So, we’re all aware now of how highly Mohamed Diame rates himself, and after stints at Wigan Athletic and West Ham, who can blame him?!
It is widely conceived by supporters that no player is bigger than the club, and that is certainly the case here with Momo, but if West Ham were to dump the midfielder, how big of a loss (if at all) would that be for the club? Here is a statistical look at Diame’s effect on the Hammers.
First things first, Diame has started 25 Premier League games for West Ham this term and made a further 6 substitute appearances, meaning he has made an appearance in 91% of all Premier League games which West Ham have played. Granted Diame doesn’t have the natural fitness to complete many full 90-minute stints, but he’s largely ready to play when called upon.
Now onto goals, and from midfield Diame has clocked up four Premier League goals this season (3rd highest in a woeful season in front of goal for The Hammers), assisting a further three (inc. Capital One Cup). Momo is consistently inconsistent, if he has a great game one week, you’ll probably not see him again in the next. He tends to have one Liverpool worthy game to five Sunderland worthy, but of course he’d walk into a central midfield of Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho (and Lucas Leiva, and Joe Allen…).
Diame is behind just Mark Noble in the tackles per game statistic with 2.2 (Noble – 2.8), but with just 17 passes per game, he’s a long way from the rest of the central midfielders. Of course Diame has played out wide a lot, but he’s hardly a hugger of the touchline (i.e. Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis) and that’s a poor shift compared with Noble’s 50 per game. He actually wedged just between Adrian and Jussi Jaaskelainen in the passes per game statistic.
Diame averages the second highest shots per game ratio, behind Andy Carroll. That gives him a shot to goal ratio in the Premier League of 13:1, putting him just behind Carroll (1:14). Diame is more than entitled to go for goal, given that West Ham don’t score enough, but we shouldn’t expect him to score when he’s lining up a 30 yarder.
Perhaps Momo’s most impressive stat comes in the shape of dribbles per game. Only QPR loanee, Ravel Morrison scores higher (2.1pg) than Diame (1.9pg). He is comfortably ahead of the wide-men (Downing 1.1, Jarvis 0.6). A good outlet and literally ahead of the chasing pack.
So, would West Ham miss Mo?
The short answer is, not really – no.
However, his direct style would have to be replaced, and if Ravel Morrison was to return then that would be done instantly. If Diame truly wants to leave then he should go. Whether a club that matches his ambitions is interested is the tricky part, because as the stats show, he really isn’t THAT good. A decent player who will put in a good shift most weeks, but will rarely last 90 minutes. The stats would suggest that he is a greedy player, with high shots per game and low passes per game, not particularly desirable unless you’re Cristiano Ronaldo or Arjen Robben.
Step 1. Sell him.
Step 2. Buy Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Step 3. Never look back.
Good job on the facts but your ratios are the wrong way round
If his shot to goal ratio is 1:13, that means he scores 13 goals from every shot
In that case, we should give him a contract even Wayne ‘Shrek’ Rooney would have to accept
(Should be 13:1)
Let him go, he overruns most of his mazy dribbles by going one too many , he nearly always shoots over the bar and rarely makes a killer pass. I am sure Liverpool are gagging to take him from us !! It’s good to be a confidence player but he takes it to extreme and he is not that good
Using a load of facts doesn’t make your argument correct. Impossible to judge Diame because he has been played out of position all season. With a new manager Diame would become a real force for West Ham.
Precisely, Sam just does not have a clue how to get the bets out of him, how can he? He could then become a threat to his darling Andy!!!
A sure sign that you have a player of “True” ability is the number of top clubs being “Constantly” linked with them…….. I don’t see or read constant reports regarding him being linked with that level of club.
Scott Parker wasn’t my favourite person after he upped and left for the spuds, but for the most part he laid his body on the line with total commitment & consistency. I can’t say the same about Diame.
Sell the self publicist all day long.
And Momo is brainless. Has no tactical sense. See the clearance against Arsenal that gifted their second goal. See the silly dribbles he gets into for no reason. See the shot he wanted to blast against Arse (when all he had to do was place it next to the post) – See all this nonsense about top clubs being super keen on having him on board.
Sell him, get Carlos “La roca” Sanchez, who plays for Elche. As athletic as Diame but better condition (can play 90 minutes), stronger in the air, unselfish, better shooter, better defender too. Has improved since the beginning of the season (Diame hasn’t) and still has considerable improvement margin. He would surely love to come to play in England and live in London, plus he could be with his fellow citizen Pablito Armero.
I will personally pick him up and deliver to him to any destination worldwide at my expense. Clueless, brainless, lazy, unfit, greedy…but enough of his better points…….Total waste of a shirt all season and one of the reasons Allardyce has got us in the mess he has. Picking Diame and Nolan was like sending out nine men and expecting results.