West Bromwich Albion: Fans feel Baggies miss Grady Diangana

Following West Bromwich Albion’s defeat to Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon, many of the club’s faithful took to Twitter to highlight how much the side misses Grady Diangana when he is not playing.

Slaven Bilic’s side were stunned 2-0 when Daniel Ayala and Ashley Fletcher fired home, leaving the Baggies sitting in second place in the Championship ahead of their New Year’s Day encounter with Leeds United at the top of the division.

Fans would have been disappointed with the result and, perhaps, with how their side performed in front of a Hawthorns crowd, however it was clear many of them had missed Diangana’s presence on the field.

The West Ham United loanee, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury he picked up against Birmingham City, has been a real threat for the Baggies when available, as he has managed to bag himself five goals and provide a further five assists to his team-mates in the 19 matches he has played in so far this season (per WhoScored).

Indeed, supporters could not believe how much of an impact the 21-year-old winger has had during his short spell in the Midlands, with many of the West Brom faithful believing their performance without him against Middlesbrough only went to highlight how key of a cog he is in Bilic’s machine.

Here are just some of their reactions…

From what I heard on the radio we were awful regardless of the ref. Need a long hard look at ourselves. Some of the viewpoint their knackered. Reinforcements needed. We look different without Diangana. Worryingly so much different.

— Rich Gibson (@suede1980) December 29, 2019

#wba I think without Gibbs and Diangana,the whole of the left side is compromised. Gibbs gets forwards and overlaps with excellent balls into the box. Diangana’s pace with his ability to go passed players opens up space for Pereira to play in. Both are a huge loss at the moment.

— BAILEY (@BAGGIEBAIL) December 29, 2019

Diagana & pereira are Special with out both playing we are not even medioca team Edward’s or Wilcock

— STEVE HILL (@mahill1970) December 29, 2019

Without Diangana this team cannot make goals

— Jack (@Jackmaywba) December 29, 2019

Miles off it again today,Started the game off slow again,weve rode our luck in recent games and today caught up on us,badly missing diangana pace in team and edwards isnt answer for me#wba

— Adam fisher (@adamfisher1985) December 29, 2019

That’s been coming for a few weeks now. Make no mistake, the referee was shambolic but we only have ourselves to blame. We have been far too pedestrian on the ball at times, and have really missed Diangana’s pace and guile off the ball going forward #wba

— Jack (@JackBradleySJ) December 29, 2019

Need diagana back. 1 upfront only Adam on bench. Need 3 players jan and Gayle. Rot started in when made 2 many changes at wigan

— Gazt (@Gazt20) December 29, 2019

The loss of Diangana has been massive ! We need One or two technically gifted players, and a Striker in January, it’s becoming more and more aparrent that our squad isn’t strong enough to maintain a promotion push.

— NEIL.WBA (@vespaned) December 29, 2019

@sportbbcwm result was what we have deserved the last few weeks.
Lucky against Wigan, lucky against brentford. Slav got it wrong for once today playing Barry he was 2nd to every loose ball.
Yet again we concede off a corner. No cutting edge without diangana driving forward. #wba

— Matt Baker (@bakermatt86) December 29, 2019

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again without diangana we have no threat he stretches the defence so well and most importantly has final product. Really concerned with the other players in this squad no where near good enough to play for a team competing to get in prem #wba

— Warren Bishop (@WBAvlogs) December 29, 2019