Ok, balls on the line for if Sissoko will be a hit or miss

[olliec]

Anytime we played Newcastle I was always terrified of him. I am just happy he can't rip us to shreds anymore and get MOTM and is actually playing for us. If he has that same mentality he had for the game's against us I think a lot of PL clubs are going to be scared of him!

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I get your point, BC- however there is a sense that we can't keep buying potential, that the squad needs more experience to lead on the pitch. I've read your posts about us buying Sissoko and understand your concerns. I think this is Poch's biggest test of his career: can he turn around an expensive, inconsistent yet talented player to become a vital part of the Tottenham machine, one that adds a new dimension and makes us more successful. Interesting times; if Poch succeeds he cements his stature even further in the club, if he fails Levy becomes less willing to listen to him over transfers

This is the bit that I'm struggling with, he's not that talented. In that "run through walls" way I think Poch may well something out of Sissoko, he's (marginally) less scatter footed than Son I guess but in terms of creativity, I don't think he's going to turn him into Yaya fucking Toure.

Don't get me wrong, there were quite a few "non potential" players kicking around the departure lounge this summer who I would happily of spunked the combined fee and salary that equates to the GDP of a tiny pacific island, but I'm just a little disappointed that someone finally slipped Levy Rohypnol, then instead of fucking him senseless in the club toilets he just shaved his eyebrows off and posted the photos on Twitter.

 

[rio bryan]

Playing devils advocate : Was Sissoko our no.1 priority over the last couple of weeks and that Levy left it late because he was hoping that the price would come down ? if we had really wanted Zaha over Sissoko then surely we would have offered the 30m for him instead of Sissoko !

 

[Mehstg13]

I think Sissoko will be excellent when playing against teams that want to press us high up the pitch, like the Liverpool game for example. He has the ability to break lines against these teams, and provide and add to our three behind the striker! Maybe one of the reasons he always destroyed us every time he faced us! I do wonder against teams that sit back how effective he will be but only time and his own application will tell.
The creative aspect worries me greatly, it seems we have plenty of industry but if Eriksen is off form we tend to struggle
He has to start his Spurs carear well due to the high transfer fee, his goon love quotes, his dive in the shambolic final day and his all round PL permance last year (apart from said mentioned game)
We are fickle = sadly a miss

 

[spurs9]

in terms of creativity, I don't think he's going to turn him into Yaya fucking Toure.

Just to play Devils advocate, last season Sissoko got more league assists than Yaya Toure has in any season bar 13/14 (when Toure got 1 more than Sissoko's 15/16 PL total) which is also more than Coutinho or Isco have ever got in a single season in the league.

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

I'm voting no. Mainly because I don't want to come across a hypocrite since I've blasted him many times in the past whilst playing for both Newcastle and France. I've never been a fan, he just has too many flaws for me, nor did I think he was the type of player that would gel with our squad. Yes, all our players are flawed, but Sissoko's just don't sit well with me. In ways I do see the merit of his acquisition, but just not for that amount of money (even in today's crazy money transfer market).

What I will say is that I'm willing to give him a chance, and will put my hands up and fully admit that I got it wrong if he's doing fuck all come the end of the season. Unlike some others on here, I'm not too proud to say that I was wrong, nor too stubborn to admit defeat. It irritates the fuck out of me, particularly when you see posters acting like this against players who have proved their worth (Lamela being a prime example), just because they want to be right all the time. I don't want to be that kind of **** (happy to be a **** in many other ways ).

I sincerely hope Sissoko proves me to be a fool.

Despite being optimistic, I also have sympathy for this. That said, I remember him in his first season at Newcastle and he was tearing it up. It all became inconsistent after MacClaren. I think that means he needs a good man manager looking after him, human after all. There will be one of two outcomes: Poch will get him at it, in which case we'll have an amazing player on our team; or, he won't see much action. If he is a mercenary, we're in trouble but I have a sneaking suspicion he just wants to be part of a committed team. Newcastle was not a good period for him but Spurs is different now.

 

[Bulletspur]

We are going to win a trophy this season, partly due to Sisspko's efforts. You read it here first!

 

[GeneralBurk]

From what the reports are saying, it's 6M per year for 5 years, but a minimum amount will need to be paid. Which I gather would be atleast 50 to 70%, so we can sell him off in 2 years for 25M and end up only playing 20M to Newcastle as the "minimum amount". So we actually made 5M, and technically we sold him for a lost of 5M from his reported selling price.

Might be a bit complicated, but that's what I understand, it seems we can screw Newcastle pretty badly.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/09/0...utlay-may-end-up-less-than-30-million-sugges/

It doesn't seem like it's a 5 year "instalment plan". But a cleverly structured deal which gives us a lot of flexibility.

Technically the report should say we signed him for a deal that could be worth up to £30M. But I think since Everton bid £30M, and Newcastle need to make sure we "match" the deal and not making it seem that Sissoko was actually the one deciding where he wanted to go.

There appears a lot of scepticism on this interpretation from the Standard reporter.

For example lets just say he builds and delivers on his Euro form and is a monster and our best player. It subsequently attracts interest next summer from Real Madrid and they bid £45m. We sell and only owe Newcastle £6m or as the journo is trying to say that we will renegotiate a revised figure with NUFC.

Not a chance. One journalist making a lot of assumptions while none the main press/journos jumping on the report? My conclusion the Standard reporter has made immaculate assumptions.

FWIW I don't think we're paying the full £30m and that assumption is based on NUFC declaring the exact details of the transfer and method of payment to all bidders. Yet when it came to report the transfer NUFC declared it undisclosed. But that assumption could be wrong as well.

 

[Monkey boy]

To be honest I'm still baffled by this signing solely on the basis that Poch hates players with his kind of attitude.

People saying that Poch has earned our trust but if there's one thing he hasn't proved yet (in my eyes) is his ability to sign quality players for big fees. For that reason I'll remain on the fence and see how he does but it would not surprise me in the slightest if this time next year he's been moved on with the large majority of the fans hating on him.

Ps. His comments in the past regarding Arsenal are a recipe for disaster aswell.

 

[sunnydelight786]

All this bollocks about, 'IF Poch can work his magic on him', first of all it is a big IF and secondly when you're spending £30m on a 27 year old player he should be a given. Someone who comes straight in and improves your side. Unlike a Lamela who had time and age on his side Sissoko doesn't. He MUST make a huge difference to our side for that ludicrous fee. What other clubs have spent or got for £30m is irrelevant as they don't have a 61k stadium to build like us, £30m for us right now is a HUGE amount of money. I am still scratching my head to why we paid that much for him. What has he shown in the last 3 years at club level to justify that?

 

[double0]

I think Sissoko will be a hit overall.

Ok the fee is questionable but into days crazy transfer market it's the going rate and in our favour the payment structure is more than manageable. Right, getting the financial concerns out of the way. Sissoko the player and what he brings to the squad is interesting. I'm impressed by his natural abilities which we as a squad don't really have in the final third of the field i.e. athleticism pace power directness, Sissoko's flexibility to play in other positions is beneficial for in game tactical changes.

In certain games especially big ones and against park the bus teams Sissoko will be very effective he'll provide options in breaking lines and committing opposing players that will create openings for us.

 

[longtimespur]

Just going back to the article @doctor stefan Freud posted earlier (#85) and read these five facts from it.

1. He created 56 chances last season.
That was more than:
R.Barkley (55)
G.Wijnaldum (48)
W.Rooney (42)
R.Sterling (35)

2. He completed 84 take ons last season.
That is more than any Spurs player managed in the Premier League.
Mousa Dembele was Spurs' take-on king with 83.

3. He averaged a pass accuracy rate of 89% at Euro 2016.
Higher than fellow French teammates:
Paul Pogba (88%)
Dimitri Payet (84%)
Antoine Griezmann (82%)

4. He's registered 15 assists in the last three seasons.
That's more than:
Yaya Toure (14)
Adam Lallana (14)
Oscar (13)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (12)
Theo Walcott (6)

5. He's played 18 through balls in the last three seasons.
More than any Spurs player has managed in that time as well as...
Eden Hazard (16)
Wayne Rooney (13)

Sounds a good buy to me from these figures.

 

[Mark_147]

To be honest I'm still baffled by this signing solely on the basis that Poch hates players with his kind of attitude.

People saying that Poch has earned our trust but if there's one thing he hasn't proved yet (in my eyes) is his ability to sign quality players for big fees. For that reason I'll remain on the fence and see how he does but it would not surprise me in the slightest if this time next year he's been moved on with the large majority of the fans hating on him.

Ps. His comments in the past regarding Arsenal are a recipe for disaster aswell.

If you go back to the second season under AVB and the remainder of the season under sherwood there were quite a few players who seemed to have an attitude and weren't playing well, but are still at the club now playing well under a good manager. If two top managers in Koeman and Pochettino think he's worth £30 million then that's good enough for me.

 

[spids]

He offers something different and can hurt teams at the highest level. If he's not consistent then Alli/Lamela/Eriksen/Dembele/Son will start instead (depending where Poch intends to play him). Likewise, if the others are out of form, or not doing it against tough opponents, Sissoko can have a go. We have lots of options which is a good thing!

 

[THFCSPURS19]

All this bollocks about, 'IF Poch can work his magic on him', first of all it is a big IF and secondly when you're spending £30m on a 27 year old player he should be a given. Someone who comes straight in and improves your side. Unlike a Lamela who had time and age on his side Sissoko doesn't. He MUST make a huge difference to our side for that ludicrous fee. What other clubs have spent or got for £30m is irrelevant as they don't have a 61k stadium to build like us, £30m for us right now is a HUGE amount of money. I am still scratching my head to why we paid that much for him. What has he shown in the last 3 years at club level to justify that?

I think £30m was too much, but the 'we've got a 61k stadium to build' point is irrelevant- I think Levy knows what he's doing, and what we can and can't spend.

 

[adamsky]

All this bollocks about, 'IF Poch can work his magic on him', first of all it is a big IF and secondly when you're spending £30m on a 27 year old player he should be a given. Someone who comes straight in and improves your side. Unlike a Lamela who had time and age on his side Sissoko doesn't. He MUST make a huge difference to our side for that ludicrous fee. What other clubs have spent or got for £30m is irrelevant as they don't have a 61k stadium to build like us, £30m for us right now is a HUGE amount of money. I am still scratching my head to why we paid that much for him. What has he shown in the last 3 years at club level to justify that?

What other clubs spent cannot be irrelevant as that is the market we are in. If Bolasie and Benteke get sold for £30m than they have set the benchmark. Newcastle can't be expected to take our stadium into consideration.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Just to play Devils advocate, last season Sissoko got more league assists than Yaya Toure has in any season bar 13/14 (when Toure got 1 more than Sissoko's 15/16 PL total) which is also more than Coutinho or Isco have ever got in a single season in the league.

I didn't just mean pure assists, I meant in terms of what he brings to he team and Yaya was often played in a cm2 something Sissoko and Coutinho rarely were. Bit easier to assist from forward positions.

 

[Vincent30]

I didn't just mean pure assists, I meant in terms of what he brings to he team and Yaya was often played in a cm2 something Sissoko and Coutinho rarely were. Bit easier to assist from forward positions.

Let's give the guy a chance, the negativity about this signing is shocking to say the least. It's as if people think we can buy any player in the world and offer 300k a week wages and we seemed to somehow settle for Sissoko at 75m.

As numerous posters have said, he brings something different, he is strong, powerful, pacey and can really get at a team. This will be crucial to us when Dembele is out injured and when we need to break down a team. On his day he can be unplayable and we have to take some credit that Poch seems to have this ability to bring this out in his players.

It's like there is no winning with some people. Net spend at 0, Levy is a twat and a tight arse, doesn't no what he's doing. Levy spends 30m on a player, he's an idiot, we've payed well over the odds, this guy is useless. When he is clearly a player our manager wants and a good friend to our club captain who wanted to bring him in.

So please tell me, all these people in this thread who are unhappy about this guy. Name another player, with Premier league expereince that we could have brought in, to help out when Dembele is not playing, as everyone can clearly see we miss a powerful strong ball carrier in the middle of the park. Can play further up the pitch if needed and brings a whole lot of versatility, has pace, is in their prime, brings much needed experience to our young team, isn't afraid to take on a man and was one of the best players at the Euro's..... answers on a post card please.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Voted yes, but i also thought Fazio would be great in the PL.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Just to play Devils advocate, last season Sissoko got more league assists than Yaya Toure has in any season bar 13/14 (when Toure got 1 more than Sissoko's 15/16 PL total) which is also more than Coutinho or Isco have ever got in a single season in the league.

Just to play Devil's advocate ping pong with you a second, Sissoko had less assists than Danny Drinkwater and Wes Hoolahan (and all of our first choice AM's - Eriksen, Alli, Lamela).