Coolblade
New Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2015
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 190
With apologies for any repetitive aspects, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Ndiaye home and away last season - and wanted him to stay - but:
- In a lower division, Ndiaye scored less that one goal in three games (hardly setting the world on fire). There was no guarantee he would lift his game as necessary to star in the Prem next season. Especially as he's 23 so not a very young kid like Osula - who could yet develop into a fantastic player.
- Every Premiership scout has watched Ndiaye many times and we have had minimal interest (modest offer from Everton?) suggesting no Prem club rates him that highly. Compare this to Kyle W who was snapped up after playing just 8 games. If any established Prem team had showed interest Ndiaye would have gone like a shot
- If he wanted to leave for Marseille (and he has continually refused a new contract for over a year) then we would have a disinterested player for 4 months (trying desperately hard to avoid injury) before signing a pre contract on Jan 1st and leaving us for nothing.
- Instead of that poor disheartening scenario we have the ability to bring in (say) four £5m players who want to play for us and give us an all round stronger squad (and my god we need it). Happily, we didn't sell late on transfer day (as we have before) so have a few weeks to buy these players too.
- I have heard repeated suggestions that Ndiaye was our best player last season and our only Prem class performer. I disagree. I think we have only one definite Prem quality player, in Anel, who performed incredibly strongly against both Man City (especially compared to Ndiaye) and Spurs (which ensured Ndiaye's awesome solo goal won us the match). I also think Baldock has been fantastic defensively and defended better against Grealish than almost any Prem full back last season.
- Just as a last thought, my fave player of the last decade remains Didzy. Like Ndiaye he could fluff clear chances , but his ability to transition play to our attack was both stronger and much more varied than Ndiaye. A genuine Rolls Royce player. And similarly is now playing for his boyhood team - albeit much later in his career. I wish them both very well and look forward to our new signings with hope - although not much expectation!