Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

[BringBack_leGin]

Sorry, which Top 6 squad would Sissoko get into?

Fred and Sissoko both played 29 league matches, albeit Sissoko started 5 more,

Sissoko scored 2, assisted 1.

Fred did neither of either.

Both received 8 yellow cards.

Both achieved 87.5 passing success.

Sissoko won 3 times as many aerial duels per match.

Manchester Utd finished 3rd.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Sissoko, he’s not my cup of tea and never will be, I’d delighted to see him sold IF properly replaced. However, football isn’t as simple as he wouldn’t get in their squad so he’s no use to us. It doesn’t work like that. All players have different strengths and different weaknesses, and it’s up to the manager to derive the most output possible from them by maximising these. Sissoko, however poor his touch is or unable to make an invisible pass he is, has a function and a few things he does very usefully in certain situations. He shouldn’t be starting regularly if we have any ambition to play good football or win trophies, but to say that in he has nothing to offer as one of 5 or 6 midfielders competing for two places in a top 6 squad is over the top.

I hope he goes and is replaced with someone younger and better. If we cannot achieve this, then he still has something to offer.

 

[isaac94]

Man City.

Gosh imagine Sissoko trying to play Pep ball

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Gosh imagine Sissoko trying to play Pep ball

Sissoko finds it hard enough playing foot ball.

 

[daryl hannah]

Sissoko's 3rd season was very good and I ended up with a plate and my previous words sitting on that plate, and a knife and fork.

However, he's not maintained that performance level and has recently been sub-par.

We had ITK ages ago (Jan) that he'd been earmarked for leaving the club in the summer.

If he goes, I'd be tempted to bring one other into midfield.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

Fred and Sissoko both played 29 league matches, albeit Sissoko started 5 more,

Sissoko scored 2, assisted 1.

Fred did neither of either.

Both received 8 yellow cards.

Both achieved 87.5 passing success.

Sissoko won 3 times as many aerial duels per match.

Manchester Utd finished 3rd.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Sissoko, he’s not my cup of tea and never will be, I’d delighted to see him sold IF properly replaced. However, football isn’t as simple as he wouldn’t get in their squad so he’s no use to us. It doesn’t work like that. All players have different strengths and different weaknesses, and it’s up to the manager to derive the most output possible from them by maximising these. Sissoko, however poor his touch is or unable to make an invisible pass he is, has a function and a few things he does very usefully in certain situations. He shouldn’t be starting regularly if we have any ambition to play good football or win trophies, but to say that in he has nothing to offer as one of 5 or 6 midfielders competing for two places in a top 6 squad is over the top.

I hope he goes and is replaced with someone younger and better. If we cannot achieve this, then he still has something to offer.

You've not answered my question though.

"has a function and a few things he does very usefully in certain situations" is just about the minimum expected from ANYONE receiving a wage to play football.

I just think we've got too many players now who aren't good enough for the level we're trying to be at. He's by no means the only one, but he stands out to me as one of the worst examples, because there isn't a single technical aspect of his that benefits the team. He runs around a lot, he makes a nuisance of himself, he puts his head down and runs 30-40 yards with the ball, and that's basically it.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

You've not answered my question though.

"has a function and a few things he does very usefully in certain situations" is just about the minimum expected from ANYONE receiving a wage to play football.

I just think we've got too many players now who aren't good enough for the level we're trying to be at. He's by no means the only one, but he stands out to me as one of the worst examples, because there isn't a single technical aspect of his that benefits the team. He runs around a lot, he makes a nuisance of himself, he puts his head down and runs 30-40 yards with the ball, and that's basically it.

It’s because I disagree with what I’ve inferred as the premise of your question, though I’m happy to be corrected on this. I feel like the assertion is that Sissoko serves no purpose in a squad aiming to succeed at the top level. I disagree with this, despite the fact that I’d much rather see the back of him than keep him.

 

[bubble07]

Mourinho's surprise at Sissoko's influence

The Spurs boss can be seen to be learning about his players quickly during his first few days.

One revelation that appears to floor him is his assistant manager Joao Sacramento telling him that Moussa Sissoko is a big influence in the Tottenham dressing room.

Mourinho swears and looks shocked

 

[karennina]

If you could see Sissoko was about to attempt receiving a pass, you might well move closer in anticipation of a miscontrol. He’s making our possession less secure just by being on the pitch before he fails at anything specific.

 

[spursfan77]

Mourinho's surprise at Sissoko's influence

The Spurs boss can be seen to be learning about his players quickly during his first few days.

One revelation that appears to floor him is his assistant manager Joao Sacramento telling him that Moussa Sissoko is a big influence in the Tottenham dressing room.

Mourinho swears and looks shocked

Well, that helps explain quite a lot about where we are now, to where we were before he signed doesnt it and why Mourinho has identified players who are leaders as a necessity to come in

 

[Jamturk]

Sissoko is our Swiss army knife, always good to keep around.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Sissoko is our Swiss army knife, always good to keep around.

CM, CDM, RW, RWB, RB - not world class in any of them, but always does a job. Solid, dependable and won't sulk no matter where he's played.

 

[hellava_tough]

CM, CDM, RW, RWB, RB - not world class in any of them, but always does a job. Solid, dependable and won't sulk no matter where he's played.

Yup, he's a good lad and to be honest will go down as a 'Spurs Man' in the future, always welcome back at the club.

 

[Hazelton]

I'm always surprised that he's never been given more of a run at right back. That position would be perfect for him, he basically ends up back there most of the time anyway.

 

[PrettyColors]

Sissoko has a shocking cross on him for the most part which is why a player like Gedson may be preferred over him. But I actually agree about putting him RB, especially RWB if we’re doing the lopsided formation, behind a player like Bergwijn or Lucas in cup or EL matches.

something like

Sessegnon-Striker-Bergwijn
Lamela
Winks-White

with maybe Gedson at LWB and Sissoko at RWB

strikes a lot more attacking confidence than the dreaded 3 man Lamela-Sissoko-Winks midfield with a flat back 4. I don’t think Moussa is an option we can count on in CM when chasing a game, but playing on the wing will allow others to push forward and give more freedom to the wing forward ahead of him.

 

[brendanb50]

Sissoko is our Swiss army knife, always good to keep around.

I think you'll find a lot here will agree upon this. His attitude has been excellent given the poor start he had too.

The main issues are that he's getting on a bit (in footballing terms) so last chance to actually get a deal on him, as well as the fact he's not homegrown/standout. I guess the short term will depend on if we strengthen midfield more as well as RB - does that make his cover/versatility less useful to us? Possibly, but we need to bring in those additions before we consider moving him on IMO.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I think you'll find a lot here will agree upon this. His attitude has been excellent given the poor start he had too.

The main issues are that he's getting on a bit (in footballing terms) so last chance to actually get a deal on him, as well as the fact he's not homegrown/standout. I guess the short term will depend on if we strengthen midfield more as well as RB - does that make his cover/versatility less useful to us? Possibly, but we need to bring in those additions before we consider moving him on IMO.

I think he’s one to keep, he’s the only CM we have who is a proper powerhous, him hoyjbjerg, winks GLC and nodbelle is a good mix.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Sissoko and PEH would be a formidable pairing in certain games so I would prefer to keep him.
I would rather bin off Ndombele for an all rounder like Sabitzer before moving on Moussa.

Moussa, like Dembele before him, has no end product so relies on four players in front of him to produce. It's why he's pointless out wide, or in a cup game where we rest our better forwards. But unfortunately that's where he seemed to play most of his early games which is why he looked useless.
when he's just driving forward through the middle with plenty of options in front of him he looks a different player so I'd keep him around.

 

[Johnny J]

CM, CDM, RW, RWB, RB - not world class in any of them, but always does a job. Solid, dependable and won't sulk no matter where he's played.

Describing Sissoko as "not world class" is an epic understatement.

I don't agree he "always does a job". He hides from the ball, he can't pass very well, he definitely can't shoot, and his positioning isn't brilliant, because he's not a defensive midfielder.

I love the guy's attitude but I wonder what could have been if we hadn't had to rely on him in our midfield for so long. I'm not saying he offers nothing, but he in no way belongs in a top six midfield.

I wish we could combine his attitude with someone else's skill. He can run and he's strong and a great attitude and that's about it. He's so, so poor technically, and I feel we're always playing around his limitations, which massively compromises our effectiveness.

 

[spursfan77]

Describing Sissoko as "not world class" is an epic understatement.

I don't agree he "always does a job". He hides from the ball, he can't pass very well, he definitely can't shoot, and his positioning isn't brilliant, because he's not a defensive midfielder.

I love the guy's attitude but I wonder what could have been if we hadn't had to rely on him in our midfield for so long. I'm not saying he offers nothing, but he in no way belongs in a top six midfield.

I wish we could combine his attitude with someone else's skill. He can run and he's strong and a great attitude and that's about it. He's so, so poor technically, and I feel we're always playing around his limitations, which massively compromises our effectiveness.

Yep he needed replacing a good couple of seasons ago. I struggle to think of a less technical player that has appeared for us in the last 30 years. Even Freund or Zokora we’re better on the ball than him. I think we will look back on him playing with us as a key part of the missed opportunities the club has suffered on the pitch. The CL final handball error should of been the final straw.

 

[Buster18]

It's not just his lack of technical ability.

His positioning is atrocious. He insists on playing in some weird defensive right midfield role, leaving whoever else is in their with him with the responsibility of covering the rest of midfield themselves. If he does play, it has to be right of a 3.