Diakite

[baggiematt]

He started poorly but has adjusted and looks like he has the potential to be a very, very good player.

Difficult decision to make today with Bartley back and competition in the middle.

Credit to the recruitment lads. He?s one of several great signings this season.

[Omegstrat6]

He started poorly but has adjusted and looks like he has the potential to be a very, very good player.

Difficult decision to make today with Bartley back and competition in the middle.

Credit to the recruitment lads. He?s one of several great signings this season.

Totally agree with you about Diakite. More naturally a defensive midfielder, he did well as part of the back 5 with the enforced changes on Tuesday and think there is more to come from him.

My worry for a part of this season has been us missing a Kipre at the back, especially when Bartley has been out as Ajayi has some quality but is still too prone to silly mistakes but defensively, we look well drilled lately.

As for our recruitment for this season, we may have had a few failures (who were likely more squad fillers tbh) but Heggem, Styles, Price and Johnston have certainly improved the team and I'd venture that Diakete will as well. I'd been underwhelmed by the signing of Holgate but, in fairness, he has done well for us too.

The interesting questions will be who we chose to offer new contracts to in the summer with Diangana, Swift, Ajayi and Bartley all with their contracts up and loans ending for Armstrong, Lankshear and Holgate. Of the four whose contracts are up, I'd argue that only Bartley offers a decent level of consistency. Both Diangana and Swift have undoubted technical skills but go missing in games far too often and, as said, Ajayi has the physical presence but has been guilty of too many mistakes.

As for the loanees, we haven't seen much of Lankshear and Armstrong maybe has not seen enough of the ball to make the impact we'd hoped for but with Dike and Maja maybe there won't be any great urgency to bring another number 9 in over the summer especially if we don't get promotion.

Sounds strange, but with both Ajayi's and Bartley's contracts up I'd probably offer the latter another year but consider offering Holgate something rather than Ajayi. What do others think?

[baggiematt]

I like Holgate and would have no issues with him signing on a free.

A mate of mine is a Wycombe fan and thinks Taylor is going to be a premier league player. We might not need Bartley or Ajayi, although Bartley will be a loss.

I?ve no doubt Fellows goes in the summer for between ?15-?20m and that will probably dictate what we spend on who.

[SwedishBaggie]

I like Holgate and would have no issues with him signing on a free.

A mate of mine is a Wycombe fan and thinks Taylor is going to be a premier league player. We might not need Bartley or Ajayi, although Bartley will be a loss.

I?ve no doubt Fellows goes in the summer for between ?15-?20m and that will probably dictate what we spend on who.

I really don?t rate Holgate, looks like another O?Shea. Always too late, too slow to react and read the game. not physical enough, not committed enough in challenges and interceptions etc.

Agreed about Taylor though, like him.