Liverpool buy Salif (I have not scored a goal in 6 seasons) Diao

Marching

Somehow still supports Leeds
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Liverpool complete £5m Diao swoop

Monday 27th May 2002

Liverpool have completed the signing of Senegal midfielder Salif Diao for a fee of £5 million. The former Sedan star was a key player as Senegal reached the final of the African Nations Cup in Mali in February.

Diao had already signed a pre-contract deal with the Reds, and the deal has been finalised after the re-opening of the French transfer window, according to L'Equipe.

After choosing not to pursue their interest in forward Nicolas Anelka, Liverpool have also been linked with Diao's international colleague El Hadji Diouf, and their intetrest in Senegal's rising stars comes as no surprise to national coach Bruno Metsu.

"People are getting to know El Hadji Diouf and he's a great talent about whom people will be talking after the World Cup," he said last week, "but we have other great players, like Salif Diao and Ferdinand Coly, who might not be playing in France for much longer."

Having won the French title with Monaco in 2000, Diao may have felt best days were already behind him. Barely into his mid-20s, his participation in that title-winning side represented the pinnacle of Diao's three-season stint at Monaco, although he barely made a first-team appearance all season.

Having started off as fairly regular member of the Monaco side after arriving from second division Epinal in December 1997, Diao's first-team opportunities gradually dwindled and it was something of a relief when Sedan signed him at the start of the 2000-01 season.

While the small top-flight side from the Ardennes region of France marked something of a comedown from the bright lights of Monaco, Diao settled well at Sedan and quickly became a regular member of the first-team squad. That also allowed him to get the match practice necessary to convince Metsu of his value.

Despite having lived in France since he was 17, Diao remains proud of his Senegalese background, and he was to have a surprisingly important role to play in his country's progress to the final of the 2002 African Nations Cup in Mali.

Not exactly famous for his goalscoring record - he had never scored a goal in six seasons in a French league game - Diao nonetheless scored two of the most important goals of Senegal's campaign.

The first, a glancing header, gave Senegal confidence as they took a 1-0 lead against DR Congo in the quarter-finals. The second, a miscued scuff in extra-time against Nigeria, took them to the final.
 
First thing that springs to mind is that money must be tight at Anfield - what with the new stadium and all.
They looked all set to sign Anelka for £13m, announce plans for a new stadium, drop Anelka, then sign someone else for £5. Saved themselves a nice little £8m there, they did.
Oh, and I suppose, if this signing is comfirmed, all the scouse cnuts will be saying he's the most exciting young player in the world now - not Cisse ;)
 
Originally posted by the reporter:
<strong>First thing that springs to mind is that money must be tight at Anfield - what with the new stadium and all.
They looked all set to sign Anelka for £13m, announce plans for a new stadium, drop Anelka, then sign someone else for £5. Saved themselves a nice little £8m there, they did.</strong><hr></blockquote>

eh?

Diao is a CM..what makes you think he's a "replacement" for Anelka?
 
Sorry about that ... got a little mixed up didn't I :(
I've got my coat, I'm leaving in embarrasment... you'll not see me in these parts again... :(
 
Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>Yet another average run-of-the mill player bought by Liverpool</strong><hr></blockquote>


strange that we finished above you lot in the league and beat you 3 times last season with all these "average, run-of-the-mill" players, isn't it?

clearly we should be paying £28M for all our midfielders, that way we'd DEFINITELY win the league. . .

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by michael owen's mum:
<strong>


strange that we finished above you lot in the league and beat you 3 times last season with all these "average, run-of-the-mill" players, isn't it?

clearly we should be paying £28M for all our midfielders, that way we'd DEFINITELY win the league. . .

:rolleyes: </strong><hr></blockquote>

Do you reckon this bloke will improve your team?
 
Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>

Do you reckon this bloke will improve your team?</strong><hr></blockquote>


in all honesty, i don't - but he'll improve the squad.

and i've only seen a wee bit of him in action, in the african cup of nations for senegal and for monaco a few seasons ago - but then again sami hyypia didn't look all that when playing for willem II. . .i trust GH's judgement.
 
Can't understand why Liverpool are signing another central midfielder. They are already overcrowded there. What they really need is a wide man - someone like Overmars. To be honest, though, I'm glad they're wasting money trying to improve a position that needs no improving :)
 
Originally posted by michael owen's mum:
<strong>
in all honesty, i don't - but he'll improve the squad.

and i've only seen a wee bit of him in action, in the african cup of nations for senegal and for monaco a few seasons ago - but then again sami hyypia didn't look all that when playing for willem II. . .i trust GH's judgement.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Isn't it great that Hyypia gets mentioned again, one inspired signing and all is well with you guys, conveniently forgetting he's also signed the likes of Diomede, Biscan, Ferri, Donkey for millions.

Before you go on about Veron *again*, let's see if he value soars after the World Cup.
 
Originally posted by the reporter:
<strong>Oh, and I suppose, if this signing is comfirmed, all the scouse cnuts will be saying he's the most exciting young player in the world now - not Cisse ;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

and of course he was a boyhood Liverpool fan and had a picture of Thommo on the wall :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>

and of course he was a boyhood Liverpool fan and had a picture of Thommo on the wall :rolleyes: </strong><hr></blockquote>


it seems that he was in fact a boyhood manyoo fan and had a picture of bryan robson on his wall.

but obviously he's no longer interested in moving to a club on a downward spiral. . .

;)
 
Originally posted by michael owen's mum:
<strong>

but obviously he's no longer interested in moving to a club on a downward spiral. . .

;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

You mean one of the best four clubs in Europe? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
 
Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>

You mean one of the best four clubs in Europe? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>


ah, so you're saying that you wanted him?

;)
 
Diao is not there for scoring goals. He is a squad player who is there for defensive midfield duties....Typical. GH looks for players who can do a job but wont grumble for a season or two. Then he will ofload and get another 3 to 4 million player. I bet he is big, tall and strong....DONKEY II.

It is clear that Gh wants Cisse. So why is he disrupting Kanoute. Maybe to try and lower the price.
 
Originally posted by Due South:
<strong>Diao is not there for scoring goals. He is a squad player who is there for defensive midfield duties....Typical. GH looks for players who can do a job but wont grumble for a season or two. Then he will ofload and get another 3 to 4 million player. I bet he is big, tall and strong....DONKEY II.

It is clear that Gh wants Cisse. So why is he disrupting Kanoute. Maybe to try and lower the price.</strong><hr></blockquote>


GH has made absolutely no comment about kanouté, and neither has liverpool fc - any comment about that rumour has come solely from the kanouté camp.

and you've seen a lot of salif diao, i take it. . ?