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Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

Dazzazzad

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2006
1,232
4,367
Mental fortitude.

Love how he's turned things around but surely it shows a weak mentality that he was so bad for so long? A 20 mental strength in FM is someone unflappable, a winner who drags others to success. For 2 years he hid on the field (total pro off it tho) and his confidence was shot.

This season different story and he does deserve a ton of credit. I just think that he always had the tools but mentally he wasn't able to harness them.

Next season will be interesting if there's more competition in midfield. Wonder if he can keep it up if he's not playing every week. Really hope he's turned the corner for good now.

And that he gets a nice goal before the season ends.
 

Skilo

Active Member
Aug 12, 2010
28
116
Love how he's turned things around but surely it shows a weak mentality that he was so bad for so long? A 20 mental strength in FM is someone unflappable, a winner who drags others to success. For 2 years he hid on the field (total pro off it tho) and his confidence was shot.

This season different story and he does deserve a ton of credit. I just think that he always had the tools but mentally he wasn't able to harness them.

Next season will be interesting if there's more competition in midfield. Wonder if he can keep it up if he's not playing every week. Really hope he's turned the corner for good now.

And that he gets a nice goal before the season ends.

Surely it’s the absolute definition of strong mentality that’s he’s managed to turn it around? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a complete turnaround in appreciation for one player in the thirty years I’ve supported us.
 

Mate

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2006
1,570
3,859
How is it possible someone can go from having an absolute mare most games, to being a top class performer, he deserves so much credit

It's incredible. Almost miraculous.

Of course he can be supremely proud of how he's made us realise how good can be, but also huge credit needs to go to Poch and the staff for the belief and focus they have instilled into him (along with many other players)
 

Cornpattbuck

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,873
15,942
He's becoming the new Dembele.

An absolute man mountain with a slightly unconventional style, but can also dominate the centre of the pitch and allow others freedom.

He will never be as silky as Dembele, but he's faster and more aggressive and he is getting better and better at choosing the right pass, even at pace and often after covering half the pitch there and back for us.

Love the lad for his spirit in the face of adversity and the tenacity and effort he puts in even when things aren't quite working out.

I'd hate to think where we'd be without him this season, and I wouldn't have said that a year ago!

He's a hugely positive example for all at the club at the moment, youth and first team, and I finally understand what Poch brought him in for.

I apologise for my doubts. Cult hero status.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
Love how he's turned things around but surely it shows a weak mentality that he was so bad for so long? A 20 mental strength in FM is someone unflappable, a winner who drags others to success. For 2 years he hid on the field (total pro off it tho) and his confidence was shot.

This season different story and he does deserve a ton of credit. I just think that he always had the tools but mentally he wasn't able to harness them.

Next season will be interesting if there's more competition in midfield. Wonder if he can keep it up if he's not playing every week. Really hope he's turned the corner for good now.

And that he gets a nice goal before the season ends.


100% down to confidence. When your confidence drops you doubt yourself and then you hesitate or make the wrong decision. Then the crowd get on your back and the confidence drops a bit more. Then you don't get picked and your match fitness drops and when you get the odd chance you don't do very well. The loop is then complete and it turns into a downward spiral. It takes massive mental strength to turn things around the way Sissoko has and huge credit goes to Poch for believing in him and nurturing him back into form. The confidence spiral is now working in the other direction.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
How is it possible someone can go from having an absolute mare most games, to being a top class performer, he deserves so much credit
Attitude and application. A lot of players especially the ones we bought with Bale money, thought we were a team they could coast in. A Southampton level team, given fair enough as we hadn’t won much. However Poch demands the absolute highest standards from his players in terms of training. There was a time when he didn’t even make the bench because he wasn’t training hard enough. He has excellent angelic attributes, with a good mindset and application it makes a massive change.
 

CrouchPotato

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2013
529
3,358
Genuinely can’t remember the last time he had a poor game. He’s such a powerful player, surprisingly good in tight spaces this season.

Might also have a career at SpaceX post football, doubt anyone is as capable at launching objects into orbit as Moussa.
 

TheDoc

Member
Jan 1, 2013
47
96
Such a shame we never got to see Sissoko 2.0 paired with Dembele. They would have been the most powerful beast like partnership ever.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
I don't think he was as bad all the time as people make out.
Sure, he had some stinkers, but others did too. When he did something decent, people refused to acknowledge it.
Then this season the good became more consistent and people started to see him for what Poch saw all along, a team player with a great work ethic and undeniable attributes.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
I don't think he was as bad all the time as people make out.
Sure, he had some stinkers, but others did too. When he did something decent, people refused to acknowledge it.
Then this season the good became more consistent and people started to see him for what Poch saw all along, a team player with a great work ethic and undeniable attributes.
He was horrible at times. It was like zero footballing ability and zero effort. Let’s not pretend that he was decent. However he’s out the effort in now, won over the crowd and got some confidence to play better.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
I don't think he was as bad all the time as people make out.
Sure, he had some stinkers, but others did too. When he did something decent, people refused to acknowledge it.
Then this season the good became more consistent and people started to see him for what Poch saw all along, a team player with a great work ethic and undeniable attributes.


Spot on

All the fucking sheep believing the Sissoko is shit line instead of opening their eyes

Now they all think he’s the Messiah

Jokers
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
As meniotned above by Japhet, it’s amazing what confidence can do. His poor showings in the beginning seem so long ago now. He’s smarter with his use of the ball and he’s now backing himself. It’s not huge adjustments by any means, just playing his own game.

Thing is, he nearly always had a cracker against us when he was at Newcastle, and he’d have the odd stormer against top sides. That and the Euro16 performances showed there was a player there.
 

tooey

60% banana
Apr 22, 2005
5,228
7,948
Spot on

All the fucking sheep believing the Sissoko is shit line instead of opening their eyes

Now they all think he’s the Messiah

Jokers

Ya know...it is ok to change your opinion on a player based on an upturn of performance. He did have a really bad start and I'd call anybody who said he was shit at the time observant, not a sheep.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
Ya know...it is ok to change your opinion on a player based on an upturn of performance. He did have a really bad start and I'd call anybody who said he was shit at the time observant, not a sheep.
It's ok to change your opinion.
The problem is, some fans refused to ever acknowledge any good performances from him.
 
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