Modeste M'Bami v Alou Diarra

[ToxtethBlue]

We've been linked with Marseille's M'Bami and Bordeaux's Diarra of late and I was just wondering which one out of the two would be the best option for Evertons new defensive midfielder.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Diarra, but I'd believe that he'd cost a lot more. Though really, there's no comparison, Diarra's better physically and I think he reads the game better too.

[NicolasN.]

Diarra is better. M'Bami never found back the form he had before his injury in 2004.

[ToxtethBlue]

What type of midfielder is M'Bami? Who's he similar to in style?

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

He'd be a poor man's, make that a beggar's, Makélélé.

[ToxtethBlue]

What about Diarra. Would he do well in England? He seems to have the right attributes and stature. What are his strengths and weaknesses.

[Catel]

Nope nope nope. Both are very different from each other.

Diarra is a Vieira-like. Really strong but not much technique.
M'Bami is an Essien-like. He's better in a 6/8 position. He has much technique but requires a good pure n°6 to show all his possibilities like he was doing with Lorik Cana at PSG.

I'd prefer M'Bami leaves. He's only a backup for Marseille. Diarra is vital to Bordeaux.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Diarra was actually briefly on the books of your rivals in red early in his career, as Houllier signed him. He was loaned out throughout that spell, though, so it's hard to say how he'd do in the EPL as he really didn't get the opportunity. In any case, Diarra has a Vieira-like physique, which is the main strength he would add to a team. He's very strong in terms of stature and tackling, while a threat on set pieces due to his height. His weaknesses are he has no offensive game and his passing/distribution, while not horrible, is not the class of a Xabi Alonso, obviously. But that part of his game isn't as bad as Momo Sissoko, either.

[ToxtethBlue]

Diarra sounds more of what where looking for. We have a small but creative midfield with the likes of Arteta, Fernandes and Pienaar so we need a tall ball winner alongside them.

Is Diarra quick? Where looking for someone quite mobile in the middle. With those long legs I supspect he is.

How much would we be looking at spending on him?

[Catel]

I guess he's not to sell.
1) Bordeaux bought him to Lyon only one year ago for 9M euros.
2) Bordeaux is qualified for the Champion's League.
3) He's a major piece of the team.
4) French are sick and fed up to see every year 20 of the best players of the League leaving for England and Spain with no possibility to replace them because nobody wants to come.

[ToxtethBlue]

Would he be interested in joining a club like Everton?

[SportBoy333]

I have not seen one French article about Diarra going to Everton. Would he want to go there ? I dont know but if you showed him the money I bet he would.

[Catel]

Every player in France wants to go to England.

If you really want you should directly transfer the French professionnal federation in England and rename the EPL "International French-Spanish League of England", it would be quickier.

An article in France Football today says that the English clubs recruit now 15-16 year old French players in order to respect the European quotas of players trained by the club !!

I hate being considered as a supermarket !

[SportBoy333]

Yeah looks like that "footpro 2012" plan is right on track. :rolleyes:

What did the idiot with the mustache say in his little plan ?
2/3 Ligue 1 players in the national team ? Well they just lost another one in Nasri. Maybe by 2012 they'll be at 1/4 instead.

2 Ligue 1 teams in the Champions League quaterfinals ? Yeah I dont think we'll be seeing OM there anytime soon. When you have Everton trying to nab Bordeaux's best players I dont think we'll be seeing them there either. Maybe by 2012 St. Etienne will be the best team in Europe.......NAH.

[guignol]

m'bami is like half an essien, (or using 38M€ as a yardstick, perhaps 8 to 10% of an essien), but diarra will soon be a fullblown vieira.

the 7.75M€ [correction] bordeaux paid OL for him was a steal, only possible because alou was very unhappy with his playing time behind toulalan. he was both perfectly expendable and furiously want-away, and neither is the case today. he's still got 3 years on his contract with girondins, and note that he turned down portsmouth to go there... pompey were the ones that offered 9M€ for him.

that said, he could one day fit very well in the EPL. betting that in 2 years he'll go to an english club who plays the CL for 20M€ would not be a longshot.