Abou Diaby - Injuries Thread

[OneBardGooner]

He's miles, MILES, better than Ramsey at least...

Rambo will return to his excellent best next season...as for Diaby !?...he's always been shyte and always will be. End Of.

[TeeCee]

If he seriously wants to repay Wenger he should FRO and stop stealing 60k a week from Arsenal Football Club!!

[SteveO 35]

Steve O you are a big diaby fan and I respect that (even though I dont understand it) but is there a point in time where you would concede that it is time to sell him ? Forget about ability for a minute and focus on fitness and surely even you would acknowledge that he has major issue's when it comes to getting, and remaining, fit for any length of time. Of course his injury problems can be traced back to that horror tackle and that is very sad and harsh on the guy but the club comes first so at what stage would it be acceptable in your opinion for the club to cut their losses ?

Good question mate. I would like to think that everyone would be as level handed as they have been with other players that have suffered serious injuries in recent years. Take Eduardo for instance - Wenger gave him several opportunities when he regained fitness but apart from the odd glimpse (the goal flicked off the outside of his boot vs Burnley etc) he never looked anywhere the player he once was, and for me the club made the right decision in cashing in whilst he still had some value left. Ramsey is being given a good run in the side and at his age that's fair enough, although I'm not convinced he will ever be the top quality midfielder we crave post-Cesc.

I said on one of the other threads, that Abou should be given 15-20 games in his best position once fully fit. Not 10 minutes from the bench, stuck out wide on the left or some other position that Wenger dreams up for him. We don't have many creators left in central midfield now, so why not? If he plays those 15-20 games and is mostly shit and continues to pick up niggling injuries then I would say that come the end of next season the time will be right to sell him. All I have ever asked is that he is given a fair chance - people have been much more patient with Rosicky, RvP, Ramsey, Eduardo and TV5 when they've had very serious injuries - and Abou has had another one this year. I don't understand the irrational hatred of the guy at all, but as I said I will concede that if at his age he can't produce consistently in a run of games during 2012/13 then sadly I would even say that he probably needs to go

[augie]

To be fair Steve O, I think you will find that most (and I include me here) wanted rosicky shifted out and a lot of people (again me included) argued last season that it was time we cut our losses with rvp and shifted him out of the club and lets be fair and admit that he had shown more in the team at that stage than diaby has.

Anyway you kinda avoided the question I was asking - if diaby cannot stay fit enough for a run of 15-20 games then at what stage would you sell him ? I also seem to remember when eduardo came back after the injury he was mainly used as a sub plus when he was playing he was stuck on the left wing so it isnt as if treatment of diaby as any worse than others have suffered

[SteveO 35]

To be fair Steve O, I think you will find that most (and I include me here) wanted rosicky shifted out and a lot of people (again me included) argued last season that it was time we cut our losses with rvp and shifted him out of the club and lets be fair and admit that he had shown more in the team at that stage than diaby has.

Anyway you kinda avoided the question I was asking - if diaby cannot stay fit enough for a run of 15-20 games then at what stage would you sell him ? I also seem to remember when eduardo came back after the injury he was mainly used as a sub plus when he was playing he was stuck on the left wing so it isnt as if treatment of diaby as any worse than others have suffered

If he can not stay fit enough to play at least 20 games next season then yes it will be time to say goodbye

Of course that mean he would have been injured for the best part of 2 seasons so selling him might not be easy

I'm not sure I agree with you on Eduardo. Most of the time he got to play down the middle and he looked slow, lightweight and almost afraid of the physical side of the game. A great pity but we had to make the right call. If Abou comes back like that then fine. However, most people won't even give him the chance to find out. They'd much rather see the one-paced, backheeling, ponderous People's Champion

[Chippy]

Saw him on the tube last year. Weirdly he went up in my estimation because of that. Don't know why.

[GranadaJoe]

Despite France's abject performances at the World Cup Diaby was their best player and looked very comfortable in a central pass and move role. He's also had some decent moments in our colours but they've been too few and have been countered by some terrible moments (not least the moronic 'I wear a Sum shirt' episode) and I don't see where he can fit into our set-up. Like Song, I think he's got some talent but he doesn't appear to have what it takes between his ears to make a top player.
However, I don't think there's much chance of him being sold so I hope he does recover from injury and recaptures some decent form. I'm not full of confidence though.

[potter]

To be fair Steve o , I don't think either are good enough certainly not as suggested to replace Cesc. The question over Diaby is when will he be fit enough to get those 15 - 20 games. Sometimes it is best to cut your losses and move on.

[augie]

Despite France's abject performances at the World Cup Diaby was their best player and looked very comfortable in a central pass and move role. He's also had some decent moments in our colours but they've been too few and have been countered by some terrible moments (not least the moronic 'I wear a Sum shirt' episode) and I don't see where he can fit into our set-up. Like Song, I think he's got some talent but he doesn't appear to have what it takes between his ears to make a top player.
However, I don't think there's much chance of him being sold so I hope he does recover from injury and recaptures some decent form. I'm not full of confidence though.

Let's be honest, international footballer is even lower standard than the prem lge and that is saying something

[Eboue-Why?]

If ever there was a marmite player at the club then Mr Diaby is that player. Was touted initially as the new Vieira....never in a million years. Then the broken ankle came along which was terrible for the lad and then moments of magic like the goal at Villa a couple of seasons ago when you thought well go on then Abou, go on from here and be the player that we think you are. But for a player to get so many injuries is just not 'normal', it's just been a long succession which has been incredibly bad luck for him and the club. However having said all that, the ONE thing which will never change is his brain or to be more accurate his lack of one. Someone once famously said on this Forum that 'Diaby and Song share one brain but unfortunately neither player uses it when they're on the pitch.'

I actually do believe that Diaby has something although I still believe SteveO is a WUM when it comes to his undying love for Abou but without a brain he can't ever make it at a club like ours. Dennis, Henry, Pires etc were all world class because of skill AND intelligence. Sadly, Diaby lacks both.

[Rosie_titters]

the bloke is so inept, he could get injured,falling over his bottom lip - for me he will always be remembered as the bloke who knocked out John Terry

[SteveO 35]

If ever there was a marmite player at the club then Mr Diaby is that player. Was touted initially as the new Vieira....never in a million years. Then the broken ankle came along which was terrible for the lad and then moments of magic like the goal at Villa a couple of seasons ago when you thought well go on then Abou, go on from here and be the player that we think you are. But for a player to get so many injuries is just not 'normal', it's just been a long succession which has been incredibly bad luck for him and the club. However having said all that, the ONE thing which will never change is his brain or to be more accurate his lack of one. Someone once famously said on this Forum that 'Diaby and Song share one brain but unfortunately neither player uses it when they're on the pitch.'

I actually do believe that Diaby has something although I still believe SteveO is a WUM when it comes to his undying love for Abou but without a brain he can't ever make it at a club like ours. Dennis, Henry, Pires etc were all world class because of skill AND intelligence. Sadly, Diaby lacks both.

You highlight the goal against Villa and then say he doesn't have a brain. Only a player with a brain can do that. Have a look at RvP's goal at Craven Cottage on the last day of last season and ask yourself if that piece of wonderful creation shows a lack of brain. A braindead player tries the obvious every time - not mentioning any names Denilson or Aaron Ramsey.

I'm pretty sure he didn't ask to be called the new Vieira either. Still if people want to be so lazy as to call him that because he is of similar height, black and French then I suggest they go back to reading the Sun and hanging their right arm out of the window of the white Transit

[Eboue-Why?]

If ever there was a marmite player at the club then Mr Diaby is that player. Was touted initially as the new Vieira....never in a million years. Then the broken ankle came along which was terrible for the lad and then moments of magic like the goal at Villa a couple of seasons ago when you thought well go on then Abou, go on from here and be the player that we think you are. But for a player to get so many injuries is just not 'normal', it's just been a long succession which has been incredibly bad luck for him and the club. However having said all that, the ONE thing which will never change is his brain or to be more accurate his lack of one. Someone once famously said on this Forum that 'Diaby and Song share one brain but unfortunately neither player uses it when they're on the pitch.'

I actually do believe that Diaby has something although I still believe SteveO is a WUM when it comes to his undying love for Abou but without a brain he can't ever make it at a club like ours. Dennis, Henry, Pires etc were all world class because of skill AND intelligence. Sadly, Diaby lacks both.

You highlight the goal against Villa and then say he doesn't have a brain. Only a player with a brain can do that. Have a look at RvP's goal at Craven Cottage on the last day of last season and ask yourself if that piece of wonderful creation shows a lack of brain. A braindead player tries the obvious every time - not mentioning any names Denilson or Aaron Ramsey.

I'm pretty sure he didn't ask to be called the new Vieira either. Still if people want to be so lazy as to call him that because he is of similar height, black and French then I suggest they go back to reading the Sun and hanging their right arm out of the window of the white Transit

The new Vieira label arose I believe from the early training sessions where he was flying into tackles and generally showing great levels of energy etc and not necessarily started by London Cabbies! His brilliant solo goal at Villa and that's exactly what it was, brilliant, was not born out of intelligence but quick feet, a nice one two with Eboue and then pace. When was the last time you saw Diaby beat a man, look up and then play a defence splitting pass? What he tends to do is beat a man, look up and then decide to go back and beat the same man again before turning in a circle and really not know what the hell to do. He must do something in training that makes Wenger trust him with contract extensions but Steve I'm afraid on the pitch he fails to show us anything. I take your previous point about being played out of position but sorry matey he's in the same group as Denilson, Bendtner, Chamakh, Almunia etc etc players being paid far too much for producing nothing and needing to be offloaded asap

[SteveO 35]

Eboue mate, you're one of the best posters on here and talk a lot of sense, but I can't believe you really think Abou is in the same bracket as Denilson and the Shamster.......surely not

That last defence splitting pass was the example I gave - Fulham away, the last full game Abou played - it was a piece of absolute class. I am the first to admit we haven't seen it enough, but it is those glimpses of brilliance that make me think he's got the ability to be our stand-out midfielder. I just want him to get fit, play 20 odd games in an advanced central midfield role and show us all the class he has. If he is afforded that chance and fucks it up, I will come on here and eat lashings of humble pie

I wasn't having a pop at you with the "new Vieira" thing, but I detest lazy journalism and comparisons and its up there with all the United wingers that were labelled the "new George Best" for 30 odd years. Unfair

[Eboue-Why?]

Well thanks for the compliment
Firstly how the hell did the sooper dooper new swear word Police department not pick up your bad language?!?!
Secondly, I bracket him with the others not on ability but because of the financial benefit we're getting out of him. As I said before, like Walcott, maybe Wenger needs to try him in his 'best' position before we can all make a definite judgement on him but that's perhaps the whole point, unless and until he is played where you believe he should be then what's the point of having him at the club on silly wages producing little in return?
I said that I believe he has something and you don't produce the odd bit of class without having the potential to do that regularly but his injury record is terrible and when he does get his chance, he just doesn't give the impression of a player who can consistently be of the standard we need.