Diaby was a key part of our good start (Newcastle excepted) in 2023/24 and was particularly sharp during our purple patch in the autumn, when we seemed to be smashing teams by 4s and 5s every other week.
There was a regular spell there where almost any time the ball went down the right flank at VP, with any two of Bailey, Diaby and Watkins combining (and sometimes all three) that a goal felt almost inevitable. I've rarely felt that way watching the Villa.
He dropped of a bit when Bailey really came to the fore, and was prob miffed at having to come of the bench when (a) we'd spent so much money on him and (b) part of the reason he came to the club was to become a regular in the French national side.
Though the latter always seemed doomed to failure with Deschamps picking the squad.
