Diego off

[EddieColquhoun]

A Bladesmad poster who is vehemently defending him keeps claiming the club made him a "poor offer". Perhaps football isn't the only reason he turned the contract down.

 

[bartman]

Let me ask you or anyone else this question. Do you think that if he was playing for us now, do you reckon he would think twice about going to York? No, me neither and the contract would be signed.

If I was playing for The Blades now I would sign a contract.things is, the manager would say I am not good enough for the first team which us all that NC is saying now about Diego. If he thinks he can better himself elsewhere good luck to him and I hope he finds and club and a system where he can get picked.

 

[Darren]

It's interesting that people slate young players for leaving first team football to play in the reserves somewhere, and yet people also slate young players for leaving a club where they can't get in the first team to get crucial match experience somewhere else.

I don't think anyone would criticise DDG if he decided that at this point in his career he needed first team games and had decided to take one step back to take two steps forward as it were by joining York. What annoys people is the sense of entitlement emanating from him that he SHOULD be playing in the United first team in the position HE chooses.

 

[metty]

Let me ask you or anyone else this question. Do you think that if he was playing for us now, do you reckon he would think twice about going to York? No, me neither and the contract would be signed.

No I don't think he would. Let me ask you one. Do you think he would be playing for us if he was good enough/better than what we've got.
As I wrote earlier, I wish him all the best whatever he chooses.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Bottom line is he got offered a contract, decided to reject it, and will in the summer be following his fortune elsewhere.

I just hope for Diego's sake he is as good as he thinks that he is, or the else he could end up the next Jordan Slew.

 

[itsinyerblood]

A Bladesmad poster who is vehemently defending him keeps claiming the club made him a "poor offer". Perhaps football isn't the only reason he turned the contract down.

Perhaps....perhaps....perhaps.

With something so personal as a contract, it surprises me that the details contained within a contract are divulged to the public. Hearsay and conjecture, as has been pointed out already, can turn a pipedream into hard fact. Whatever the reasons behind Diego's departure, no one, apart from the club and the player, will know what was included in said agreement.

Diego has been at this club long before Clough arrived. Diego's reputation was far in advance of any hard factual evidence at senior level long before Clough arrived. Diego is no doubt frustrated, perhaps it's this that has clouded his ability to be objective. It must be tough for a young player, one who has played as a B level international at such a tender age, to realise that the elevated stage of international football bears no resemblance to the everyday rigours offered at club level. There are very different demands expected at club level, so the fact that fellow youth players are moving past Diego must be a source of deep frustration for the lad. To be selected as a youth international but not selected for his domestic team must be puzzling in the extreme. The next couple of years will reveal whether the uproar on these pages were worth the time and concern of the various posters who've felt strongly enough to communicate their opinions was worth all this effort.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Perhaps....perhaps....perhaps.

With something so personal as a contract, it surprises me that the details contained within a contract are divulged to the public. Hearsay and conjecture, as has been pointed out already, can turn a pipedream into hard fact. Whatever the reasons behind Diego's departure, no one, apart from the club and the player, will know what was included in said agreement.

Diego has been at this club long before Clough arrived. Diego's reputation was far in advance of any hard factual evidence at senior level long before Clough arrived. Diego is no doubt frustrated, perhaps it's this that has clouded his ability to be objective. It must be tough for a young player, one who has played as a B level international at such a tender age, to realise that the elevated stage of international football bears no resemblance to the everyday rigours offered at club level. There are very different demands expected at club level, so the fact that fellow youth players are moving past Diego must be a source of deep frustration for the lad. To be selected as a youth international but not selected for his domestic team must be puzzling in the extreme. The next couple of years will reveal whether the uproar on these pages were worth the time and concern of the various posters who've felt strongly enough to communicate their opinions was worth all this effort.

Agree with that and I get his frustration but Clough has a record with youth players and moving could leave him under a manager such as

Weir
Adams
Robson
Blackwell

He's been at the club long enough to have seen these guys in action as well.

Can't recall any players who followed them to the club so they could work with them again?

 

[itsinyerblood]

Agree with that and I get his frustration but Clough has a record with youth players and moving could leave him under a manager such as

Weir
Adams
Robson
Blackwell

He's been at the club long enough to have seen these guys in action as well.

Can't recall any players who followed them to the club so they could work with them again?

I agree with all of that Grumps, and to be honest I'm a little tired of this topic. I appear to be one of the few who's seen Diego play. I've written elsewhere that I like Diego as a player, but who knows what happens behind the scenes other than those employed by the club.

Posts #50 and #186 add to this and give more balance to the simplistic story that "all the boy wants is to play football". Telling a manager, any manager, where you'll play and how, seems arrogant and delusional. Perhaps, if this is the case, this might explain far more than the conjecture that's been written so far.

 

[Bladesway]

Are we missing Diego yet?

 

[S5Blade]

Are we missing Diego yet?

Nope, and we never will. Can not miss what you never had......

 

[Eskimo]

It seems to me that insofar as we are a representative sample, the fans/us dont want him to leave and neither does the club. When he goes this summer I will feel disappointed that for whatever reason, he has not had a run in the team so we have had a fair chance to assess his potential.

Added to that is that for the rest of the season we have three strikers, that's all; Done, McNulty and Higdon. And only one of these is firing on all cylinders.

Putting the contract to one side, I would have thought that it is in everyone's intererst for Diego to have stayed at the club for the rest of the season. I think I'd want a striker around the squad desperate to get on the pitch and prove to everyone how wrong they are. But he's gone to York

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Your point about Diego becoming a hate figure, not for myself I should add. I wish the fella well. I hope that at some future point he's capable enough to reflect and understand that advice has two sides. There are good agents, and then there are agents whose pockets are lined with the coin of young players too dense to grasp the machiavellian behaviour of someone who's your best friend today, and tomorrow, well tomorrow he'll not return your phone calls

As for comparing Diego with Done, if you're knocking on that first team door it's fair that expectations should have begun in earnest. There are young players who outperform seasoned professionals all the time, so why it's wrong to suggest that one player has come to a club where he knows no one else, the style of play is alien to him, yet manages to impose himself, against a player who has been schooled in the way United wish him to play, with years of guidance and repeated messages supporting his development, then yes, guilty of wanting Diego to show what he's capable of. It's not that he's played woefully, but that special something that is meant to mark him out, well perhaps it's awol. If Diego does go on to play against the elite of the elite then I'll be pleased for the guy. In footballing terms you don't remain a lad for too long, so I guess Diego's moment in the departure lounge of youth will quickly pass, and then everyone, amateurs and professionals alike, will be able to assess just how good he is.

As I wrote, if we'd had a 16-year-old Norwegian being chased by Real Madrid, conversations of this type would be redundant. As things stand, we have a young man who's decided to leave United. Again, I'll repeat, I wish Diego all the best. So no messages of hate or anything else so banal.

IIYB, sorry I wasn't suggesting you had personally shown any hate towards Diego. I still think there is a difference between a seasoned pro coming into the side and a youngster but I take your point. I do believe that if Diego had not suffered that unfortunate injury he would now have been established in the first team. To be fair I haven't really seen any youngster who has played the odd first team match look out of their depth, perhaps highlighted by the Rotherham match last season, but I still think Diego hasn't been given the consistent run in the team that I think he deserved but like most of us on here are saying time will tell.

 

[itsinyerblood]

IIYB, sorry I wasn't suggesting you had personally shown any hate towards Diego. I still think there is a difference between a seasoned pro coming into the side and a youngster but I take your point. I do believe that if Diego had not suffered that unfortunate injury he would now have been established in the first team. To be fair I haven't really seen any youngster who has played the odd first team match look out of their depth, perhaps highlighted by the Rotherham match last season, but I still think Diego hasn't been given the consistent run in the team that I think he deserved but like most of us on here are saying time will tell.

Thanks crucial. It's all ifs and buts now that Diego has chosen to leave the club. As I mentioned in a previous post, it seems that the lad mentioned to Clough where and how he should play, if this was the case then it's little wonder that Clough wasn't well disposed to his attitude.

I've seen the lad, good player with what I'd call football intelligence. Trouble is, my feeling is he's had his ear bent by lots of people, many who probably are punters like you and I. Up against this, Clough's position is to remind the lad who's in charge. But it's all water under the bridge now. He's an exciting talent, but the next couple of years will, I hope, allow Diego to understand that managers and coaches are trying their best to guide him. If Clough has been well disposed towards other lads, then something went wrong in their relationship, making Diego the exception to the rule. Sad really, but I hope the boy doesn't get lost in that queue made up of "I wonder what happened to?".

 

[Kenilworth]

There's a bloke drinks in my local they call 'Gay Diego', but I don't have a picture of him.

Ha! Yeah, right. Of course you don't

 

[finlaytheblade]

Thanks crucial. It's all ifs and buts now that Diego has chosen to leave the club. As I mentioned in a previous post, it seems that the lad mentioned to Clough where and how he should play, if this was the case then it's little wonder that Clough wasn't well disposed to his attitude.

I've seen the lad, good player with what I'd call football intelligence. Trouble is, my feeling is he's had his ear bent by lots of people, many who probably are punters like you and I. Up against this, Clough's position is to remind the lad who's in charge. But it's all water under the bridge now. He's an exciting talent, but the next couple of years will, I hope, allow Diego to understand that managers and coaches are trying their best to guide him. If Clough has been well disposed towards other lads, then something went wrong in their relationship, making Diego the exception to the rule. Sad really, but I hope the boy doesn't get lost in that queue made up of "I wonder what happened to?".

I get the feeling that diego and his handlers feel he is a special case being an italian youth international.cloughy cant accept that as he would lose all credability with other young players who are striving and showing more desire than diego to push through to the 1st team squad.I for one and there are a lot more who watch the youths and under 21,s would have loved to see him push through but the coaching team and cloughy are obviously not over impressed with his efforts but were willing to give him more time (new contract) diego it seems feels he has not had a fair crack of the whip but ime sure cloughy would have given him more opportunity if he had worked hard enough for it.If he doas,nt show more work ethick and desire he will not make it,by playing hard ball cloughy has tried to get this out of him he obviously has declined "shame^

 

[wizadry]

Do you think he would be playing for us if he was good enough/better than what we've got.

You'd like to think the answer was yes mate.

The thing is, i wish i'd never seen the lad play and i wouldn't have even commented on the thread. Out of all our youngsters, i think he was the first on the first team scene, that to me also says a lot about the lads talents. Injury obviously held him back and like you i wish him well, afterall, the lad has been at our club for 13 years.

 

[wizadry]

Nope, and we never will. Can not miss what you never had......

Understand what you're saying regards the first team, but it would be sad to see a lad who's been here 13 years, leave without us having seen his talents a bit more often. And a lad who has been at a youth development side all of 13 years certainly must have something.

 

[DI36O]

I don't think anyone would criticise DDG if he decided that at this point in his career he needed first team games and had decided to take one step back to take two steps forward as it were by joining York. What annoys people is the sense of entitlement emanating from him that he SHOULD be playing in the United first team in the position HE chooses.

Fair enough, I agree to an extent although I'm not sure what the evidence for this supposed attitude is, apart from the odd ITK who overheard his dad or actually knows Cosimo, as hundreds of people seem to. But you surely see the point that he's been working towards this for most of his life and has reached make or break point and there's still no sign of an opportunity in the first team now that we're out of the cups. So the fact is that he NEEDS to play. Or he could sign a 3 year contract and be washed up by the age of 22.

Also, he could have asked Tel to fill in at right back instead of Flynn a couple of months ago and we could be sat here discussing how Kennedy simply hasn't impressed in his chances this season. Square pegs in round holes. But I get the idea about developing your game and following your managers lead.

 

[Darren]

Fair enough, I agree to an extent although I'm not sure what the evidence for this supposed attitude is, apart from the odd ITK who overheard his dad or actually knows Cosimo, as hundreds of people seem to. But you surely see the point that he's been working towards this for most of his life and has reached make or break point and there's still no sign of an opportunity in the first team now that we're out of the cups. So the fact is that he NEEDS to play. Or he could sign a 3 year contract and be washed up by the age of 22.

Also, he could have asked Tel to fill in at right back instead of Flynn a couple of months ago and we could be sat here discussing how Kennedy simply hasn't impressed in his chances this season. Square pegs in round holes. But I get the idea about developing your game and following your managers lead.

Hasn't he been quoted about saying that Clough asked him to tackle back and he said that's not his game? There does come an impression that there is some degree or arrogance there, which pisses people off.

Contrast him with Kennedy, who also did not get a game for years, but quietly carried on and is now getting a run in the first team.

 

[DI36O]

No I don't think he would. Let me ask you one. Do you think he would be playing for us if he was good enough/better than what we've got.
As I wrote earlier, I wish him all the best whatever he chooses.

I don't think there's a straight answer to that metty - do you think Butler would have played early this season if he was a better centre back than Alcock?

Like I say, a lot of players will fall out with Clough or get sidelined, it doesn't actually say anything about whether they're good enough or not, but at least for now I'm happy to accept it as part of his style, as he's shown that he can get good results and a good team ethic going.

 

[metty]

You could say the same about Matty Lowton who at the age of 19yrs went on loan to Sheffield FC. Then he went to Ferencvaros and didn't break into our 1st team until he was 21yrs old.

 

[metty]

Clough must think he's good enough otherwise he wouldn't have offered him a new contract. But who knows what the real reasons are?

 

[wizadry]

Clough must think he's good enough otherwise he wouldn't have offered him a new contract. But who knows what the real reasons are?

I'm not totally disagreeing with this mate, but who knows how good the contract offer was? Was it less than what he's on now so that he wouldn't accept it? Or was it loads more money but he didn't want to sign it due to lack of first team action? Or was it simply something else?

 

[Grecian2000]

The thing is, i wish i'd never seen the lad play and i wouldn't have even commented on the thread. Out of all our youngsters, i think he was the first on the first team scene, that to me also says a lot about the lads talents. Injury obviously held him back and like you i wish him well, afterall, the lad has been at our club for 13 years.

And there's the rub Wiz.

His first cameo for the first team was a breath of fresh air and I thought we had a diamond on our hands. However, from what I've seen post injury (not much but all I've got to go on) the spark isn't what it was first time around.
That might be the injury, attitude or whatever, but my excitement has dimmed and I can now see why he is behind others (Reed being the obvious example).

A classic lose, lose situation has developed but if he doesn't want to stay and fight for the club then my Blades head says "fuck him".

 

[metalblade]

I'm not totally disagreeing with this mate, but who knows how good the contract offer was? Was it less than what he's on now so that he wouldn't accept it? Or was it loads more money but he didn't want to sign it due to lack of first team action? Or was it simply something else?

I think Nigel is on record as saying it was in line with what other young players would be offered. Didn't Diego say himself it was not about the money it was the lack of 1st team football that was the problem ?
I think Darren sums it up when he mentions in contrast how young Kennedy has gone about his business.

 

[wizadry]

And there's the rub Wiz.

His first cameo for the first team was a breath of fresh air and I thought we had a diamond on our hands. However, from what I've seen post injury (not much but all I've got to go on) the spark isn't what it was first time around.
That might be the injury, attitude or whatever, but my excitement has dimmed and I can now see why he is behind others (Reed being the obvious example).

A classic lose, lose situation has developed but if he doesn't want to stay and fight for the club then my Blades head says "fuck him".

'Tbf' no one has stood out this season until recently, and until we find out why he isn't staying(if we ever do) then i'll say good luck to him instead of fuck him, but that could easily be changed to fuck him in time.

 

[DI36O]

Hasn't he been quoted about saying that Clough asked him to tackle back and he said that's not his game? There does come an impression that there is some degree or arrogance there, which pisses people off.

Contrast him with Kennedy, who also did not get a game for years, but quietly carried on and is now getting a run in the first team.

If for once there's a credible source for that then I can see that point of view. Maybe that really is the truth and he's a limited player in the sense that Riquelme or Le Tissier were (obviously at a lower level), perhaps that's too much of a luxury for Clough. Maybe there's no room in modern football for a player like that anymore.

 

[Bladesman]

I think his mind was made up well before a contract was even put infront of him. He is not prepared to bide his time and do as he has been told which is work on other areas of his game. You could sense from the tone of Cloughs voice during interviews, he seemed annoyed with Diego everytime he got mentioned over the last 4 or 5 months. Clough knows the lad has potential and will be very frustrated he is leaving.

 

[RealMcCoy]

I don't think anyone would criticise DDG if he decided that at this point in his career he needed first team games and had decided to take one step back to take two steps forward as it were by joining York. What annoys people is the sense of entitlement emanating from him that he SHOULD be playing in the United first team in the position HE chooses.

Always happy to be corrected, but I've seen no direct evidence anywhere of this "sense of entitlement" emanating from him. I see lots of opinions on here, about him and about his dad, but I take them all with a pinch of salt because they almost without exception seem to have a tone of sour grapes attached.
I'm disappointed to see him go relatively untried, but good luck to him if he can't get in the first team here and wants to prove himself elsewhere. I just don't understand the level of vilification to be found on here.

 

[wizadry]

I think Nigel is on record as saying it was in line with what other young players would be offered. Didn't Diego say himself it was not about the money it was the lack of 1st team football that was the problem ?
I think Darren sums it up when he mentions in contrast how young Kennedy has gone about his business.

Kennedy was blighted with injury for years, that's why he never got a game, plus he had Maguire and Collins infront of him so i don't personally think he's a good comparison to DDG.