Newcastle United have faced a lot of issues with their current system under Matthias Jaissle, with the most concern stemming from how open the Magpies are in central areas during transitions.
Jaissle doesn’t appear to have yet figured out his best midfield combination and, for the most part, it has been Nico Gonzalez hung out to dry by the lack support around him.
But the Magpies are not short of options. Joelinton, Steur, Ramsey and Willock have all been tried there at different points this season to varying degrees of effect. There is, of course, also Aladji Bamba who is yet to see a substantial chance to make an impact on Tyneside.
Whilst all those options mark possible solutions, I’m beginning to wonder whether the answer to the issues lies somewhere else, with a player on Newcastle’s books but currently out on loan.
That player is Ousmane Diabate.
Diabate turning heads
Ousmane Diabate joined the club in a cloud of confusion toward the back end of the summer window after the Magpies simply didn’t announce him until a good few weeks after we all thought the deal was done.
The Guinean was sent back to the Turkish club he came from, Genclerbirligi, on loan for the duration of this season, where he is already establishing himself with some top quality performances.
The 19-year-old has turned heads not only within the Newcastle United fanbase, but also across Europe with his all-action displays and the attributes he is showing are rather well aligned with what the Magpies are missing.
Diabate’s perfect profile
Diabate is a holding midfielder, commonly playing as a single pivot but also as part of a two-man and three-man midfield depending on the game.
During his loan, Diabate has shown excellent defensive initiative and output, currently sitting in the top 17% of midfielders for defensive contributions.
The Guinean has been especially effective at breaking up transitions and turnovers, preventing quick breaks and allowing time for his side to recover into a defensive shape, something which Newcastle have massively struggled with under Jaissle.
Diabate is also gaining quite the reputation for his composure and ability to circulate the ball in build-up, whether that be breaking lines or retaining possession until the right gap appears.
Perhaps the most important of all his attributes for the Magpies specifically is Diabate’s positional discipline and ability to read where he needs to be to protect the backline… all it takes is one look at the highlights against Aston Villa to see Jaissle’s men aren’t doing that side of the game particularly well.
Is he ready?
Of course, he is doing all of this in the Turkish league at just 19 years old, so we must guard against getting carried away. But what Diabate is doing right now is almost everything that Newcastle’s midfield is missing, and he is doing it to a very high level.
I’m not suggesting we should recall him and throw him in at the deep end, that would be naive and the best thing for his development is seeing out the season in Turkey.
But it does fill me with a little FOMO seeing everything the Guinean is doing while Newcastle can’t call on him.
It is probably even more frustrating because it feels as though each and every one of his top attributes is ready made to step into that second midfield position alongside Nico Gonzalez and provide that extra little bit of structure that is so badly missing right now.
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