he doesn't make the most of it, maybe Bristol play on the deck more than us, but what I've seen he's more powerful in the air and a better dribbler than Britt. Not sure he gets into goal scoring positions enough.
 
maybe you should apply to be our scout, because no one there can.


My best spot was Ribery in a schoolboy international game
A 16yo Javier Saviola was my best spot. Latterly Mitrovic and Ante Rebic playing international youth tournaments but I think Saviola tops them.
 
You can almost guarantee we’ll make him rubbish 👍🏻🤪😩





🐔
Going by most on here he already is and that's before he's kicked a ball. He's no chance😂

I've genuinely not seen or read about a player linked who anyone wants or rates. I'm not sure what people expect for free? (don't say Gayle wanting 50k a week).

Diedhou is champo ready (no getting used to league) and always looks a handful. He's actually pretty skilful for a unit. Also despite what Bristol City fans say he was player of the year last season. Its 'funny' that he's leaving so he's now sh*t.
 
Going by most on here he already is and that's before he's kicked a ball. He's no chance😂

I've genuinely not seen or read about a player linked who anyone wants or rates. I'm not sure what people expect for free? (don't say Gayle wanting 50k a week).

Diedhou is champo ready (no getting used to league) and always looks a handful. He's actually pretty skilful for a unit. Also despite what Bristol City fans say he was player of the year last season. Its 'funny' that he's leaving so he's now sh*t.

I've got no issue with us signing Diedhiou based on us pre-February performances, but I do think it's right to be concerned that he's basically done the exact same thing as Assombalonga since the transfer window shut.

Though I suppose it's slightly more understandable in Diedhiou's case given their season was effectively over months ago, so there was no incentive to push himself too hard and potentially injure himself when out of contract.

We were 3 points outside of the play-offs with a game in hand after we beat Forest 2-1, but that was the last game Assombalonga put any real effort in for us.
It's no coincidence that it was against his old club.
 
For those turning their nose up at this signing,can you name a better and more importantly realistic free transfer
 
I think the only question we need to really ask is..........

Out of the options from our other first team strikers (currently only Akpom), is Diedhiou a better fit for our style of play, and will he offer more to the team?

It's a resounding yes from me on both counts, on a free it's a no brainer as long as his salary isn't insane.

If we could get another free (Wyke?) or similar in to rotate/compete with him I think that would be very prudent business. Leaving Akpom as third choice or to be utilised out wide if we can't offload him.

We'd just need to sort out the supply for the two wide positions, I wouldn't be against any of the @Simply red League one suggestions or even signing Bolasie & NML up on frees. I know neither has been amazing but I feel with a full pre-season under their belts and a club contract, so they aren't risking unemployment through injury in a few months time will see them improve.

Central Strikers: Diedhiou, Wyke, Akpom

Support/Wide Forwards: Watmore, Bolasie, NML, Johnson plus a signing or two hopefully

Centre mid is in need of a refresh as well maybe Mowatt(he'll have a lot of offers I assume)?

Three from Tav, Mowatt, Morsy, McNair & Saville seems reasonable but could obviously be improved upon, if Paddy is to be rotated in midfield I'd like another big solid champo centre half to partner Fry. I think Howson is only going to decline this season and we should be looking at younger options.

That just leaves cover at left back, and two keepers if Stepanovic (sp?) isn't fancied by Warnock (as it currently seems).

Possible offloads: Wing, Spence, Coulson, Akpom and maybe another centre mid depending on incomings.

GK: Signing/Signing(probably)

LB: Bola/Signing

RB: Dijksteel/Fisher

CB: Fry/Hall/Signing (or McNair)/Wood

CM: Mowatt, Morsy, Tav, Saville, McNair, Howson

Support/Wide Forwards: Watmore, Bolasie, NML, Johnson, signing, signing

Central Strikers: Diedhiou, Wyke, Akpom

We can probably cover most of those positions with frees. The key for me is getting players in who Warnock wants and trusts to implement his instructions, and crucially players who actually meet our expectations and deliver the goods on the pitch.

We just need loads of drilling on set pieces and not wasting 90% of our throw ins and we could be on for a play-off push.........
 
Back
Top