Diagouraga: Town Move Exactly What I Needed
Friday, 27th Jan 2017 17:00

He admits he isn’t at his sharpest right now but new signing Toumani Diagouraga is anxious to help Town at the earliest opportunity.

Diagouraga confessed: “I won’t say I’m match fit — that wouldn’t be right when I haven’t played a competitive game for six months — but I’m ready to play and whether it’s 60, 70, 80 or 90 minutes I will give it my all.”

Joining Town has perked up the Frenchman after he was deemed surplus to requirements at parent club Leeds by manager Garry Monk, who picked him for the opening-day defeat at QPR, the player’s only senior appearance of the season so far.

Diagouraga added: “I was desperate for a fresh start. It’s exactly what I needed after a frustrating few months. I’m at a good club and hopefully I can do well.

“After not playing for six months I am pleased to be here for the rest of the season. I didn’t want to come for just a month because I wanted to settle in properly and play regularly.

“I’m ready to start if that’s what the manager wants. All I can do is give it my all, which I always do.

“It hasn’t been great for me at Leeds but at the end of the day it is all about the club. They have been doing well and I wish them nothing but the best.

“Everything was going well last year but when a new manager with new ideas comes in, sometimes you don’t fit in. That’s just part and parcel of football.

“Garry Monk was very straight with me after, probably, the second week in August. I just decided to grin and bear it, and wait for my chance to go somewhere else and play.

“Now I’m here and I’ve already settled in very well. The lads have made me feel welcome and I’ve enjoyed it so far.

“The biggest surprise I’ve had is with the team’s position in the league. I am surprised to see them struggling a bit this season but the boys look upbeat and ready to go. Everything seems fine to me.

“They have been in and around the play-offs for the last few years so to see them where they are is a bit of a shock. That’s the Championship — nothing’s guaranteed and you just have to keep going.

“You never know, if you put a good few wins together, before you know it you’re back in it.

“From my point of view I just want to get playing again and do what I can to help the team. I can either play as a sitting midfielder or box to box — or a bit of both.

“I have been described as being all-action and combative, and I like to think that’s a fair description.”

Photo: TWTD

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Mullet added 17:20 - Jan 27 One thing about all of these signings. They've all come here with a point to prove. Seems like that can only help the cause.
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NSL added 17:51 - Jan 27 hope we are hiring another physio to go with these signings!
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strikalite added 18:02 - Jan 27

He's not match fit but he's a decent athlete so shouldn't take him too long....unlike his mate Dougie who still doesn't look match fit and probably never will!

Yep this hopefully will refocus him and give him a lift he desperately needed, pity another loan where if he shines we won't stand a chance of signing him in the summer, should have put a clause in saying we'll take him but we want option of buying at the end of the season.

Gforce added 18:39 - Jan 27 Hope he does well,but it looks like another very average signing to go with all the other very average signings,to go with our very average team. The future is very bleak and average.
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Chondzoresk added 19:19 - Jan 27 If I had made the above comment I would be -37 by now....
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Kentish_Tractor added 20:40 - Jan 27

Welcome to the club Toumani.

I won't be judging him until he's played 3 or 4 games (ie until he's match fit).

I'm not expecting mazey dribbles, slide-rule passes or 30-yard screamers. What I do want is 100% effort for every minute he is on that pitch. Put himself about, get stuck in, take the game to the opposition, prove to the fans he cares, let his legs do the talking, and we'll cheer for him.

KiwiBlue2 added 20:58 - Jan 27 “I have been described as being all-action and combative, and I like to think that's a fair description." - great - just hope that he offers more than 'different class', proper bloke' Dougie ........
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