Habib Diallo and Ibrahima Sissoko, here at the duel last January in Metz, are now teammates.
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JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP
His arrival surprised at the end of the transfer window: Habib Diallo had signed up with RC Strasbourg.
FC Metz had accepted compensation estimated at 10 million euros.
After the international break, the Senegalese could don the blue jersey for the first time in Ligue 1, Sunday against Lyon.
Alone in front?
With another attacker?
With whom in support?
We try to answer all that.
He is the most expensive player in the history of RC Strasbourg.
Transferred from FC Metz at the very end of the transfer window against compensation estimated at 10 million euros, Habib Diallo is eagerly awaited in Alsace.
The Senegalese striker, back from selection this Thursday afternoon, could play on Sunday against Lyon at La Meinau (3 p.m.).
Will he be the holder?
With who by his side?
His new trainer Thierry Laurey will decide, but that does not prevent us from asking some questions about the future use of the old garnet.
Whose profile is reminiscent of another center forward, his new teammate, Ludovic Ajorque ...
“Diallo is a surface striker: good header, opportunistic, relatively skillful but he is not someone who will make deep calls.
It does not bring speed or percussion, ”explains Bernard Zénier, former player emeritus of FC Metz and since a constant follower of the club.
“To put it simply, he is closer to Icardi than to Mbappé.
"
In Metz, he played alone in front
Either an attacker who is not very creative in the game but able to complete the actions.
Last season, the Senegalese did so with 12 goals, including one from the penalty spot.
It was his first good year in Ligue 1, after a full exercise on the lower floor (26 goals including 10 from penalties).
In Lorraine, the player used to evolve alone in front.
Very rarely with another striker, but rather with two wingers in 4-3-3.
In Alsace, the implementation of this same system would mean the sacrifice of Ajorque, little in success since the resumption of the championship (1 goal).
On the wings, they would be four to fight for two places: Waris, Thomasson, Chahiri, Bellegarde or even Liénard.
“They can also play two up front, 4-4-2.
It does not seem incompatible to make Ajorque and Diallo play together ”, continues the former striker, top scorer in Division 1 in 1987.
Mercato RC Strasbourg: Headquarters of FC Metz tagged, anger… Habib Diallo's transfer created jolts https://t.co/Y8dhUK4Xm2 via @ 20minuteStras via @ 20minutesStras pic.twitter.com/YEe7RR6mEh
- 20 Minutes Strasbourg (@ 20minutesstras) October 6, 2020
In this case, the wingers could keep their place and the midfielder could also be made up of two more defensive elements, like Aholou or Djiku, if the latter continues to no longer play in central defense.
Another possibility is to return to 3-5-2 for a long time so dear to Thierry Laurey.
It has the advantage of leaving a duo in front… but also of feeding it in the center.
"Diallo needs it, he cuts the trajectories well and has progressed in his deviations", further details Zénier.
“The balls have to get in front of the goal for him.
"
"A complete and very skilful player in front of the goal"
With Lala, Caci and Carole, he could be served.
Provided also that they return to their precision of yesteryear ... In the meantime, the arrival of the Senegalese pleases in the Strasbourg locker room, which had seen Lebo Mothiba be seriously injured in mid-August.
"It's very satisfying to see a striker of this caliber land," reacts Adrien Thomasson.
Before extending my contract (for 3 years), I requested certain sports guarantees.
The recruiting proves that the club is ambitious.
Having faced him twice last year, I remember a complete and very skilled player in front of goal.
He had hurt us by scoring at the Meinau.
Sunday, no one will blame him.
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