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Player Watch Player Watch: Pape Sarr

Neon_Knight_

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2011
4,016
6,676
Sarr is the heart beat of our new team guys! Everything just drops off a cliff when he leaves the pitch.
This is what some people thought about Mason during Poch's first season, only to be dislodged by Dembele the next season. It will be interesting to see which of our CMs hold down regular starting spots next season, once all of Bentancur, Sarr & Bissouma are fit simultaneously for an extended period of time.
Sarr offers a lot to the team, but he's not technically the most gifted (although he does have a few years to catch up with the other two). He helps the team to effectively transition on turnovers, but once into the final third, his technique and decision making are often found slightly lacking - in both of these respects he's slightly reminiscent of Dembele and Sissoko.
 

JackDaniels18

Active Member
Mar 31, 2010
78
147
This is what some people thought about Mason during Poch's first season, only to be dislodged by Dembele the next season. It will be interesting to see which of our CMs hold down regular starting spots next season, once all of Bentancur, Sarr & Bissouma are fit simultaneously for an extended period of time.
Sarr offers a lot to the team, but he's not technically the most gifted (although he does have a few years to catch up with the other two). He helps the team to effectively transition on turnovers, but once into the final third, his technique and decision making are often found slightly lacking - in both of these respects he's slightly reminiscent of Dembele and Sissoko.
I have to disagree with this, although not the prettiest on the eye, Sarr has plenty to offer going forward. Sissoko could only dream of that assist against Bournemouth for Maddison and his goal in the home game. Sarr’s energy in midfield is like having 2 players allowing the full backs to play the inverted role. In our bad run of form, I believe sarr was injured from the wolves game. I was at the Newcastle game when we ended that run and it was evident how much our team missed him. He was everywhere on the pitch that day.
 

Neon_Knight_

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2011
4,016
6,676
I have to disagree with this, although not the prettiest on the eye, Sarr has plenty to offer going forward. Sissoko could only dream of that assist against Bournemouth for Maddison and his goal in the home game. Sarr’s energy in midfield is like having 2 players allowing the full backs to play the inverted role. In our bad run of form, I believe sarr was injured from the wolves game. I was at the Newcastle game when we ended that run and it was evident how much our team missed him. He was everywhere on the pitch that day.
I rate him highly overall, but if we're directly comparing his ability in the final third to Maddison, Son, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Lo Celso etc., he comes last imo.

It's worth noting that Dembele, who I compared him to, is one of my all-time favourite players. I also think a lot of our fans were overly critical of Sissoko (as they were with Emerson Royal for a while).
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,947
16,194
I rate him highly overall, but if we're directly comparing his ability in the final third to Maddison, Son, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Lo Celso etc., he comes last imo.

It's worth noting that Dembele, who I compared him to, is one of my all-time favourite players. I also think a lot of our fans were overly critical of Sissoko (as they were with Emerson Royal for a while).
Dembele though was a limited player. Impossible to get the ball off him but his goal scoring and his passing were always disappointing.
 

Westmorlandspur

Well-Known Member
Feb 1, 2013
2,858
4,720
This is what some people thought about Mason during Poch's first season, only to be dislodged by Dembele the next season. It will be interesting to see which of our CMs hold down regular starting spots next season, once all of Bentancur, Sarr & Bissouma are fit simultaneously for an extended period of time.
Sarr offers a lot to the team, but he's not technically the most gifted (although he does have a few years to catch up with the other two). He helps the team to effectively transition on turnovers, but once into the final third, his technique and decision making are often found slightly lacking - in both of these respects he's slightly reminiscent of Dembele and Sissoko.
Sarr is the heartbeat of the team. All teams need a player like him. Look at someone like Jordan Henderson, not the best or most technical but Liverpool missed him when he wasn’t there during their heyday when they won lge and champ lge.
Glad to have Sarr back for the weekend.
 

Bluto Blutarsky

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2021
15,166
70,680
There is a LOT more to playing a box-to-box role than assists and goals.

What Sarr offers is kind of the glue that binds the team together - linking the defenders with the players who offer assists and goals. He plays that role better than anyone else in the squad.

Yes some players may be more technical or creative, particularly in the final third, but nobody embodies the important parts of the BtB CM like Sarr. And a good CM has a combination of parts not 3 of the same type player.
 

HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
9,129
28,560
There is a LOT more to playing a box-to-box role than assists and goals.

What Sarr offers is kind of the glue that binds the team together - linking the defenders with the players who offer assists and goals. He plays that role better than anyone else in the squad.

Yes some players may be more technical or creative, particularly in the final third, but nobody embodies the important parts of the BtB CM like Sarr. And a good CM has a combination of parts not 3 of the same type player.
I believe he will improve in the final third with more experience and coaching. He could potentially become one of the very best in the world in his position, I really believe that.
 

chas vs dave

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2008
5,416
21,968
He wasn't very progressive with his passing though. He was wonderful with moving with the ball through the midfield but generally he did nothing with it after that.
That wasn't his role though. He was expected to break lines and move the ball to the more creative players, such as Eriksen.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,490
78,065
Well he did score in his last game for us so I'm sure he can improve in attack :LOL:

What I think he does well is put a lot of fires out. He does things that maybe don't grab the headlines but makes an impact on a game. There's a number of times he just stops an attack in its tracks. If the attack goes on there's a chance or even a goal but because there wasn't it maybe goes under the radar a bit. It's like a part of the game that doesn't show in the highlights because he stopped the opponent having a highlight.

He goes straight into the team Saturday for me regardless how we do tonight. Bissouma really needed to exit AFCON sooner and get a couple of big performances before Sarr returned. Instead it's Sarr back first and I think he's going to take some shifting from the first team. We have a game a week for a while after tonight so I think the first team won't change much unless forced. Just Son will come straight in and Maddison I think is going to be starting now anyway.
 

HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
9,129
28,560
That wasn't his role though. He was expected to break lines and move the ball to the more creative players, such as Eriksen.
I know but he also wasn't really capable of more than he did. He was elite at breaking the lines but pretty average at everything else. That is why I think he is wildly overrated in here by some and I say that as someone who really loved him as a player.
 

Bluto Blutarsky

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2021
15,166
70,680
That is why I think [Dembele] is wildly overrated in here by some

Given that almost any player interview from his era includes some line about Dembele being the best player they have played with - I can't agree that he is "wildly" overrated in here.


I do think people gloss over his limitations - but Dembele/Dier or Dembele/Wanyama allowed us to dominate most midfields.

Sarr has the potential and skill set to do the same. He needs to bulk up naturally as he ages, but he is already strong, and can both shield the ball, and move with it deftly.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,490
78,065
I'm sure there are some who will say Xavi didn't score enough. It's just the nature of that midfield position. I think even Jenas was unappreciated and better than people gave credit for. It's just as a midfielder you're rated a lot on goals and assists. Not necessarily for the build up that leads to an assist.

Are you a defensive midfielder? If the answer is no then look at the number of goals and assists. That seems to be how it works.
 

Toast

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2014
621
1,788
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