Liverpool FC Forum

by **Matt D** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:30 pm

Just reading an article on LFCTV and read this report on Alou Diarra, seen him play a few times and thought he has looked a good quality player, who could take the place of the aging Didi (although still a good player, tackling and breaking down the opposition, he seems to have lost so much pace)

What I can tell you is this fella is a giant. Strong in the tackle, powerful in the air, he dominated the middle of the park throughout. He is more of a defensive midfield player akin to Didi rather than a Stevie G or Alonso type of player. His distribution was faultless on the night, picking out selective short passes rather than 40 yarders a la the other two.

He looked like the ideal replacement or understudy to Didi. He continually won all the high balls in the middle of the park and was also a good defender of corners, where he picked up the PSG centre half. But the highlight of his ariel display was the bullet header with which he opened the scoring tonight, rolling away from his marker and bulleting one in from the back post.

He put in the highest amount of tackles on the night and often left his mark on the opposition. No surprise really that he eventually was booked for ONE mistimed tackle. He broke up wave after wave of PSG attacks and always found a player of his own. Looking at his game he is likely to pick up at least 10 yellows a season, due to the amount of tackles he makes in a game, but never looked like getting a red as his game does not include cynical challenges.

I find it strange that he has not been made part of our squad so far as wherever he has played (Le Havre, Bastia and now Lens), he has featured in the majority of games. This season for instance he has started 22 out of 25 league games.

I only hope that he is given an opportunity to play for us before his contract runs out, which I believe is in 2007. Sadly, I think we'll see him in a French shirt before we ever see him don the Liverpool Red. After tonight's performance it will come as no surprise to me if he is selected for his national side in the friendlies this week.

I have never been a big admirer of the French League, but tonight I had my eyes opened, where I watched a game played nigh on twice the pace of current Premier League games watched and our lad was still running strong at the finish.
Alou Diarra has a big future in the game, I can only hope he has one with us. Keep yer eye out for future Lens games or French International games, where I am sure he will feature again very soon

by **RAFABENITEZ** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:56 pm

Aliou Diarra played against the Republic of Ireland for france in Paris lasat year. bossed Roy Keane.

by **The Ace1983** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:58 pm

I believe it when I see it.

by **L-type** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:10 am

How about we see it when he's playin for us at Anfield. We need a replacement for Hamman and instead of buying someone else we can look right into our squad. We should give the elusive diarra a shot

by **XSD** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:17 am

RAFABENITEZ wrote:Aliou Diarra played against the Republic of Ireland for france in Paris lasat year. bossed Roy Keane.

That's not quite how I remember the game...
however the guy should get a shot, we are so short on CM right now.

by **JBG** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:06 am

RAFABENITEZ wrote:Aliou Diarra played against the Republic of Ireland for france in Paris lasat year. bossed Roy Keane.

No he didn't. Diarra came on as a late sub and barely got a touch. :glare:

by **simic_ie** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:59 am

Did Diarra not start that one.... he still never got a touch, show how much of an influence he had, don't even remember if he started or not

by **JBG** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:56 pm

simic_ie wrote:Did Diarra not start that one.... he still never got a touch, show how much of an influence he had, don't even remember if he started or not

He came on as a late sub. I remember the game well as I watched it in a pub in Lanzarote and paid particular interest when Diarra came on.

by **FrankM** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:00 pm

RAFABENITEZ wrote:Aliou Diarra played against the Republic of Ireland for france in Paris lasat year. bossed Roy Keane.

What a load of bolloc*ks.

Diarra played for about 30 minutes and hardly got a touch. Ireland totally dominated the match and midfield.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:19 pm

So the conclusion is Diarra is sh!te so we're better off without him.

End of topic.

by **LiverpoolMadman** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:14 pm

Everybody knows he's good esp. in France but why RB doesn't want to recall him from his loan ?

by **andy_g** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:31 pm

sorry to go off topic... but does matt D's avatar make anyone else feel a little hot under the collar?

(cggy and zb... this doesn't apply to you two

)

by **Scottbot** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:27 pm

andy_g wrote:sorry to go off topic... but does matt D's avatar make anyone else feel a little hot under the collar?

(cggy and zb... this doesn't apply to you two )

I stop an give it a moments thought everytime i see it

Its not an option

by **Matt D** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:41 am

yeah its not a bad 1 of me bird - now can we get back to the discussion, with the injuries we have and the pick of Didi or Biscan, surely it would be worth thinking about taking a look at him in the EPL

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Alou diarra - Sounds good to me

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