“I felt sorry for him,” said Marco Gabbiadini, following Habib Diarra’s attempt to hit Emi Martinez in Sunderland’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa.
It was an unusual decision, and no mistake, especially when the Black Cats were neck and neck with the Villans at Villa Park. They staged a strong comeback, scoring two late goals to level the scores, and Diarra felt a wave of frustration when Tammy Abraham left the visitors napping as he slotted home the last goal.
Anyway. It’s not the end of the world. Regis Le Bris’ side are still an outside chance of qualifying for Europe on their long-awaited return to the Premier League, and sit comfortably ahead of Newcastle United, four points clear of their rivals.
Much of this is down to Le Bris’ training, he is more relaxed than some of his more tactical contemporaries. Last summer’s transfer business also had an impact, but Diarra, a club record signing from Strasbourg, continues to leave something to be desired.
How is Diarra doing at Sunderland?
Diarra is a talented attacking midfielder who has the potential to become one of Sunderland’s breakout stars, perhaps even attracting the attention of those at the top of the European pyramid.
He’s only 22, and it’s not like he doesn’t bring anything to the table. There is a reason, after all, that Le Bris has started Sunderland’s last ten Premier League games, energetic and strong. However, you need to provide more returns if the Wearsiders are going to get their money’s worth.
Diarra isn’t a vital cog, yet, and as the Black Cats prepare to host Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on Friday evening, perhaps Le Bris could play the trump card by assembling the pack.
|
Habib Diarra in the Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (*90’s) |
# |
|
The same (beginning) |
16 (14) |
|
Terms + Help |
2 + 1 |
|
Contact* |
36.0 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
1.3 (0.5) |
|
Accurate passes* |
20.1 (81%) |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
0 |
|
Key passes* |
0.3 |
|
Success. dribble* |
0.3 (28%) |
|
Football recovery* |
2.5 |
|
Facing + meeting* |
1.1 |
|
Duels won* |
3.2 (48%) |
A key pass is a pass that leads directly to a shot at the opponent’s goal.
After all, you have a rising star who might be perfect for a renewed role in the top ten.
Le Bris could replace Diarra with Sunderland’s new Bellingham
Jobe Bellingham left Sunderland for Borussia Dortmund last summer, following in his brother’s footsteps, and it felt like the Black Cats had lost their star man.
However, Chris Rigg passed his opening trials in the Premier League with flying colours, and it certainly looks like the 18-year-old is the future face of the profession.
After scoring his first top-flight goal at Aston Villa, a superb strike on his favored left foot, Rigg has ridden the wave in a Sunderland side aiming for a top-10 finish.
Often found down the right wing, he has played in central positions in the past, and his performances this season suggest he has the physicality and change of pace to fight and thrive against strong defenders and midfielders.
After all, he has won 56% of his ground battles in the Premier League this season, and also completed 55% of his dribbles. What does that tell us? Well, it proves that Rigg is already more than just a goalscorer, someone who can touch different phases of the game and thrive in the highest situations, actually playing a deep midfield role in the Championship.
Rigg is a “special talent”, as Sky Sports reporter Dougie Critchley said, who could be the best player in the Premier League. In that, he has emerged as Sunderland’s new version of Bellingham, and it sounds like this prospect may have some hope of staying around for a long time.
|
Sunderland’s Chris Riggs’ performance in the position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Applications |
Terms + Help |
|
The middle ground |
29 |
4 + 0 |
|
Field attack |
27 |
1 + 3 |
|
The winner is right |
21 |
3 + 1 |
|
Defensive midfield |
10 |
1 + 0 |
|
The winner is on the left |
3 |
1 + 1 |
|
Center-forward |
1 |
0 + 0 |
How Rigg will develop remains to be determined, but he has the potential to develop as a devastating forward as well as an improving and aging top ten.
It’s probably time for Le Bris to drop Diarra from the Sunderland starting line-up. Maybe that will give the Senegalese talent a head start.
Rigg has the wind in his sails well, and Le Bris needs to right his Sunderland ship and make a change to go even further at the end of this great campaign.
Le Bris could dump O’Nien by releasing Sunderland’s new version of Xhaka
Sunderland’s defensive failings were exposed after a seven-goal defeat by Aston Villa.
