Player Watch Player Watch: Yves Bissouma

[curlacious]

I see a lot of similarities in Bentancur and Bissouma. Think that will be the preferred pair.

Bisstancur or Bentouma?

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Dembele is the best central midfield close dribbler I've seen and I've been going since 1982. The ball was just glued to his feet. Astonishing and laughable sometimes.

 

[Freddie]

I love Dembele, but there is a trend to slightly (and only slightly) exaggerate how good he was. And his first couple of seasons weren't much to write home about. It took him a while to ultimately become the Dembele we all loved. I think Bissouma definitely has the potential to be that in a few year's time. But as with everything, time will tell

It's far more than slightly! The revisionism is incredible. He was considered a very good player at the time but for all of his impressive qualities his final ball and general end product was often found wanting. Also had large periods where his form struggled. People seem to think of highlight reel Dembele and how he's described by teammates in training rather than the reality. He was a great player, but he was in a team of great players.

 

[Cochise]

I actually think that Skipp has shown enough with his passing that he could do the Brozovic role too. It's quite nice as if we do get both Bissouma and Eriksen in we will have a very versatile group.

 

[jpascavitz]

I personally think Bentancour can play this role. He had is best season under at Juve under Sarri playing as a regista (basically what Sarri signed Jorginho to do for him at Chelsea).

Agree I think Bentancur/Skipp are meant for the more creative role, although Hojbjerg has shown he can contribute there as well. Then I would have Hojbjerg/Bissouma switching between the defensive role. Sarr for me possibly stays around (at least for the first part of the season) to train under Conte, learn the system, and get some early cup matches.

 

[chas vs dave]

It's far more than slightly! The revisionism is incredible. He was considered a very good player at the time but for all of his impressive qualities his final ball and general end product was often found wanting. Also had large periods where his form struggled. People seem to think of highlight reel Dembele and how he's described by teammates in training rather than the reality. He was a great player, but he was in a team of great players.

No offence, but I'm not talking highlight reels. I've been to over 400 spurs matches. I have never seen a player with upper body strength, and ability to shift past players from deep.

Tell me a cm who could take a short pass from the keeper, and retain the ball, despite having 2 players on him.

It wasn't his role to do things further up the pitch. So, that's irrelevant.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I dont really agree with this logic at all. What you, and others, are saying is that because of Conte's system we don't need players in central midfield who can be creative with the ball because the creativity comes from the wingback?

Surely he wants the creativity to come from everywhere on the pitch? The structure of our play and formation is something very different. Yes, the way we play gives the fullbacks the space to cross and shoot, that isn't creativity.

Creativity is the ability to see a pass, beat a player, resist being pressed to create overloads, spot a run, make space for others with your own movement etc

I reckon that Conte would want players who can create opportunities everywhere on the pitch as long as they can perform their core functions within his system.

Conte is all about the system. His patterns and automated movements create the opportunities. What he wants is players with specific attributes which fit the positions of his system to make his patterns function at 100% efficiency.

ie. A wingback who has speed and the ability to get past his man, cross well and attack the far post. A DM who can protect the defence and become part of the defensive block of 5 when we attack but who can win the ball quickly and progress it rapidly to the forward players and wing backs.

As for your bolded statement, you're in luck. Bissouma is phenomenal at resisting a press, makes space superbly with his dynamism and is a superb dribbler, capable of beating players in tight spaces and turning defence in to attack in an instant.

Aside from all the above, actually all of Skipp, Bissouma, Bentancur and Hojbjerg have good, forward thinking passes in them. More than enough actually when you consider their primary function in the 3-4-3.

 

[chas vs dave]

Conte is all about the system. His patterns and automated movements create the opportunities. What he wants is players with specific attributes which fit the positions of his system to make his patterns function at 100% efficiency.

ie. A wingback who has speed and the ability to get past his man, cross well and attack the far post. A DM who can protect the defence and become part of the defensive block of 5 when we attack but who can win the ball quickly and progress it rapidly to the forward players and wing backs.

As for your bolded statement, you're in luck. Bissouma is phenomenal at resisting a press, makes space superbly with his dynamism and is a superb dribbler, capable of beating players in tight spaces and turning defence in to attack in an instant.

The DM also drops in, when one of the lcb/rcb aggressively tries to win the ball in midfield.

I've also seen the CM being used to press higher than the striker, at times. Its all part of his system

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

It's far more than slightly! The revisionism is incredible. He was considered a very good player at the time but for all of his impressive qualities his final ball and general end product was often found wanting. Also had large periods where his form struggled. People seem to think of highlight reel Dembele and how he's described by teammates in training rather than the reality. He was a great player, but he was in a team of great players.

Yep. He benefited a lot from an inform Wanyama, Dier, and peak Eriksen. That's not to take anything away from him and his particular set of skills. We've failed to replace him since he left, but in Bissouma, I feel we have someone who, although not exactly the same, will have the same 'impact' on our team. I say that as impact doesn't necessarily mean I'm rating Bissouma as a better player individually.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Dembele is the best central midfield close dribbler I've seen and I've been going since 1982. The ball was just glued to his feet. Astonishing and laughable sometimes.

Yeah, he was great at that. I'm not disputing that or saying Bissouma will better at that particular style, just that I think he's impact in our team will be comparable. To your point in particular, as for close dribbling, I'd rank both Gazza and Ginola above Dembele.

 

[Guntz]

Bissouma and PEH will be our first choice CM’s IMO.

 

[Trees]

Bissouma and PEH will be our first choice CM’s IMO.

I have a sneaky feeling PEH may be the odd man out.

 

[chas vs dave]

Bissouma and PEH will be our first choice CM’s IMO.

I think we will rotate, depending on opposition.

 

[synththfc]

 

[kent brockman]

Bissouma and PEH will be our first choice CM’s IMO.

Bentancur is the heartbeat of the team IMO. One of the first names on the team sheet for me.

 

[L-man]

An evening of Flightradar24.com, is it?

 

[pedrodelawasp]

Conte is all about the system. His patterns and automated movements create the opportunities. What he wants is players with specific attributes which fit the positions of his system to make his patterns function at 100% efficiency.

ie. A wingback who has speed and the ability to get past his man, cross well and attack the far post. A DM who can protect the defence and become part of the defensive block of 5 when we attack but who can win the ball quickly and progress it rapidly to the forward players and wing backs.

As for your bolded statement, you're in luck. Bissouma is phenomenal at resisting a press, makes space superbly with his dynamism and is a superb dribbler, capable of beating players in tight spaces and turning defence in to attack in an instant.

Aside from all the above, actually all of Skipp, Bissouma, Bentancur and Hojbjerg have good, forward thinking passes in them. More than enough actually when you consider their primary function in the 3-4-3.

I remember posting on here not long after PEH signed and we were still playing well (remember that?!) I had been very impressed not only with his defensive ability but also the fact he almost always either played a forward pass or, if he couldn’t, moved it to a teammate while also pointing out a forward option for them and making himself available for a return pass in case his teammate was closed down. It was high work rate with intelligence. It’s been coming back under Conte too.

 

[chrisd2k]

I think we will rotate, depending on opposition.

Shocking thought isn't it... Rotating. Players may actually be fresh for a game.
There's been times where I looked at PEH and thought he needs a rest. I know he isn't the most fluid mover but you sometimes see him having to really work hard in getting his knees up to his chest to get back when a move breaks down. He's played a lot of football the last couple of years.

 

[dtxspurs]

So you’re saying we are going to win the league. I like your post.

Haha I do think on paper we will have a better team than that Chelsea team. Only issue is that his Chelsea squad didn't play champions league that season and didn't have this version of Liverpool or Man City.

 

[Nayim60yards]

So Bissouma 25-30m, Bentancur 21.5m, Hojbjerg 15m and Skipp 0m
Man that's a top set of four CM for around the price of one Ndombele! Amazing.