Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

[Gassin's finest]

Christ, I feel a bit sorry for anyone who comes up against him this season.

 

[Shadydan]

I'm very impressed with how much effort he has put in on his downtime, but if I can be a negative asshole for a minute I feel like he doesn't need much more focus on his athletic ability and over this pre-season I'd like to see him focus on improving his technical ability, speed of passing, technique on shooting, it shouldn't be that hard to keep a shot down for a professional footballer, especially when the type of shots he takes on are very similar situations so he could focus specifically on that type of movement. He has very few equals in terms of physical ability, he also has a great understanding tactically, great position and covers well. If he can just improve that technical side even a little bit, he would be an incredible dm.

I'd imagine he needs to get himself back in shape before he start to focus on that, I'm sure he's aware that he needs to improve his tekkers though.

 

[wrd]

I'd imagine he needs to get himself back in shape before he start to focus on that, I'm sure he's aware that he needs to improve his tekkers though.

Yeah thats why its great to see he gave himself a head start in the offseason, hopefully it doesnt take him long to get up to speed in pre-season and he can improve the tekkers. Im in the winks/ndombele pivot camp but I could see sissoko playing himself into the wanyama spot and allowing ndombele to taks the dembele spot. Great to have competition.

 

[Spurrific]

I really hope you're not in the UK...!

I was thinking the same - the idea of nachos and coca cola at 8am gave me heart palpitations.

 

[synththfc]

Seems to be the man tasked (self-imposed or otherwise) with helping Ndombele settle in. Makes sense that he would, but also shows what a good character he is to have around the dressing room. Ultimate professional.

 

[Shadydan]

Him and Ndombele in midfield together this season is gonna be a madness.

 

[littlemandefoe]

I see this guy being our Kante...

 

[JCRD]

Him and Ndombele in midfield together this season is gonna be a madness.

Fucking WWE tag team

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

I'm very impressed with how much effort he has put in on his downtime, but if I can be a negative asshole for a minute I feel like he doesn't need much more focus on his athletic ability and over this pre-season I'd like to see him focus on improving his technical ability, speed of passing, technique on shooting, it shouldn't be that hard to keep a shot down for a professional footballer, especially when the type of shots he takes on are very similar situations so he could focus specifically on that type of movement. He has very few equals in terms of physical ability, he also has a great understanding tactically, great position and covers well. If he can just improve that technical side even a little bit, he would be an incredible dm.

At 29 it's unlikely he'll improve his technical skills but he doesn't need to. Apologies for stating the obvious but it's a team game and we have others to make penetrating passes or find the net. He's a powerhouse with superhuman stamina, exemplary attitude and discipline, and excellent tactical and positional sense, and if he keeps that up, which he will, he'll always be a tremendous asset to the team. Sissoko does things Messi could never do, nor for that matter Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, etc etc. Just needs to pick up where he left off last season and he's a starter for one of Europe's top teams.

 

[sausage]

I don't know who writes the Software for life, but I think they need to be a bit more creative with the "regens"...

 

[coys200]

I don’t think Ndombele fitness is anywhere near yet. If you take peak Ndombele that I’ve seen with this version of Sissoko it will be a formidable duo. And I think them being mates will actually give an extra 5% to the partnership.

 

[TheChosenOne]

 

[Shadydan]

 

[Archibald-CPH]

Poor first touch, poor finishing and hesitating when finishing.

Nice assist for Kanes second though

 

[Spursmatty87]

Think him and Ndombele improved as the game went on.

 

[sausage]

Think him and Ndombele improved as the game went on.

First 60 he was 2017/18 Sissoko. Last 30 he was 2018/19 Sissoko.

Not sure if it was due to the positioning - he suits being a bit more isolated in the middle, and I think Winks was pushing him out wide too much, where he struggles (unless it's as a FB, weirdly).


Looks like he inherited the curse of the Blitz from Janssen though.

 

[Primativ]

The problem is, against teams that sit back at home, in the diamond formation, he ends up being our advanced playmaker, or at least one of them.

The opposition just mark everyone else and let him have the ball and say go on then, pick a lass. He’s great when counterattacking as long as he makes the right decision at the end of it, but he isn’t the answer in midfield when we need to create.

 

[wrd]

I think Poch holds responsibility for the poorer aspects of his performances today, we all know what he's fantastic at and what he's terrible at and today Poch set up in a way where he was in a position to do more poor than good being further forward. Winks was hard done by to be taken off for Eriksen given Sissoko was much worse but it was no coincidence to see him greatly improve when his role wasn't to involving him in crossing, shooting or looking for final pass.

 

[stevenurse]

Being used as our playmaker, as a way of slapping Christian on the arse, really didn't help today.

 

[sausage]

Winks was hard done by to be taken off for Eriksen given Sissoko was much worse but it was no coincidence to see him greatly improve when his role wasn't to involving him in crossing, shooting or looking for final pass.

He was a different type of Sissoko for the third, though.