Player Watch Player Watch: Yves Bissouma

[Monkey boy]

Højbjerg should be starting over Bissouma in this form.

Winks, Skipp and Hojbjerg would be getting torn to shreds if they were consistently producing what Bissouma is.

 

[bubble07]

Time to give bentancur a run of games in his position

 

[thebenjamin]

Extremely worrying, hasn't played well in months. Massive lack of intensity

 

[Montalbano]

Extremely worrying, hasn't played well in months. Massive lack of intensity

He was definitely solid against Villa and Palace

 

[thebenjamin]

He was definitely solid against Villa and Palace

Solid enough yes but miles off his level earlier in the season. It almost seems like he's carrying an injury. Doesn't cover ground well and refuses to carry the ball, which is his greatest strength.

 

[spurs-r-us]

I am literally begging Munn, Lange and co. to sell this guy. He's capable, sure, but we need to be aiming so much higher. I don't think he has the standards of discipline and particularly consistency required. I really feel for Bentancur sitting on the bench, he's been up and down but given his two injuries he needs time, whilst Bissouma is apparently an auto-start on account of 6 good games 6 months ago.

 

[spurs-r-us]

I want to shake the fuck out of Bissouma. So much ability there, but he now looks so scared to use it. Looks a completely different player to what's in a lot of this video. It's like all personality has been ripped from his game.

He had a purple patch. It happens. He's had more than enough time, including self-imposed holidays, to put it right.

 

[whenstevewentup]

Sell him , attitude stinks and poor mentality . There’s a reason he came to us and only cost £28m

 

[mil1lion]

Did Ange seem angry with him when he pointed him to the bench when he was subbed?

 

[UncleBuck]

It's so weird. He has one elite skill, almost a superpower, and for most of his time with us he's either told not to use it or is scared to.

It's like if Peter North had quit porn to become a priest.

I think we’re in G Ron territory at the moment, not student!

 

[HodisGawd]

Sell him , attitude stinks and poor mentality . There’s a reason he came to us and only cost £28m

His contract, not his attitude.

 

[mdharris]

Looks a shadow of the player we saw at the start of the season

 

[DiamondLites]

I don’t think he has the defensive discipline to be the 6 in this system, and his carelessness with the ball puts as in trouble far too often. It’s perhaps the most crucial position in the modern game and you need to know what you’re getting from your 6 game in, game out. He has some great attributes, but we need more stability and defensive nous in that position. I still maintain a fit and up to speed Bentancur is the best option in the squad

 

[rossdapep]

I don’t think he has the defensive discipline to be the 6 in this system, and his carelessness with the ball puts as in trouble far too often. It’s perhaps the most crucial position in the modern game and you need to know what you’re getting from your 6 game in, game out. He has some great attributes, but we need more stability and defensive nous in that position. I still maintain a fit and up to speed Bentancur is the best option in the squad

I think Bissouma is one of those players who is brilliant on his day but really lacks consistency to be part of a successful 11, in the 6 especially.

I recall Brighton fans saying the same about him and that he would disappear at times.

I think Ange sees both him and Bentancur as an 8 or 1 in a double pivot but we don't have anyone better as a 6.

Bissouma can be great at beating a press with his body but can get careless and doesn't have that pass in him to take out the next line.

Bentancur does but isn't the best defensively in that role either.

You saw how Paulinha played today, he was across to everything.

He is obviously playing a slightly different role at Fulham than he would for us but a player like that can prevent so many attacks.

Today, we were far too easy to play through. 2-3 passes and already in a dangerous position. It is one of the downsides to Ange's system but it would be limited if we had a more effective 6.

You can see why we want Archie Gray or Zubimendi.

I think when we get a true 6, Bentancur will be first pick (if he gets back to his best) with Sarr as the 8 and Bissouma will settle for the Hojbjerg role of just filling in.

 

[punkisback]

Sell him , attitude stinks and poor mentality . There’s a reason he came to us and only cost £28m

Sorry what makes you say his attitude stinks?

 

[DiamondLites]

I think Bissouma is one of those players who is brilliant on his day but really lacks consistency to be part of a successful 11, in the 6 especially.

I recall Brighton fans saying the same about him and that he would disappear at times.

I think Ange sees both him and Bentancur as an 8 or 1 in a double pivot but we don't have anyone better as a 6.

Bissouma can be great at beating a press with his body but can get careless and doesn't have that pass in him to take out the next line.

Bentancur does but isn't the best defensively in that role either.

You saw how Paulinha played today, he was across to everything.

He is obviously playing a slightly different role at Fulham than he would for us but a player like that can prevent so many attacks.

Today, we were far too easy to play through. 2-3 passes and already in a dangerous position. It is one of the downsides to Ange's system but it would be limited if we had a more effective 6.

You can see why we want Archie Gray or Zubimendi.

I think when we get a true 6, Bentancur will be first pick (if he gets back to his best) with Sarr as the 8 and Bissouma will settle for the Hojbjerg role of just filling in.

100% agree, you look at the top 3 their 6’s are defined by their consistency and their lack of mistakes as much as they are by their qualities on the ball (which they have in spades). Even Liverpool with Endo who’s arrival was unheralded, he has made their team exponentially better as a stabilising presence who doesn’t make mistakes with the ball and keeps his defensive discipline without it. If we had Paulinha (for example) in that role instead of Bissouma this season, we may lose something on the ball but we’d look alot more secure without it. And I think this is the next step for Ange's style of football

 

[Styopa]

Sell him , attitude stinks and poor mentality . There’s a reason he came to us and only cost £28m

He was relatively cheap because his contract was expiring. He would have cost something like double that under normal circumstances.

Anyway, most of our other players, like Vicario, Udogie, Kulusevski, Sarr and Bentancur were bought for similar amounts or less.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

I don't know about this guy. He's been with us a while, and has had less than a dozen really good games. Obviously really talented, but we probably need better going forward.

 

[djhotspur]

The 6 is so key in our formation, we need better. We need a proper press resistant player who can mop up defensively. So many times yesterday he took bad touches putting us into trouble
The 3rd goal to he physically looks at the guy running passed him who scored and doesn’t move…I do not understand

 

[thePessimist]

As others have said, stability is key to this role.

Sadly, Biss doesn’t bring it