Lamine Diatta Hoping For Newcastle Stay

Tuesday April 8th, 2008 by Ed Harrison· 48 Comments

Lamine Diatta has a contract only through the end of this season and then Newcastle will need to decide whether they should extend the contract further.

Lamine Diatta - wants to stay at the Tyneside club

In order for Newcastle to judge the Senegal captain we would think he has to have at least a couple of full games, but Kevin rightly is more concerned at the moment in stacking up as many wins as possible.

Indeed, when Stephen Taylor turned up on Saturday, he was quick to put young 20 year-old David Edgar in there, and he repaid the faith shown by Keegan, by a solid performance.

Of course Diatta is vastly experienced, and in the short 10 minutes or so he played on Saturday, he didn’t look at all out of place.

Diatta said today:

“It was my first game, and I was very happy to play. It was a very special atmosphere.”“The most important thing was the three points, and I was very happy for my team.”

“It was my first game in the Premier League, and it is a difficult league, but I believe I can help the team.”

Diatta is a close friend of Faye and fellow countryman Habib Beye, and that may even help him get an extended contract at the club, since both Beye and Faye are the best signings Big Sam made for us last summer. Also Lamine has played with both of them many times for Senegal, and he will know well how they both play.

Diatta added:

“I’m very happy at the club.” “I have been made very welcome by my team-mates.”“I’m enjoying the training, and I want to prove myself to the manager.”

“Habib Beye, my Senegal team-mate, has been a great help, as has Abdoulaye Faye.”

“They have told me what a great club this is, and I want to stay here with them.”

Lamine certainly seemed very positive with almost everything at the club, which is good. The first team squad has a couple of days off after their exertions on Saturday, but they will be back training tomorrow, ready for a tough game at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Another 3 points against Portsmouth and we should be mathematically safe from relegation and the mood on Tyneside will be elevated even more, in expectation of great times ahead.

Comments welcome.

Tags: Newcastle News · Lamine Diatta

48 responses so far ↓

1 Davy C // Apr 8, 2008 at 14:32

It’s a tough one. We don’t want a riduculously huge squad but we do want decent players in it.

Ten minutes is not enough to judge Diatta yet. Maybe Keegan will try him again. He was brought in to try and bolster the defence if things couldn’t get any better but he’s not desperately needed in that sense anymore. I think we should look to get a more experienced, Premiership proven defender.

I’m still not convinced about Taylor and Edgar made a couple of howlers that would have been punished by a slightly better team.

KK knows wht he’s doing though so I’ll happily leave him to it!!!!
2 Eric // Apr 8, 2008 at 14:42

Give Diatta time. KK will not make a bad decision. I think he has experience and rapport with Beye and Faye. And I think he can keep Taylor and Edgar on their toes. Where does that
leave Cacapa? I would give Diatta another year on his contract. He gave off some good vibes for his short ten minutes.
3 HeronMag // Apr 8, 2008 at 14:46

You missed out Jose Enrique in Sam’s best signings there Ed.

For me he’s been excellent and is improving all the time. He’s not on Beye’s level but he’s been as good as Faye.
4 Obafan // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:00

If he is not played often than KK defo has given him a contract to see how things work out between Diatta and the other players. I also think his attitude has been very mature.

KK will make a decision IMO by watching his attitude (at training and with other players) cause KK will already be sure of his qualities, otherwise he would not have given him a contract!

He will stay IMO and that will be a good case. But we can not judge on him after just 8 minutes when the team was leading 3-0.
5 dougnufc // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:05

We are going for Metzelder, I would love it if he came

Tall, fast defender
6 STE // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:10

I don’t understand why there is any negativity about Taylor and Edgar. These two and rest of our young players can learn by these types of players! Terry played next to Desailly as an 18 year old! I not say that we have a Desailly as such, but Edgar and Taylor will only get better with experienced heads around them. We’ve spent millions on defences before and look where that got us;
Bomsong
Bramble
Woodgate
To name a few.
And its just left fantastic goal keepers exposed!
Yeah of course it’s nice to be linked with world class defenders and if we get them, great! But lets get these young lads learning and playing together and for each other!!!
7 Cogsy // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:11

I don’t think there is anything wrong with keeping him for another season.
He looked strong for the short time he was on on sat and could play a part in next season if he continues to progress in the way enrique has.
Think we’ll know by the end of the season if he can cut it
8 sean // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:17

how old is this guy anyway ????
9 Tom_Toon // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:19

Metzelder is world clas for 3 games a season………because hes injured for the rest of them!
10 ToonKing // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:26

sean i think he’s 32
11 scott9 // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:26

ive heard about metzelder he would be an exellent signing if we sign 5 players i would hope they would be something like this
metzelder
bridge
veloso
deco
gomis
haha i now its a bit ambitous but as keegan says u never no in football
12 RAHUL // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:33

agree with tom_toon metzelder is world class, but injured far too often
when fit one of the best central defenders in europe
too bad what a waste of talent
13 Cogsy // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:34

ED- in the banner Keegan’s wearing a man city jacket. Get it off!
14 Leo // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:35

hes 31 i think, but he can do a job for us

i dont think he will start against pompey, if taylor isnt fit it will be edgar and faye because lamine doesnt need to be torn apart by pompeys pace in his first full game

he might get a game against the mackams with the arial threat of jones…
15 scottish mag // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:51

where is everyone hearing about metzelder
16 Spot The Zebra // Apr 8, 2008 at 15:51

Lamine Diatta was born July 2, 1975 which makes him 33 this summer.Bloody hell man.
17 Hadji // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:02

I hope we sell Smith in the summer and get Radamel Falcao as his replacement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJPgU3iPOHg
18 Dirk // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:07

off topic, but i was wondering ed if you could set up a player rater for us? like the bbc hav, i think it would be interesting to see how we all rate the players performance after each match.
19 joel // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:17

LISTEN!
please can you go on my website blog and do my polls and read my info which i picked up from newspaper articles: this means anyone can go on my website ( the website is )

http://newcastleunitedforever.blogspot.com/
20 joel // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:26

when you done my blog you lot tell me what you think of it (hose who have done it , do it again theres new info and new polls to do.)

thanks
21 joel // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:40

obafan are you there
22 Leo // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:42

JOEL I SAID BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, ed has advertisement packages available, dont use his website as a mindless ad campaign for your own good. its not fair on eds good work, ofcourse unless he said you can, then i apologise.
23 joel // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:48

sorry LEO your right
24 joel // Apr 8, 2008 at 16:50

ED HARRISON can i speak too you now PLEASE ……. w/b
25 Obafan // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:12

Joel - I just answered your poll questions on your site.

Do you need me for something???
26 Tom_Toon // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:15

Boussoufa - Ed have you not seen the news (edit)
27 ToonKing // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:31

agree tom_toon if lennon can cut it so can Boussoufa, plus he has two legs instead of one.
28 Sunderland are s***e // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:34

bafetimbi gomis scored for st etienne at the weekend. well taken goal but i would have been suprised if he missed it.
29 Obafan // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:44

Not so convinced Boussoufa would be a great player in the EPL. He is not that powerful, but very skillful.

I just read on Belgian Teletekst that scouts of NUFC are following him a couple of weeks.

When he got substituted last Sunday, he was a bit angry, maybe he knew there were scouts in the stands for him .
30 Spyro // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:47

whats all this boussoufa talk, he is good but where did the news come from
31 nate // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:49

Who plays left back for Senegal? Perhaps we can get him and then have the entire Senegal defense as our defense, at least they would speak the same language and have experience together.

Just joking, sort of.
32 Luke // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:53

STE… woodgate… EH!?

when fit he was the most assured toon centreback I’ve ever seen, and we made a profit on him which has to tell you something. I was GUTTED tottenham took him ahead of us. Despite the poor game he had against us recently, the man is quality. But alas he’s also a smoggie!
33 Tom_Toon // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:53

For a couple of weeks!?!? Sounds like ikts got some substance rather than just speculation.
34 Tom_Toon // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:58

Newcastle United following the operations of Mbark Boussoufa emphatically The Anderlecht midfielder of state of English kwaliteitskrant The Daily Mail on the list of the English middenmoter.

The Moroccan international this season could not have indelible impression with Anderlecht and is not even a solid choice in the base. Nevertheless, the 23-year old Boussoufa still seen as a great talent and there are plenty of clubs ready to take him to lijven.

Apart from Newcastle, the former Ajacied also in the interest of Hamburger SV, RC Lens, Saint-Etienne, Olympique Marseille and his old employer Ajax. Volgens The Daily Mail is Newcastle echter het meest concreet. According to The Daily Mail is Newcastle However, the most concrete.

froma belgian website.
35 Spyro // Apr 8, 2008 at 17:59

hmm, how much will he cost, it is true wot people are saying though, he is a bit of a lightweight
36 ToonKing // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:00

@nate, senegal played 3 defenders at the ACN so no left back ….
37 ToonKing // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:01

hmmmm so this could actually happen…… we’ll just have to see how he does, he’s small and weak but fast and tricky, could work….
38 ToonKing // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:02

he wouldn’t cost to much, i guess we could get him for around 3-4 million.
39 Tom_Toon // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:03

Hes lightweight but less lightweight than lennon who hacks it!
40 Spyro // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:11

i suppose, i think we should try go for Chelsea Scott Sinclair, he has been great for Palace, has great dribbling and delivery
41 ToonRich // Apr 8, 2008 at 18:21

What is with you lot saying the lightweights cant cut it in the EPL…look at the likes of C.Ronaldo and Nani, they started off as little wimps now look at them. I dont think we should rule out moves for the smaller players, a team of 6footers wont gaurantee us anything!
42 Thomas // Apr 8, 2008 at 19:54

we need a defender with passion, thats the key ingredient at the back.

The towering Diego Lugano would be a shoe-in, he has become a legend at sao paulo and fenerbahce with his never-say-die attitude, wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Having watched him on numerous occasions, i think he’d literally fall in love with the geordie nation and do us proud.
43 Obafan // Apr 8, 2008 at 20:50

Like mentionned Boussoufa not always n,umber 1 at Anderlecht, who do not have their best season (now they perform a bit better than in the first half of the season when they were 6th in the league table).

So in what way could he strengthen NUFC, really don’t know where of how.
44 Obafan // Apr 8, 2008 at 21:55

Tom_Toon - good translation from my language Dutch to yours English .

Very nice for me to read a couple of words in Dutch here on this blog.
45 Ausgeordie // Apr 9, 2008 at 2:47

He looked strong but I think hes a bit old. He could have one more season in him as a serious back, give him some time with the reserves to teach them a few things then let him go. We must be able to do better and I’d rather have less Africans becaue of the Cup that will leave us with our best players all gone.
46 Toooooooooooooooooon // Apr 9, 2008 at 3:57

we need an experience defenders:
terry learn from desaille
Agger learn from Carragher
Ledley King used to learn from Campbell
Vidic learn from ferdinand
Lescott learn from Yobo
47 iain // Apr 9, 2008 at 6:43

i think hes basically battling cacapa to see who is the most suited to the pl and be our 4th/5th choice back up ch with one leaving in the summer.

rozehnal will leave as well imo and be replaced.
48 Mr T // Apr 9, 2008 at 12:40

Vidic didn’t learn from Ferdinand!!!

Ferdinand is GASH!!!