Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

[Hercules]

He played well today

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Sorry but he is nowhere near good enough to be in our starting 11. He isn’t creative enough to play in the middle with a DM behind him. He can’t be trusted to take a ball into contact and come out the other side with it. I’m not ******* him off, just saying he isn’t good enough. Poor purchase from Mr Levy. I’d rather see Winks on the pitch. He can create and with our back 5 and Dier in there defending really shouldn’t be an issue. He’s improved no doubt but still not good enough for me.

 

[tony0379]

I must say, he did well today

 

[G Ron]

In my opinion that's his best performance in a Spurs shirt. Thought he was strong and disciplined. His use of the ball was so much better today. Maybe he should play in his best position more often. Keep it up!

 

[Bus-Conductor]

He played well today

Really? Sorry to pick on you again Herc, yours was just the last post, but I really don't think he played well. Only if we are judging it by his previous, dire performances?

His contribution, as an "8" in a kind of CM3 today was meh at very best.

 

[bat-chain]

Was good today. Well done Moussa.

 

[Hercules]

Really? Sorry to pick on you again Herc, yours was just the last post, but I really don't think he played well. Only if we are judging it by his previous, dire performances?

His contribution, as an "8" in a kind of CM3 today was meh at very best.

A bit harsh. He is not my kind of player, but he done a job.

 

[yankspurs]

He played better but wasnt exactly that good. A 5 out of 10 performance. Certainly better than the 1-3's we've seen from him but I think people's expectations have hit a new low level

 

[thelak]

Couple of nice through balls, few good runs, disciplined positionally and the odd bit of miscontrol now and again

Not good enough for a team with genuine aspirations of winning serious titles and would t like to see him start vs one of our serious challengers but a decent performance against an average PL team

 

[Bus-Conductor]

A bit harsh. He is not my kind of player, but he done a job.

pfft..

 

[The Apprentice]

Played well? Well? I'll need to reread the definition of playing well.

He was moderately efficient at best. He is incredibly limited with a ball at his feet, rarely has it under control and offers zero in terms of possession retention. With the ball at his feet, you can almost hear the cogs whirring in his brain.

There appears to have grown a cult within the fan base, who are desperate to praise him when he makes a five yard pass or a single tackle. It's odd, really bloody odd. Not being as shit as everyone was expecting doesn't constitute a good performance.

Sissoko and Dier in the same CM makes my eyes burn.

 

[Cravenspurs]

Would have to say as well that he didn't fuck up and that shouldn't warrant a "well done lad" rating. Winks or Son offer leaps and bounds more depending on what you are looking for.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I've been critical of him since we signed him but I thought he was alright today. Certainly not the worse performer in our team (ahem Alli)

 

[jonathanhotspur]

It looks as though he is going to feature a lot until we get the midfielder that we should have done in the previous transfer window.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Sorry but he is nowhere near good enough to be in our starting 11. He isn’t creative enough to play in the middle with a DM behind him. He can’t be trusted to take a ball into contact and come out the other side with it. I’m not ******* him off, just saying he isn’t good enough. Poor purchase from Mr Levy. I’d rather see Winks on the pitch. He can create and with our back 5 and Dier in there defending really shouldn’t be an issue. He’s improved no doubt but still not good enough for me.

Really? Sorry to pick on you again Herc, yours was just the last post, but I really don't think he played well. Only if we are judging it by his previous, dire performances?

His contribution, as an "8" in a kind of CM3 today was meh at very best.

He played better but wasnt exactly that good. A 5 out of 10 performance. Certainly better than the 1-3's we've seen from him but I think people's expectations have hit a new low level

Played well? Well? I'll need to reread the definition of playing well.

He was moderately efficient at best. He is incredibly limited with a ball at his feet, rarely has it under control and offers zero in terms of possession retention. With the ball at his feet, you can almost hear the cogs whirring in his brain.

There appears to have grown a cult within the fan base, who are desperate to praise him when he makes a five yard pass or a single tackle. It's odd, really bloody odd.

Sissoko and Dier in the same CM makes my eyes burn.

Would have to say as well that he didn't fuck up and that shouldn't warrant a "well done lad" rating. Winks or Son offer leaps and bounds more depending on what you are looking for.

Great comments.

What has happened IMO is two things. 1) Sissoko is moved (by force due to injuries or choice due to insight) to the only position I've ever though he could be of remote use to us. 2) He plays as if somebody has told him to keep it simple, and stick to the stuff that is hard to mess up. That is dish out a few tackles and interceptions, and hand the ball quickly over to the nearest Spurs player. Typical bread and butter DM stuff.

In a more restricted role, luckily it's harder for him to constantly mess up, and the consequence of one and two is that his faults are more covered up and he doesn't stand out in a negative way. On the other side, he truly does not stand out at all. That's why I'm astonished to read what many fans are perceiving as "good". How is he "good"? His accomplishments are as few as his errors.
He just doesn't mess up as much, but his contribution and influence is very much limited because in order to not mess up, his role must be limited.

Probably, it is down to Pochettino that Sissoko has evolved into a role in which his flaws aren't as apparent as last year. But to call him "good" and say that he played "well" is hugely deceiving.

I think it is interesting that on several occasions going forward, players frequently sought to pass the ball to other alternatives than Sissoko, even if Sissoko initially was in a good position to receive the ball. It might have been a coincidence, but the same pattern has happened before.

I am in no doubt that given a squad of fewer injuries than presently, Sissoko will not make the starting line up. Whether he will make the bench given a injury free squad I'm unsure about, but I suppose it's possible. Whilst awaiting the injuries to be sorted out, at least he isn't costing us points on a regular basis.

 

[JayB]

It looks as though he is going to feature a lot until we get the midfielder that we should have done in the previous transfer window.

It's amazing how short of options we are in central midfield, it's not as though Dembele's near-permacrock status or Winks's injury struggles are new developments. I hope we're in discussions with Everton for Barkley already, if Poch wants him and he wants us there is no excuse for negotiations to drag on the entire month of January.

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

It's amazing how short of options we are in central midfield, it's not as though Dembele's near-permacrock status or Winks's injury struggles are new developments. I hope we're in discussions with Everton for Barkley already, if Poch wants him and he wants us there is no excuse for negotiations to drag on the entire month of January.

Following the revelations about Dembele I think we now know why we wanted/needed Ross Barkley. A fully fit Barkley versus a the Sissoko kid....no contest.

 

[EQP]

So if Dele had scored from the pass that Sissoko laid off to him, would opinions of his performance changed? Or would the comments read "bar the assist for the goal, I thought he was shite".

 

[Vincent30]

I think Aurier has a big part to play as well, Sissoko genuinely looks happier and more comfortable out there playing with his pal. Great to see and gives us extra depth in CM, with Dembele and Wanyama struggling for fitness. Two performances at CM and not bad at all.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

So if Dele had scored from the pass that Sissoko laid off to him, would opinions of his performance changed? Or would the comments read "bar the assist for the goal, I thought he was shite".

Good point. Let's blame it all on Dele and call it good.