Too Similar Diagouraga Unlikely to Return
Friday, 5th May 2017 17:54

Midfielder Toumani Diagouraga appears unlikely to return to the Blues in the summer with manager Mick McCarthy suggesting that the 29-year-old, who went back to his parent club Leeds earlier in the week having suffered a groin injury, is too similar to Cole Skuse.

McCarthy has said he wants to bring Emyr Huws, who has been on loan from Cardiff, back to Portman Road in the summer, but played down the chances of the Frenchman, who made 10 starts and two sub appearances after signing on loan in January, returning.

Diagouraga has another year left on his Elland Road contract but will almost certainly be made available by the Whites.

“He does a similar job to Skusey, sitting,” McCarthy said. “He might be a bit different, maybe a bit more passing forward but Skusey does that [role].

“What did Cantona call them, the water carriers? Everybody wants one in the team. He called Didier Deschamps that so that’s no insult.

“They’re fairly similar so I’ve got to be careful what I do because of the size of the squad and the budget that I’m going to have, and I’m not quite certain of that yet.

“Emyr’s added something different to us, he’s certainly added a forward thrust and scored goals.”

Striker Brett Pitman, 29, has rarely featured in recent weeks but McCarthy says that’s largely as he wanted to look at January signing from Forest Green Rovers Kieffer Moore and Dominic Samuel, who is on loan from Reading.

“I kind of know what Brett can do,” the Town manager said. “The reason I put Kieffer on there the other day was that we weren’t going to break Sheffield Wednesday down other than a ball in the box and knock something down.

“And Dominic Samuel’s been around as well, so I’ve wanted to look at the two lads, knowing full well what Brett gives me.

“And what players don’t give you as well. That’s a part of the management as well. But they’ve all got a chance [for Sunday], we’ll see what we’ve got tomorrow.”

Midfielder Teddy Bishop has had another tough, injury-hit year and McCarthy says the 20-year-old, who made a huge impression in the 2014/15 play-off campaign having broken into the first team early on, has a big 2017/18 ahead of him.

“I think I sat here at the end of last season and said exactly the same and it’s just been one injury after the other with him, it’s been really sad. He’s found it difficult,” the Blues boss reflected.

“Luke Hyam’s the same, Luke Hyam just got nerve damage [to his knee] at Cambridge and who would have thought that he would never have played in the first team all season long?”

McCarthy says the pair will have to come back and go again at the start of pre-season in late June.

“I’ve no worries about Hyamsy, that’s for sure, he’s just about ready to do something but he’s not going to be involved. He’ll come back and he’ll be as fit as a flea,” he said.

“I think before [the recent injury problems] he was very resolute and tough and didn’t get injuries and then he had that knock, then he came back, looked really good, he blocked a shot on the line and he did his ankle ligaments. He’s had terrible luck this season.”

While McCarthy has announced that a number of players whose deals are up this summer, including Jonathan Douglas, Giles Coke, Paul Digby and Leon Best, will be moving on, he says none of his players who are in-contract have been told to actively find themselves new clubs: “There’ll be a few that if they get clubs I’ll talk to them about it, but no.”

Photo: TWTD

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TractorCam added 17:56 - May 5 He's got to be trolling us all right? Surely? I'm not having that for a number of reasons
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ArnieM added 17:58 - May 5 ....and Douglas wasn't!!!!
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The_Romford_Blue added 18:13 - May 5 I don't know what your issue is this time Tractor cam? It's a completely valid point. Diags is a worse version of Skuse.
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COYB11 added 18:17 - May 5 would be great to see 'Hyamsy' return to the fold next season. He sits, like Skuse, but offers more energy and physicality to the role. But common, 'Hyamsy'...really?
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Michael11 added 18:17 - May 5 He's too similar to Skuse as they're both sh*te.
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prebsa added 18:19 - May 5 Better than skuse. Sits in and does the job just as well. But is far far better at making any forward pass or run. They are two things skuse can not do!
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TractorCam added 18:28 - May 5 What Prebsa said! And as also pointed out, We also have Hyam who is the same as Skuse too but much worse
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therein61 added 18:32 - May 5

Yes great leader Dave played a forward pass Skuse goes back and sideways(that's the limit of his adventure) putting the back four in trouble with hospital balls yet the sun shines through his backside as far as you are concerned and while you are still here(sad so very sad) we will have to endure his totally inept performances in a blue shirt, Dave at least tried to get the side going forward and when your favourite was injured he with Ward and Huws provided us with adventure and a couple of good results, but then you had to bring him back and the body language of defenders and attackers(when the premiership class snail was hopelessly out of position pointing the finger at team mates who at least put in a performance) was for all to see This man would not get in any other championship side he is div2 or national league at best, please go away and take him with you.

flimflam added 18:43 - May 5 Similar apart from Dave can pass the ball forward and makes himself for passes from the defence and plays on the half turn. Apart from that then yeah they are similar.
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braveblue added 18:46 - May 5 Passing forward. Don't want any of that here.
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jas0999 added 18:54 - May 5

A lot of the players mentioned in this article aren't good enough. Coke, Best, Douglas and Digby. Glad all are going. Dave offers no more than what we already have. We need better. Pitman has been unfortunate, but must be a high earner - could we get better? With Evans pitiful budget probably not.

Moore us way out of his depth. Hyams injuries are a massive problem. Haven't seen much of Samuel, but I can't see him staying.

Massive overhaul needed.

muccletonjoe added 18:55 - May 5 Skuse should be back up next year. We need much better in first team. Look at our league position.
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Tractorboy1985 added 19:12 - May 5 When cole skuse leaves this club watch us climb! Been holding us back for years!! What fans see I do not no??? 'Dave' offers more but agree with many.. if we are to progress we need better.. that comes down to you mr Evans! Dust off your cheque book and SPEND some cash for a change!!
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Lightningboy added 19:39 - May 5 Too similar to Skuse?! Next season's bollox starts here folks.
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brittaniaman added 19:50 - May 5 there he is with his nicknames again Hyamsy for goodness Dino we have not heard you call Skuse CRAB ??
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:10 - May 5 Ah well Skusey is penciled into a starting role in the team again next season. Absolutely nothing will change next season. Poor players brought in, boring football and same crap pre-season just been confirmed. The club and manager have learnt nothing in the last 18 months only that they are the greatest in their eyes only.
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mickeyjb added 07:18 - May 6

Agree with nearly all above (except anyone thinking Skuse is a good option)! I didn't go this year. I work near Birmingham with the family on the South Coast so it would take good football back at Portman Road to get me to make that kind of drive to watch them. Unfortunately, nobody at the club is thinking about how the majority of the fans are feeling. To hear all the trype put out yesterday convinces me that I won't be going again next season either. Believe me I do miss going, but it's the only thing I can do to try and force a regime change. Unfortunately we have to be united in this as the abcence of me and my son and a few thousand others hasn't worked. It looks like the 90s throw back and his lap dogs will still be here next season. Depressing stuff, it really is!

Steelmonkey added 07:27 - May 6 Just shows how deluded this manager is if he compares Skuse to Didier Deschamps. Had enough of your stubborn team choices and boring tactics. Congratulations Nottingham Forest for securing your Championship status for next season on Sunday.
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