I'm assuming a lot of teams would be in for him but he could certainly help in replacing Mo when that time comes. And being two footed, it seems, he could spell on both wings and develop into something special in reducing opposition being able to restrict a player in one wing by overload.
Diomande IS exciting bc of the success in take-ons, the production AND the defensive contribution (the latter is critical as we have to get better at pressing). However, it's hard to believe that Hughes will shell out a the huge fee that RBL will demand based on a sample size of just 17 starts in the Buli. While I dream of Rodrygo, it's more likely that we pursue a cheaper (wages) option like Gordon, Kudus or Minteh, all of whom have a larger sample size than Diomande and a track record in the EPL.
P.S. if they sign Diomande, he might qualify as home-grown in 2028-29 season ... he'd be classed a U21 player next season in EPL and List B in UCL by 2028-29 after 2 seasons & then homegrown in both leagues once he's in his "age 22 season" ... so "home-grown" isn't a decision criterion
I think you're right re the likelihood of his signing based on his experience. They're already going outside their normal comfort zone in this regard with Jacquet so it feels unlikely they'll stretch that even further.
And interesting regarding his home grown potential, I didn't think of that.
You make a great point re: comparing the decision to sign Jacquet vs. considering the signing of Diomande. Their "normal comfort zone" seems to be shifting from their reported preference for a 150 match sample size to something much smaller.
Two recent data points. For Giovanni, they spent ~£25-30 million based on only 14 starts in a top 5 league. For Jeremy, they committed 2x that sum (~£52-61 million) based on only 28 starts in Ligue 1. Diomande will have more top 5 league starts (est 25 Buli + 6 La Liga) than either of them before Hughes has to commit. To be fair, both Giovanni & Jacquet had some starts in 2nd tier in Italy/France + U19s for their countries + the fee will be much larger than the other two.
Punchline: after digging a bit, while it still feels like a stretch, it's not as big of a stretch to believe Hughes will compete for Diomande this summer.
When you analyze these recent decisions, so many questions pop up about modern recruitment models. As more clubs use data in recruitment, the competition for value signings increases and their preferred "150 match sample" will need to decrease. With more data being measured, more match video available at lower leagues & advances in analytics, what is the # starts in a top 5 league required by their models to get to an acceptable statistical confidence level to approve a big fee (say >£50 million)? Do we have enough player maturity outcomes for the models to use starts in lower leagues or international youth competitions to project their future value? Probably. Whatever that # starts is in the model, were Giovanni & Jeremy exceptions bc we're "behind" in squad planning for CB? Gotta also factor in market value differences by position, scarcity of players with similar attributes, forecasted re-sale value, etc. Competition for recruitment must be the primary rationale behind Edwards' ambition to add a club in Spain and/or France, e.g. we could have competed w/ Rennes for Jacquet before he signed his first pro contract at a much cheaper investment. I'm going "full nerd" here but it's a really interesting topic - how recruitment is rapidly changing.
I guess perhaps in an era in which every club has become smarter through data, clubs have to move more quickly than they would have in the past. Competition is fierce, especially when there are very few 'poor' clubs in the Premier League.
"spoke" too soon as Diomande won't qualify as home-grown. Born in Nov 2006, his "turning 21 season" is 2027-28 so only 2 seasons (vs 3 req'd) in the squad before he "turns 21". In contrast, Giovanni Leoni (born just a month later than Diomande) WILL qualify as home-grown in 2027-28 bc we signed him this summer.
I hadn't paid close attention to Diomande until talking about him a little on the podcast.
I am now firmly on the hype train!
I'm assuming a lot of teams would be in for him but he could certainly help in replacing Mo when that time comes. And being two footed, it seems, he could spell on both wings and develop into something special in reducing opposition being able to restrict a player in one wing by overload.
Choo choo!!!
Yeah his ability to play both wings is huge. Immediately opens up rotation options on either side.
Diomande IS exciting bc of the success in take-ons, the production AND the defensive contribution (the latter is critical as we have to get better at pressing). However, it's hard to believe that Hughes will shell out a the huge fee that RBL will demand based on a sample size of just 17 starts in the Buli. While I dream of Rodrygo, it's more likely that we pursue a cheaper (wages) option like Gordon, Kudus or Minteh, all of whom have a larger sample size than Diomande and a track record in the EPL.
P.S. if they sign Diomande, he might qualify as home-grown in 2028-29 season ... he'd be classed a U21 player next season in EPL and List B in UCL by 2028-29 after 2 seasons & then homegrown in both leagues once he's in his "age 22 season" ... so "home-grown" isn't a decision criterion
I think you're right re the likelihood of his signing based on his experience. They're already going outside their normal comfort zone in this regard with Jacquet so it feels unlikely they'll stretch that even further.
And interesting regarding his home grown potential, I didn't think of that.
You make a great point re: comparing the decision to sign Jacquet vs. considering the signing of Diomande. Their "normal comfort zone" seems to be shifting from their reported preference for a 150 match sample size to something much smaller.
Two recent data points. For Giovanni, they spent ~£25-30 million based on only 14 starts in a top 5 league. For Jeremy, they committed 2x that sum (~£52-61 million) based on only 28 starts in Ligue 1. Diomande will have more top 5 league starts (est 25 Buli + 6 La Liga) than either of them before Hughes has to commit. To be fair, both Giovanni & Jacquet had some starts in 2nd tier in Italy/France + U19s for their countries + the fee will be much larger than the other two.
Punchline: after digging a bit, while it still feels like a stretch, it's not as big of a stretch to believe Hughes will compete for Diomande this summer.
When you analyze these recent decisions, so many questions pop up about modern recruitment models. As more clubs use data in recruitment, the competition for value signings increases and their preferred "150 match sample" will need to decrease. With more data being measured, more match video available at lower leagues & advances in analytics, what is the # starts in a top 5 league required by their models to get to an acceptable statistical confidence level to approve a big fee (say >£50 million)? Do we have enough player maturity outcomes for the models to use starts in lower leagues or international youth competitions to project their future value? Probably. Whatever that # starts is in the model, were Giovanni & Jeremy exceptions bc we're "behind" in squad planning for CB? Gotta also factor in market value differences by position, scarcity of players with similar attributes, forecasted re-sale value, etc. Competition for recruitment must be the primary rationale behind Edwards' ambition to add a club in Spain and/or France, e.g. we could have competed w/ Rennes for Jacquet before he signed his first pro contract at a much cheaper investment. I'm going "full nerd" here but it's a really interesting topic - how recruitment is rapidly changing.
I guess perhaps in an era in which every club has become smarter through data, clubs have to move more quickly than they would have in the past. Competition is fierce, especially when there are very few 'poor' clubs in the Premier League.
"spoke" too soon as Diomande won't qualify as home-grown. Born in Nov 2006, his "turning 21 season" is 2027-28 so only 2 seasons (vs 3 req'd) in the squad before he "turns 21". In contrast, Giovanni Leoni (born just a month later than Diomande) WILL qualify as home-grown in 2027-28 bc we signed him this summer.