Player Watch Player Watch: Yves Bissouma

[van_Pommel]

Bentancur is coming back, Sarr and Skipp can play that “holding” role that Bissouma occupies now so I don’t see an issue but I’m worried about the ACN and we may need to go out and get reinforcements in January. For now though, I think we have solid depth and hopefully he has an injury free season.

Agree Bentancur is definitely intelligent enough do multiple roles. It's great that we have Sarr who showed yesterday he can be effective in the 8 role. Not sure if Skipp can do the Biss role though.

 

[Timberwolf]

He definitely wasn’t shoehorned into the first team immediately but that’s somewhat understandable given the duo we had were keeping us in the fight for top 3 during the first half of the season and that Conte doesn’t like to change personnel. We have to take these circumstances into account when levelling criticism towards a manager. Perspective is everything I guess.

I appreciate your level headed response too, and fwiw I wouldn’t have said anymore than my original post with the stats if I hadn’t been asked about it.

I would like to stick to what I said in terms of focusing on the present, which is incredible to watch if we’re being honest. Bissouma keeps this up and he’ll be right up there with the top 5 CM’s in the league come the end of the season. He absolutely bossed that United midfield alongside Sarr and Maddison. We have so, so much to be excited about this season.

The issue with Bissouma last season is simple.

Conte plays with choreographed passing automations and asking a player like Bissouma to do this is antithetical to what makes him special.

As a result he struggled to adjust and Conte preferred PEH and Bentancur who could be relied on to do exactly what he asked of them on the pitch (and had more experience of the automations already).

It's not necessarily a matter of Conte 'rating' or 'not rating' Bissouma, it's simply him not being as adept at following strict instructions, or in doing so losing what made him so special. He needs to be given some freedom to express himself to flourish and that's what we're seeing now.

In terms of stats, Bissouma's defensive stats in particular dropped off a cliff in the first half of last season compared to the season prior at Brighton. He didn't adapt well at all to Conte's style.

 

[fletch82]

New contract please before sky start selling him for us

 

[Danny1]

Not only is he an excellent footballer, but he is a natural leader. Love him.

 

[Dov67]

If he was still playing for Brighton, Todd Boehly would be buying him for £376 million

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

If he was still playing for Brighton, Todd Boehly would be buying him for £376 million

Even if this were true, he wouldn’t move from a top 8 team to a mid table team anyway.

 

[arunspurs]

I have seen this now like 100 times.
I still cant comprehend how easily Bissouma & Solomon do their skill and evade United pressure

 

[TheChosenOne]

 

[ROBinBKK]

At some point this season, he'll get caught in possession and we will get tonked. Alas, I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees (saw that on twitter)

 

[gavspur]

If that Son chance goes in (and I think he really should have scored), then that’s a fantastic passage of play, and Biss was centre to all that.

 

[robotsonic]

Just so glad that we've found the right manager for him. What a waste of a year through injury and dire football. Not sure what else you want from a midfielder. Energy and enthusiasm, can tackle, intercept and read the game, has the ball retention and can dribble past players, turn of pace, flair, can pass.

With the way we're playing and the responsibility Ange has given him, if he plays like these past two games going forward then he's going to be in demand. He seemed so happy to be here when he signed so I hope that he really is happy and doesn't entertain any ideas of a move if this season pans out like we all want it to because everything is lined up for a phenomenal season of him looking like an absolute maestro in the prem. It's at times like this where having such a dire relationship with half of the clubs that could afford him probably really pays off

 

[KILLA_SIN]

I had a quick look at last seasons appearances didn't play much and then got injured the game before Rodrigo got injured. Cdnt ask for more bad luck than that

 

[Yiddo100]

It sounds crazy but he’s much better than I thought he was, and I thought he was a very good player. He’s world class

 

[chas vs dave]

That dummy for the first goal is so simple, but brilliant. Completely sold the defender.

 

[easley91]

Officially renaming him Yves BOSSouma.

 

[philll]

 

[chas vs dave]

He's got to be in the running for player of the month in August. Imo

 

[wrd]

He's got to be in the running for player of the month in August. Imo

August and of All Time

 

[chas vs dave]

August and of All Time

Word, wrd...

 

[Chimbo!]

Every time I watch Bissouma, I think 2 things: (1) what an amazing player (2) how much of a football **** Conte was for not playing him.