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The Senegalese Savior Arrives, Just in the Knick of Time.
Sorry for the late post guys, I was pretty busy, and also waiting to see if we signed Laurent Bonnart as well to do a double post, but no such luck. Anyway, last Tuesday, we all breathed a giant sigh of relief as our president failed to let us down once again, and on the eve of the closing of the mercato window, solved a problem that would have definitely been the ruin of our season, had it been left unremedied. And big props to the reader who wished for a 5-0 defeat to Lorient last weekend, in order to force management to scramble and get us a defender, and move JT back to DM. Bravo.
Jean-Mimi once again let most of us develop ulcers, wondering if management was going to take action and reverse one of the most assinine decisions they’ve taken- possibly ever- in the moving of Jeremy Toulalan to central defense. At first, JT’s move to the back line visibly left a non-presence in the defensive midfield role and it was painfully left to play out in the hopes that Makoun/ Gonalons or either in combination with Kallstrom, would plug the gap left in the midfield. But nothing doing. Not only did Toul’s abscence become more and more apparent, but the straw that finally broke the camel’s back was the 2-0 loss to Lorient, in which Jeremy fell apart in the CB role, and forced the hand of management in scrapping their lunatical plan.
Enter our savior Pape Diakhaté. Pape’s arrival gives us a strong, experienced back to pair with Cris. Most importantly, he allows one of the best DMs in the world, to go back to his natural position, completing our midfield, and he is the last of the pieces of the chess board we were in need of, in order to make a run to take it all down.
The Senegalese international is at a good age for a CB- twenty-six- and has Champions League experience, having featured in ten matches for Dynamo Kiev. And paired with another strong, ball-winner in Cris, will leave us with a solid, experienced backline, capable of taking-on CL caliber attacks. His youth and relatively fair buy-out clause, may alleviate the need to spend big on a CB in the future, when we look for Cris’ replacement and Lovren’s future partner. Finally, we get a good player on loan, with the option to buy at a not so extortionary of a rate as what we’ve been accostumed to being charged in the past few years.
Diakhaté will come to OL on a one year deal(ending on June 30, 2011) which depending on two sources, claims that Lyon were charged an aqcuisition fee of either 400,000€(according to Le Progres) or 440,000€ (according to L’Équipe). L’Equipe claims the loan also comes with a 6 M€ (plus bonus) which is said to reach 8M€, option to buy at the end of the loan. If the purchase option is taken by OL, then Diakhaté’s contract with Dynamo, which ends in 2012, will automatically extend for three years from that point. Pape’s monthly salary is said to be 120.000€ pr/month gross.
Here’s what the big three and Pape had to say at Tuesday’s press conference: First JMA.
Aulas: “We just finished losing to Lorient. After, we worked very quickly internaly to deal with the injuries and to make the right moves in terms of recruiting. We needed to be agile at this time. It was the end of the tranfer period and we had to act quickly to find that element that was missing after the debut of this season which was less succesful than expected, yet didn’t dampen our ambitions for the time being. It’s always at the end of the dance that one pays the musicians. Our needs, both short and long term, have been met by the arrival of Pape, who was in contact with several other clubs. He was a coveted player. He’s arrived on a season-long loan; a loan with an option to buy worth 6M€. Is recruitment over? There are a few more hours left until the close of the mercato. I think we’re done, but I won’t say for sure. I will speak with Claude Puel and Bernard Lacombe at mid day. There is still a possiblity. It’s necessary that everthing be inline with our objectives, our financial capabilities and what we’ve discussed.”
Bernard Lacombe: “This took place very quicly and efficiently. The first contact goes back to last Sunday. Pape is a defender who I would not have liked to face while I was playing. He has a superb mentality; he’s a leader… I was well informed when he was at St. Etienne. We will be able to count on him. We already spoke about him at OL, about two or three years ago.”
Claude Puel: “We targeted certain players that would add real value to the group. There were adjustments that had to be made in regards to the first matches and the opportunities. Pape is like an axe. He’s very good in the duels; he’s endowed with heading ability and a quality throw-in ability as well. He’s charismatic and has a great mentality. He’s left very good impressions wherever he’s passed through. This arrival will allow us much lattitude, supplementary defensive opitons. The younsters are developing, but we lack maturity. We were ok in the defensive sector. I will not tell you that Toulalan will return to the midfield. With this arrival, I think the group is better balanced.”
Don’t you just want to just bash Puel’s head in for those smug comments?
Pape Diakhaté : “I didn’t think much while OL contacted me. I hope to be part of the history of the club. I’m a link in the chain that will graft onto the collective and give the best of myself. My time at ASSE hasn’t added any additional pressure. In regards to were I’m played, it’s up to the coach to decide. Me, I’m ready to play wherever.”
Aulas had to finish the conference taking a poke at someone- it’s usually OM- though this one was provoked, and who better than the man who may have lit a tiny fire under the ass of our president and played a small role in getting management to move on this acquisition.
Aulas on Laurent Blanc: “I would have hoped that the head coach would have been more balanced with his remarks. When I see a player perturbed, I’m unhappy. It is in the interest of OL that Jeremy be included in the France national team. We shall take into account the remarks of Laurent Blanc…”