Dan’s BLUE print for wideman Dia
DANNY Cowley plans to take a leaf out of Pep Guardiola’s book when it comes to getting the best out of flying wingman Adama Diakhaby.
The Town boss has noted how Raheem Sterling’s performances have been transformed at Manchester City and believes they provide a blueprint for the Terriers’ 23-year-old Frenchman.
Diakhaby started Cowley’s first match with the club against Sheffield Wednesday and has been on the bench for the matches against West Brom, Millwall and Stoke last night.
He was unlucky not to earn a penalty when he came on against Millwall when being shoved over in the b o x by Shaun Williams and was directly responsible for the dismissal of Shane Ferguson, who was twice yellow carded for hauling him down. And last night he set up Juninho Bacuna’s winner at Stoke.
So how does Cowley now get end product from the former AS Monaco player?
“He has unbelievable athleticism and moves really, really well,” said the new manager.
We would like him to
get behind the full-backs as opposed to
in front of them
“We are working hard with him in terms of his double movements and if we can get him quick ball in one versus one situations, in open space, then he is going to be difficult to defend.
“We would like to get him behind the full-backs as opposed to in front of the full-backs because you have only got to look at the Raheem Sterlings of this world to see how this can work.
“Pep Guardiola has completely changed his game and stopped him coming to the ball, so now he is receiving the ball behind the full-backs.
“You see so many wingers in modern-day football who want to come to the ball, receive it then come inside and bend a shot towards the top corner.
“That gets you five goals a season and they are probably five really good goals, but if you want to be a top player you need to receive the ball behind the full-backs and then you become the Raheem Sterling who scores 20 goals, scoring at the back post, always getting behind defences and assisting as many as he is scoring.
“Those are the type of wingers we like and that’s the type of work we are trying to do with Dia (Diakhaby).
“Because he has some qualities I can’t give him – I can’t make him move like he moves – and he is an exciting prospect.”