10 Jan 2026 19:39:16
I watched a strange amount of Southampton last year, and without fail, Dibling was the standout player - so much so that i thought he was nailed on to go to Liverpool or United for about 80m at the end of the season.
I was So excited when we were linked with him, and gutted when the bids were rejected, and if I had to pick between him and Grealish, I would have picked him all day.
He was quick, direct, could hold off any player and dribble like Ndiaye. I have no idea what has happened to him.
I think he has been mostly dreadful, but I genuinely think it's on Moyes (as I think most things are) . He is forced to do so much defensively that he is never actually in space, and the way his game time was handled early on makes me think he's terrified of making a mistake, in case he gets dropped for it - but ironically, the nerviness is making him play absolutely awfully.
He looks like he can't dribble, he slows the game down every time he gets it and his passing is wayward. I look at Barry and I wonder how anyone greenlit that deal, but I look at Dibling and I don't see the player I saw last year. One thing is for certain, though, we won't get Anything out of him while Moyes continues to use him as he is, and Moyes won't give him any other role to play while he's playing as badly as he is.
I think he may be another Lookman, who we cut our losses on in a year and then in 3 years he's moving to Spurs or Chelsea for 70m because he's fulfilled his potential elsewhere under a manager who doesn't absolutely destroy his confidence each week.
10 Jan 2026 20:08:15
Oh he can dribble but in circles. Patterson ran forward at one point and this young man decided to pass the ball to the space where Patterson was not but a sunderland player was running to, cue panic and lucky escape.
10 Jan 2026 20:20:21
Fair comment Alex, have to say I felt the same when I watched the lad.
10 Jan 2026 20:36:03
Dibling is crap, if we have the guts to admit we made error of judgment, and cut our losses, we might recover 10m, if we're luckey.
10 Jan 2026 20:52:19
How has Moyes destroyed his confidence. He was nailed on to go nowhere - Liverpool etc! didn't come in for him nor any of the 'big' Clubs. The reason! at that fee, they would want him to step up, almost at once. I believe Moyes thought (scout reports) that to, so pushed for him at £40 odd mill, then along came Grealish and KDH so Moyes thought he could nurse Dibling along.
Watched him at BMD a few now, he dribbles round in circles, flashes of attack minded but few and far between. Today he was hopeless, even McNeil (awful) was better on the right, how damning is that. Those around me were of the same opinion.
{Ed025's Note - i would take 40p now..
10 Jan 2026 22:21:48
Strange because last week you thought the lad had a bright future?
11 Jan 2026 00:50:21
Did I say bright future, thought I said he has something. I still do but confidence is a huge asset and bluntly his is dwindling.