I was at Everton last Sunday to witness another disappointing away defeat for West Ham that, in truth, could have been a lot more than just a 2-0 defeat.
It was very much an end of season performance from the Hammers, knowing we were already safe. Only really Jussi Jaaskelainen and James Collins came out of the game with any credit but it was the performance of Mohamed Diame that was particularly worrying, especially given the speculation regarding his future.
Momo was hauled off by Sam Allardyce at half time, rightfully so in my opinion, following an abject first half showing. We have come to expect a typically powerhouse, all action performance from Diame in the heart of the West Ham midfield this season but last Sunday he simply wasn’t up for it. The Senegalese midfielder was out of the game for large parts of the first half, sloppy in possession and lost a number of physical battles, something that just doesn’t happen with Diame.
I think the West Ham fans on Merseyside last weekend may well have witnessed one of his last games for the club.
Players have bad games, of course, but it is when the attitude of players is not quite right when the fans have a right to feel aggrieved. In my opinion Diame’s heart was not in it against Everton and that is not acceptable.
Don’t get me wrong I am a huge Momo Diame fan. Before his injury at home to Liverpool in December, Diame had been nothing short of immense. Having come in from Wigan on a free, he was being heralded as one of the signings of the season. His power, his energy and his ability to carry the ball 50 or 60 yards without being dispossessed was a joy to see and a major part of our early season success. Momo’s substitute performance at home to Chelsea where he almost single handedly changed the game to give us a 3-1 win was a performance that will live long in the memory. It was no coincidence that following his injury and subsequent spell on the sidelines, the team’s form dipped.
Following his return a month or so later, Diame didn’t quite have the same impact. To be fair it was always going to be hard to replicate his early season form because it really was that good. However barring the odd game, that incredible drive seemed to be lacking somewhat. Initially it appeared that Diame still hadn’t fully recovered from injury but as we moved on, it became apparent that it may have been interest from other clubs that was distracting Momo.
It was only natural that Diame was to attract interest from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham after his sparkling displays before the turn of the year. There was talk about him leaving during the January transfer window, with QPR reportedly making an audacious bid for the midfielder.
Perhaps it’s the high interest from the clubs playing European football that has turned Diame’s head. If he was to go, it would be a huge loss for the club. Our midfield without Diame looks extremely lightweight and one paced. In the likes of Mark Noble, Gary O’Neil and Kevin Nolan, there is no pace, no drive. It will certainly be an area Big Sam would need to strengthen for us to improve on our position this season.
I do expect Momo to leave this summer and I will be sad to see him go. When his heart is in it, he is an exceptional midfield player as we have seen on numerous occasions this season. However after witnessing his display at Everton on Sunday, if he’s not up for the battle with West Ham then it’s time to go. The most important thing is having players who put on the claret and blue jersey and give it their all; over to you Momo.
By James May
Follow me on twitter @JimMay89
No footballer in any club plays well all season and Diame has help us pick up points we wouldn’t have done without him.Suarez,Van Persie,Gerrard et al have all had awful games.
Diame has been a worry for me for much of the season so no surprise. He has some good qualities, no doubt, but wont cut it at the top level. He runs out of steam at 60/70 mins regularly when his power and surging runs diminish notably and he will not get his head up and look for the right pass at the right time. He has this schoolboy trait of running into blind alleys, and how often has he run into trouble and lost possession in bad areas, allowing the opposition the chance to counter attack ? There a hell of a lot of coaching needed before he is the finished article ! Remember this is a guy who didnt regularly make the Wigan first team ??
diame wont be leaving,the whole team sunday was shocking,apart from collins and jussi…
He’s been really inconsistent all year. Balance of midfield isn’t right to get the best out of him.
everton sunday was that good,they would of beaten most top sides…
If he wants to go then sell him.
I don’t actually care anymore – players like him unsettle the dressing room when they try to force a move or don’t perform because he wants a move.
Let him go!
I think you’re over-reacting. He had a bad game. Nolan has had many bad games. It doesn’t mean his head is being turned.
Diame. Just another mercenary. His performances are too inconsistent for a “big” team, so if he leaves, it’s for one reason – money. If he did get to go to a “big” club, I think he would be a bench warmer
He losses the ball to easily he trips over it and blasts 2/3 shots over the bar ,however he does have those great dribbles down the middle and when he hits the ball right no keeper in the world could save it ! But in the end no player is bigger than the club and if he does leave it will be for way less than he is worth but we will still have a free 3.5m to spend !
Everton fan here – Absolutely spot on report, I couldn’t believe Diame’s attitude , heard so much good things about him but was really shocked with his performance , maybe it was end of season syndrome but he’s still getting his wages. Big Sam was right to haul him off at halftime. Big Sam did a good job for you this year and I’m sure your owners will back him in the transfer window again.
what bugs me is why does sam always take him off in home games hes our strongest player and he is being replaced by matt taylor or jack collinson half fit by the way is it in his contract to be taken off every home game hes proberly got the hump but when you put the shirt on you have got to give 100%
Hi John. Its because Diame has a stamina issue at the 60/70 minute mark. Happens all the time and thats why BFS hooks him off. Ive seen it happen so many times for it to be a coincidence.
We are about to sign Carroll permently and diame should be next to be offerd a new deal . Scott Sinclair should be a major part of the summer plans in my mind to add width to the right . Malony in my mind is what our midfield lacks the rest of the summer should be about adding two or three free bees
We may be getting a little ahead of ourselves with talk of him leaving and that Sunday’s performance was reason enough to say that he is already on his way.
He may indeed leave but on Sunday like most of the team, it was an off day made worse by a fired up Everton side putting in a shift for their soon to be departed manager (and lets face it Everton are a damn good side Anyway!).
At the height of the transfer rumours regarding Momo, he surprised me with the relentless hard work he has put in and to be honest he hasn’t looked like a want away player at all (ala Parker). He IS allowed an off day and it happens from time to time. Hopefully he stays and we manage (as per Big Sam) to bring in better players that will improve the side and also bring the best out of our better players like Momo Diame.
I hope we ALL realise by now that West Ham are operating to a budget and there WON’T be massive wholesale changes but it was interesting to see that we were linked with the experienced midfield maestro AC Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini. Alongside Momo or simply as an option would be a step in the right direction.
COYI
If people still have not worked out why Diame is taken of early most of the time, really don’t follow the club very well!
Diame has a heart defect like Muamba has, he is taken off a majority of the time for safety reasons, Diame does 90 mins of running in 60 mins ffs. At Everton he was just shit lol
Joey Barton anyone – I know he can be difficult but gets stuck in
you must be as crazy as he is.
all i would say to diame is that the grass is not always greener.
Hello. I agree with most of the comments here. Diame has been a very good player for us. There have been games where he was the difference between winning & losing, but he is not the be all & end all of our squad. We were never going to win the Everton game. Anyone who follows British football would have an underlying respect for David Moyes no matter your club. They were always going to give him a last home win. Diame wants the best deal he can get & our owners are in the process of rebuilding our club financially after being plundered over the Tevez affair & the excesses of the Icelanders. We cannot afford the wages that the top clubs can. It comes down to Diame really. What does he want to do. With us he can become an integral part of the squad. Regular games, but if he moves on to a ‘bigger club’, one bad game & he is fighting for his place. At this stage, i doubt that he has the consistency to perform at that level. He may think he has, but i don’t see it. Look at Greeny & Parker. I would be happy to sign Diame for a couple of years, at a price we can afford, as he has shown that he can play well at times, but he needs to make his mind up on what he wants from football, money & a warm seat or be on the park kicking the ball. The lure of the glamour of a ‘big club’ & expectation, has brought many undone. With us & playing for Sam for the next couple of years, he has shown enough to be a useful player. It is really up to him to sort it out. If he wants off & he can get a better deal, thanks & goodbye mate. We are moving upwards with, or without him.