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Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I can't get past how bloody awful he was when he kept getting played wide right. He came to life when he had more space in CM and wasn't hemmed in by the touchline. I have no reason to believe that all of this would suddenly disappear if he played RB.

Well you could argue that when he was being played wide right he wasn't as confident as he is now and didn't really have a place in the team, he has that now.

Also I remember he played pretty well when when he went to right back at the Nou Camp.

What we're missing since Walker left is the running power of the right hand side, the decoy runs which he provided to open up space on the inside for Eriksen and co, forget the quality for a minute because Walker was hardly Cafu was he but he provided a distraction for full backs and Aurier or Trippier and currently KWP don't provide that.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
I can't get past how bloody awful he was when he kept getting played wide right. He came to life when he had more space in CM and wasn't hemmed in by the touchline. I have no reason to believe that all of this would suddenly disappear if he played RB.

You've answered your own question. At RB he'll have more space to run into than he would as a winger and won't be required to be as creative or beat a man with tricks - he can just keep things simple, charge like a bull in a straight line and either lay it off or put in a cross. Sissoko's acceleration isn't that special, hence he was a pretty poor winger, but once he's got a head of steam he's borderline unstoppable.

Plenty of average wingers have been converted into excellent wingbacks and fullbacks. Look at Victor Moses at Chelsea - his career was going nowhere until Conte put him further back. Same goes for Danny Rose. He never would've made it at Spurs as an out and out winger.

I do worry about his positioning, but everyone we play there has their faults:

- KWP, for all his technique is lightweight, lacks conviction and gives the ball away in dangerous areas at least a couple of times a game.
- Foyth is an excellent 1v1 defender but is susceptible to pace and is liable to make rash tackles and give away silly fouls/pens.
- Aurier has all the tools but is utterly brainless.

Sissoko is easily the strongest of the lot and probably the quickest too (though that could be Aurier). In duals on the touchline he always seems to come out on top and is excellent at shielding the ball. His lack of technique and unimaginative passing will be far less exposed at FB/WB as his job will be simplified. If he can learn the positional side of things I think he could be really excellent there.
 
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whitesocks

The past means nothing. This is a message for life
Jan 16, 2014
4,652
5,738
He's a good RB, but I think we need him and NDombele as a pair - they looked good against Manc.
MP has created this problem at RB (again) - he clearly fancies Foyth for the role and we will find out how that works out, Until then, we have others twiddling their thumbs on the bench.
 

gavspur

Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2004
5,255
8,686
I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start against Arsenal at Rb/rwb considering our options are very limited. Could be a good thing too.
 

Hoddle&Waddle

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2012
8,337
17,565
He's a good RB, but I think we need him and NDombele as a pair - they looked good against Manc.
MP has created this problem at RB (again) - he clearly fancies Foyth for the role and we will find out how that works out, Until then, we have others twiddling their thumbs on the bench.
Sissoko can't pass, probably the main requirement of a CM.
 

Clark28

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2016
2,269
13,040
Once Tanguy and GLC are ready to start together, there will be less need for Sissoko to play CM in most matches.

Having his physicality at RB could be handy
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
The amount of games we've lost with Sissoko Winks in midfield and Toby at CB is alarming . I've always said we need to manage Sissoko's games Its time to bring back Eric Dier.
 

Dazzazzad

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2006
1,232
4,367
Should be told he can miss left, right or hit it right at the keeper but if he shoots over the bar again he's fined a week's wages. It's unbelievable.
 

werty

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2005
25,074
26,310
What is Sissoko offering that Winks isn't?

Bizarre comment when Winks had a good game today.
What 'good' did he do? Other than the pass to Son he offered very little with the ball, which is supposed to be his strength, and he's poor defensively.
 

SpursD22

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2017
4,682
8,929
Should be told he can miss left, right or hit it right at the keeper but if he shoots over the bar again he's fined a week's wages. It's unbelievable.



Honestly how can you be a experienced professional footballer playing at the highest level and yet he shoots like a amateur. Why isn’t he practicing his finishing in training?
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
What 'good' did he do? Other than the pass to Son he offered very little with the ball, which is supposed to be his strength, and he's poor defensively.
I think he kept the ball well when under pressure, and contributed well to our counter-attacks.

But I repeat - What is Sissoko offering that Winks isn't?
 

SpursD22

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2017
4,682
8,929
What 'good' did he do? Other than the pass to Son he offered very little with the ball, which is supposed to be his strength, and he's poor defensively.

Why does people think Winks job is to spray passes everywhere? He kept it calm, slowed down the tempo which suited us and also he worked his ass off
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
I don't think we would have gotten a point if Sissoko didn't play today. I don't think we would have lost much if Winks wasn't there.
I think if Sissoko came off for Lo Celso instead of Son, we could've won.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
I think if Sissoko came off for Lo Celso instead of Son, we could've won.

Son looked dangerous but felt he was wasteful a couple of times, felt we needed to bring Moura on along with Lo Celso who could have sat centrally.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,131
146,020
If only Sissoko could shoot. We have won it at the death.

Love his passion and work rate. He was everywhere today.
 
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