Diego

[Sean Thornton]

Ray Storey

That's him. Knew it was Ray but couldn't remember his surname. Thanks.

 

[Rodley]

A kid at 19 years old who missed a good 18 months of development at a key age OBVIOUSLY won't make it. Jesus Christ.

Appease fans who are banging his drum? From what I've read there's not many of them any more and most would seeming prefer him to piss off so that point is completely off the mark.

Everyone on this forum knows how much I've rated this lad. When he was in full flow he was the best 16 year old I've ever seen. He was taking the piss out of lads two years older than him on a weekly basis. It's very, very unusual for Italy's national setup to ring up a lad who plays in the U18s of a third tier club, but that's how good he was and how much promise he showed and everyone who watched him (both United fans and parents of the other teams) said he was going a long way.

Yes, he's lost his way a bit. Mainly down to the injury and partly the field/disciplinary issues that seem to have happened since Clough took over, maybe the hype got to his head. Who knows, but some of the stuff that's said about him has been nothing short of embarrassing on both sides. His dad seems a genuinely nice bloke and just wants him to play football. If he thinks he can get that elsewhere then good luck to him.

Maybe a change in manager will see something completely different from him this year. Let's see if he takes the chance and get off his bloody back.

A former player and rapist gets his name chanted after dragging clubs name through the mud for 4 years; meanwhile a promising youngster shows a bit of impetuousness and is given pelters by the fans.

Only at SUFC folks.

 

[Rodley]

Hear hear.

Quickest feet i've ever seen from a home grown youngster.

The one who started behaving like a cock in the first place was Clough - refusing to release him for international duty until he was told he cannot do that.

Then making the relationship difficult because he had to back down.

Diego may not make it following the injury but he's still young enough and Adkins will encourage him and give him a chance if he sees fit.

I despair at times. Let's hope he can recover the sort of form that could be very helpful to us next season.

Support our youngsters coming through is my stance.

UTB

A fair few slating him would be first on the scene slating the club if we sold him for peanuts.

 

[metalblade]

I think the lad should have the chance to see how he does with NA, he looked promising when he came on as sub against Colchester and looked like he would be pushing for a 1st team spot but then he had a bad injury which has put him back at least a year, maybe he wanted to get back playing too soon and Clough didn't want to rush him back which was understandable but it seems the relationship went downhill from then on. Is he such a twat because he posts pictures of himself with mates on twatter wearing a baseball cap backwards ? seems fairly normal for today's youth to me. I think we can afford to give him another season to see if he can put the hard work in some believe he has some talent maybe Adkins can bring it out better than Clough could, we all know what happened to players who Clough took a dislike to. How anyone can say for sure he will never make it baffles me he has played only a few times for us, not bothered how he did at Northampton or York. He was loaned out to play and toughen up against lower league bruisers having said that the York fans really took to him even though he didn't always play, bear in mind though York were in a real scrap to stay in the league at the time so not really the time to rely on a 18 year old lad coming back from serious injury.

 

[Pinchy]

I knew we'd come round to it being Clough's fault. How dare he expect standards of effort, commitment, performance and behaviour from Diego? The manager should, of course, take his instructions from a wet behind the ears novice; not the other way round. He's scored 5 grown-up goals you know! That entitles him to dictate where, when and how he plays.

What? Four of them in Division Four? Oh.

Eh? No goals in his last ten games, all at Division Four level? Oh-Oh.

 

[Bedrock Blade]

Have you had your wages reduced recently?

 

[LSF]

Over the years Sheffield football has had young players highly rated who, for various reasons failed to make it despite huge hype. Mark Platts and Alex Higgins were standout for the Pigs for example. They also signed the England left back and captain of the under 16 side when AH played. Not forgetting the Sheffield Boys captain who signed for Man. Utd in the seventies - whose name for some reason escapes me - who was expected to be the best thing since sliced bread. I'm sure others can produce more names.

Having seen all Diegos first team games, he has a long way to go. It's a different ball game entirely.

Great points Sean, and of course I knew Silent would beat me to Ray Storey, of whom I had the dubious pleasure of watching him drink himself senseless in the Top Rank on many Saturdays in the 70's. This whilst he wasca young pro at Man U.
Interestingly, Ray was Tommy Docs 1st signing when he took over at Derby, however, the die was cast and superb schoolboy footballer that Ray was, he drifted into obscurity.
Platts and Higgins are similarly later versions of Storey. I've met Alex on a couple of occasions and he seemed a nice well balanced lad, however his dad had the 'my lad is a world beater' syndrome and every club that released Higgins were tossers and didn't know a player when they saw one. On a side note, his dad was a dirty fucker in his playing days, and never listened to good advice. Higgins was one of the FA schoolboy elite squad at 14 and became bezzy mates with Scott Parker (still to this day), how their careers contrasted...

As others have intimated, the evidence is all there, Diego may or may not make a fist of it in the game, but better apparent talents than him have spluttered and farted into oblivion... Let's hope he comes good somewhere...

 

[Pinchy]

There's a clue right at the end of NA's interview on RS....

 

[bartman]

There's a clue right at the end of NA's interview on RS....

Thought the same ( assuming you meant the bit about attitude ). I thought it was a hint to what the issue was with DG

 

[DazBlade88]

It's just abundantly clear he has been overrated by so many, and it appears possibly by your good self also. All this talk of Juventus, and Italy and 'so and so' called him up so he must be good etc.

The fact is we've all seen him play a handful of first team games and do nothing. He's had two loan spells in the league below and done nothing. Sometimes you need to cut your losses and realise the lad hasn't lived up to the hype of the last year or two.

I've never had a go at Diego, as I don't know the kid and most footballers are prats anyway, so how he is is irrelevant. Maybe it's his attitude, maybe it's his injuries, we'll never know how good he could have been.

The question is what to do now. If we sign this lad up again, it must be on the assumption he is good enough to play a substantial role in this coming season. That being because he will be nearly 21 at the end of next season, and that's well into a forward's career nowadays. So, my question is, is he good enough to play a key role in our season this year? The evidence is not in his favour, and therefore I'd be inclined to let him seek first team football elsewhere. The kid may have had bundles of promise and talent as a young teen, but for whatever reason it hasn't been transposed into senior level. You only need to compare him to Che Adams, who is a year his junior, to see how far behind the level required DDG is.

He wasn't over-rated, he just hasn't lived up to his potential. These things happen. Some players improve dramatically (take Reed as an example) and some stagnate for various reasons (see De Girolamo).

I don't think we are doing any harm in offering him a contract. If he goes we get the compensation, if he stays then we'll know once and for all whether he can make the step up.

The comparison between Adams in terms of what they've shown is fair, but their career paths are so different. Adams was released at an early age and had to start from the bottom, where De Girolamo has sort of gone the other way because he's been that good at all levels. He's not suffered any major disappointment up until the injury and he's struggled to cope with that mentally in my opinion. His first game back in the U18s last year he scored a hat-trick (or a brace?) in the first half hour then had to come off after a heavy challenge because he wasn't confident in his knee. He needs to use that disappointment in his favour and get the momentum in his career back.

 

[Pinchy]

Thought the same ( assuming you meant the bit about attitude ). I thought it was a hint to what the issue was with DG

Giant hint I would have thought, mate. What on Earth he and his followers think he has done to warrant some sort of special status is beyond me.

Let him have the same chance as everyone else. You're starting in the u-21s Diego. That's your level at the moment. Go ahead and excel and the first team awaits...command it; don't demand it!

 

[Darren]

He wasn't over-rated, he just hasn't lived up to his potential. These things happen. Some players improve dramatically (take Reed as an example) and some stagnate for various reasons (see De Girolamo).

I don't think we are doing any harm in offering him a contract. If he goes we get the compensation, if he stays then we'll know once and for all whether he can make the step up.

The comparison between Adams in terms of what they've shown is fair, but their career paths are so different. Adams was released at an early age and had to start from the bottom, where De Girolamo has sort of gone the other way because he's been that good at all levels. He's not suffered any major disappointment up until the injury and he's struggled to cope with that mentally in my opinion. His first game back in the U18s last year he scored a hat-trick (or a brace?) in the first half hour then had to come off after a heavy challenge because he wasn't confident in his knee. He needs to use that disappointment in his favour and get the momentum in his career back.

Given that we developed him and he is under 23, do we not get a fee for him anyway if he leaves?

 

[BushBlade]

He wasn't over-rated, he just hasn't lived up to his potential. These things happen. Some players improve dramatically (take Reed as an example) and some stagnate for various reasons (see De Girolamo).

I don't think we are doing any harm in offering him a contract. If he goes we get the compensation, if he stays then we'll know once and for all whether he can make the step up.

The comparison between Adams in terms of what they've shown is fair, but their career paths are so different. Adams was released at an early age and had to start from the bottom, where De Girolamo has sort of gone the other way because he's been that good at all levels. He's not suffered any major disappointment up until the injury and he's struggled to cope with that mentally in my opinion. His first game back in the U18s last year he scored a hat-trick (or a brace?) in the first half hour then had to come off after a heavy challenge because he wasn't confident in his knee. He needs to use that disappointment in his favour and get the momentum in his career back.

I agree with the mentality thing. He's grown up being told he's going to be a star, a top player; all he has to do is keep his head down and work. Then, he gets a career threatening injury, before his career has even started properly. He must have alternated between despair and panic. He would have been desperate to get back on track as soon as he could.

That could have been the reason behind differences in opinion between him and Clough; how best to recover.
It's difficult to say because there îs a lot of speculation and rumour and few facts available.

I'm not bothered one way or the other. If he stays fine, if not fine.

 

[DazBlade88]

Given that we developed him and he is under 23, do we not get a fee for him anyway if he leaves?

I think it's only if we offer him a contract better than the deal he already has (or something along those lines).

 

[Darren]

I think it's only if we offer him a contract better than the deal he already has (or something along those lines).

Ok.

We have to make a informed decision do we not as to whether he will, in fact, have any resale value. It may be worth giving him 1 year to make a breakthrough on a wage appropriate to a 19 year old with a handful of lower league appearances. if he fails to make the breakthrough next season, I would then release him.

 

[DazBlade88]

Ok.

We have to make a informed decision do we not as to whether he will, in fact, have any resale value. It may be worth giving him 1 year to make a breakthrough on a wage appropriate to a 19 year old with a handful of lower league appearances. if he fails to make the breakthrough next season, I would then release him.

I don't think anyone would argue with that to be honest. It would be best for all parties.

 

[Bert]

We have a very good record of offloading potential world beaters for large sums who then turn out to be crap.

Jordan Slew
Wayne Quinn
Curtis Woodhouse
Jacob Meliss
Lee Morris
Ian Benjamin

 

[Esablade]

As I understand things the ball is in the lad's court?
I believe he's been offered a new contract, which he hasn't signed, as yet...understandable given the seemingly obvious clash with Clough.

Get him back in pre-season with Adkins, have a look at him, if they like what they see then tell him his likely role in the squad for the year ahead...if he accepts where he's at and they're on the same page re: his contract, then sign him up.

What's the problem?

 

[Nade]

Let's be honest, the only reason there's hype is because he has a cool name.

 

[BushBlade]

Let's be honest, the only reason there's hype is because he has a cool name.

No it isn't.

 

[mosbolad]

Let's be honest, the only reason there's hype is because he has a cool name.

I think you have a point there Nade. Had he been called say, Terry Kennedy there would be no way he would have got the Italy call ups.

 

[I should coco]

Only ever seen him in a few minutes cameo roles at BDTBL, probably like most on here.

A mate was pally with John Pemberton who has spent his post-player life in academies. Pembo said that Diego was the best 16 year old he had ever seen. This is why the Italians were interested and gives an idea where the buzz came from.

Who knows if he will ever be the same again after the injury, but surely given all the early promise it is worth a try under the new regime?

All this 'Diego is the dickhead/No, Clough is the dickhead' stuff is irrelevant. Adkins is not the dickhead and seems happy to give him a chance.
Why are people suggesting that a contract offer, that has already been made, should be withdrawn and he should sling his hook?

Let's give the lad a chance and who knows, we might even be able to sing "he's one of our ownnnnnnnnnnn"

 

[Pinchy]

Only ever seen him in a few minutes cameo roles at BDTBL, probably like most on here.

A mate was pally with John Pemberton who has spent his post-player life in academies. Pembo said that Diego was the best 16 year old he had ever seen. This is why the Italians were interested and gives an idea where the buzz came from.

Who knows if he will ever be the same again after the injury, but surely given all the early promise it is worth a try under the new regime?

All this 'Diego is the dickhead/No, Clough is the dickhead' stuff is irrelevant. Adkins is not the dickhead and seems happy to give him a chance.
Why are people suggesting that a contract offer, that has already been made, should be withdrawn and he should sling his hook?

Let's give the lad a chance and who knows, we might even be able to sing "he's one of our ownnnnnnnnnnn"

The contract offer had been declined. That, as a matter of law, rescinds the offer. Let's say I offer you my car today for £5,000. You say no. You can't come back in a week's time, when I may have decided to keep it or spent £1000 on improving it, and insist on buying it for £5k. You can make me an offer, of course.

It's the same here. The contract offer to Diego lapsed the moment he turned it down. He now has no right of acceptance. Of course United could make the same or a similar offer at a moment's notice but they certainly don't have to.

 

[BushBlade]

H

The contract offer had been declined. That, as a matter of law, rescinds the offer. Let's say I offer you my car today for £5,000. You say no. You can't come back in a week's time, when I may have decided to keep it or spent £1000 on improving it, and insist on buying it for £5k. You can make me an offer, of course.

It's the same here. The contract offer to Diego lapsed the moment he turned it down. He now has no right of acceptance. Of course United could make the same or a similar offer at a moment's notice but they certainly don't have to.

Has anyone said they have to? I think quite a few people have said they ought to, but that's different.

 

[Darren]

The contract offer had been declined. That, as a matter of law, rescinds the offer. Let's say I offer you my car today for £5,000. You say no. You can't come back in a week's time, when I may have decided to keep it or spent £1000 on improving it, and insist on buying it for £5k. You can make me an offer, of course.

It's the same here. The contract offer to Diego lapsed the moment he turned it down. He now has no right of acceptance. Of course United could make the same or a similar offer at a moment's notice but they certainly don't have to.

Aren't people saying that the club have indeed re-offered the contract?

 

[Nade]

No it isn't.

His performances in League Two suggest otherwise.

 

[I should coco]

The contract offer had been declined. That, as a matter of law, rescinds the offer. Let's say I offer you my car today for £5,000. You say no. You can't come back in a week's time, when I may have decided to keep it or spent £1000 on improving it, and insist on buying it for £5k. You can make me an offer, of course.

It's the same here. The contract offer to Diego lapsed the moment he turned it down. He now has no right of acceptance. Of course United could make the same or a similar offer at a moment's notice but they certainly don't have to.

Are you sure it has been "declined" as I don't think this is the case. It has not been accepted obviously, but it may not have been 'declined' and so remains on the table until the offer expires which is presumably 30/6/15 like most footy contract?

Contractual nuances aside, my point was he is worth another chance because of the fantastic early potential. Is it this that you disagree with?

 

[Pinchy]

H

Has anyone said they have to? I think quite a few people have said they ought to, but that's different.

I was responding to I should coco's penultimate paragraph, where he talks of "withdrawing the offer". Just pointing out that, as a matter of law, there is no offer to withdraw, nothing more.

There is more than a hint from NA that the young man needs a change of attitude to earn an offer of a contract. Maybe he's got it as badly wrong as Nigel Clough....

 

[Thaddeus]

Apologies if this has been posted already but at the end of this latest interview here:

https://audioboom.com/boos/3289146-sufc-boss-nigel-adkins-on-the-clubs-fixture-list

Nigel Adkins responds to Andy Giddings' question about Diego's current position to say that he's spoken with Diego and his agent, and he's coming back to train with the rest of the squad on 29th June, when he'll be assessed, his future discussed etc. as with any other player.

He did say at the very end that he wants players with "the right ability and attitude", which might be interpreted as a specific comment about Diego, but equally, it could just have been part of Adkins' general chitchat about the sorts of things he'll be looking for in his players when he decides who he wants to keep.

 

[I should coco]

I was responding to I should coco's penultimate paragraph, where he talks of "withdrawing the offer". Just pointing out that, as a matter of law, there is no offer to withdraw, nothing more.

So it's not the same as your informal 'car for sale' analogy then is it? This is a written contract of employment offer that would have dates clearly defined. Whether it is has expired, been declined or is still on the table we don't actually know.

I was asking why people suggested the offer should be withdrawn, rather than allowing him to change his mind and accept the offer, now that NA is here.

At some point it will lapse, so young Diego needs to make his mind up. My view is I'd rather have him than not.