We aren't going up so why should we continue to develop him instead of one of our own? Step forward Lihadji. He needs game time!...
Good point, but the team morale is so high, the players might want him in the team to try and win games.
The higher up the league we finish, the more prize money we win. We're 7 points off the playoffs, not 20. After Burnley, we have 4 very winnable games which could give us an outside chance still. Fans want to win football matches. Losing more games because we're "developing our own" might sound acceptable in theory, but not when you have to watch the team lose. As for the "why should we" comment, that would be because that's why Man Utd loaned him to us and the best players in this league are often loans. Benching a loan player longer term doesn't encourage clubs to loan players to you in the future. Finally, development doesn't just come from playing games. Amad's movement helps to develop Hume to overlap and link up. It also helps Michut and Neil to improve their passing range and Ba to find space created by Amad. None of that is to say that Lihadji doesn't deserve a bit more game time, but it's not as simple as throw everyone in and watch them develop.
So Lihadji is going to have to start from scratch next season instead of hitting the ground running? The reports I've read are that we are going to give alot of game time to Tom Watson and Chris Rigg. That doesn't make me feel we are after a bit extra money through league placing... But I agree with the sentiment that we are sort of obliged to play the loan players or other clubs might stop loaning to us.
With a good pre-season some of the fringe players could hit the ground running, as you say. Also,it may be worth considering that very often loan deals include clauses which ensure the players get to play if they are fit.
Could technically say the same about Michut. O don’t want either dropped. I want to watch the best football I can. Amad will attract young fans imo. Lihadji is being blooded gently by Mowbray who seems, from my perspective, pretty adept at getting these young lads involved and keeping them happy
where there is life there is hope, as long as there is the possibility of top 6 we have to go for it and play our strongest 11.
Who knows. I haven't paid much attention but I doubt Man Utd will be looking to put him in the first team for next season. If they don't then what happens, he goes out on loan again.
Lihadji looked like a fish out of water in his last couple appearances. If you have any aspirations, you have to play your strongest possible team.
What a fantastic footballer. One of the best loan signings we've ever had. One thing that struck me watching that compilation is that his choice of pass is much better than I give him credit for. We're all watching for the dribbles and the unbelievable finishes, but he makes great choices with loads of cut backs that sometimes we finish and often we don't.
He's an incredible player, cannot imagine Mowbray would even consider starting without our most talented player....the guy is a winner and fingers crossed his final bit of magic in red and white stripes comes in a few weeks time at Wembley
My stand out memory of Diallo this season apart from the goals and assists is that he was involved in 2 of the 5 blocks in that westbrom attack. He literally flung himself in the way twice.
Yeah me too. All of the great skills and 1-2s etc are one thing, but when you buy into a club, you put your body on the line to help achieve the success. Those 2 blocks were the sort of thing Cattermole or O’Nien would’ve just done, and that, to me, speaks volumes about the lad
