Tuesday saw a surprising piece of news for Newcastle United fans, and it seemed to only exacerbate the split in the fanbase when it comes to individual thoughts on midfielder Mohamed Diame.
The Chronicle reported that following on from the improved extension deal for skipper Jamaal Lascelles, the club were now planning to tie down Diame with a new deal as well.
The 31-year-old player is the only senior one now near a contract expiry so it makes sense on that front at least, but given his performance by and large in 2018/19 there are some fans who simply cannot understand the decision if it proves to be true.
For balance, there are those who feel he still has some legs in him and in the expectation he shows consistent improvement, they are happy with a small extension as long as it doesn’t overly eat into any available funds for manager Rafa Benitez in the January transfer window.
“It’s like a new signing” #NUFC
— Leslie Chu (@lesliechu17) November 5, 2018
I think there's still another season after this left in him. Ideally you'd like to think we can sign a better CM in the summer and use Diame from the bench.
— James (@james_89d) November 5, 2018
I don't mind him getting a new deal tbh. My worry is its another colocini. We needed another cb and we gave colo a new deal instead. Diame will be a good player to keep, but we need another holding midfielder
— Shaun (@ShaunGrey22) November 5, 2018
seriously , he's bloody hopeless.
— Grahamy nufc (@Grahamy76) November 5, 2018
No ambition
— David Stratton (Slothy Vlogs) (@nufcshifty) November 5, 2018
Please tell me it’s at another club ?
— S C OTTW (@ScottwallaceW) November 5, 2018
With the suggestion being it’s a games played based clause that leads to an extension, ultimately the thoughts of fans are a little irrelevant here, but that’s hardly new in the modern game.