Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

[Nebby]

I'm still not sure what he brings to the team. I've just watched a couple of "highlights" videos from when he plays for France and from his days at Newcastle. He seems a strong runner with the ball if there's space to knock it into, but there's rarely any end product. He either loses it or wins a free kick. There's very little end product.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Even though other players may have worse individual performances in a given match, Sissoko is the weakest link of the senior squad so far this season overall.

 

[spursfan77]

A decent offer in the summer and he'll be gone I suspect. The easiest player in the squad to upgrade on.

He's better than last season but this is as good as he's going to be. Whatever that is.

 

[King of Otters]

He's not a scapegoat.

He's just shit.

He's a shitgoat.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

A decent offer in the summer and he'll be gone I suspect. The easiest player in the squad to upgrade on.

He's better than last season but this is as good as he's going to be. Whatever that is.

Or dare I say in January? Upgrade on Sissoko in January, and get a solid, strong tank who can effortlessly drift in and out of both CM and AM positions, and I'd put good money on top 4 and a cup final.

 

[Phomesy]

Jesus Christ - you can't all be that fucking thick. He's played in just about every single game Spurs has played this year.

Poch IS NOT GOING TO SELL HIM IN JANUARY.

Disagree with Poch if you like - and there's nothing wrong with that - but anyone who thinks Poch doesn't value him (for whatever reasons) is just not paying fucking attention. And it gets really boring.

It's fine not to rate him but try and deal in reality.

 

[Cravenspurs]

Jesus Christ - you can't all be that fucking thick. He's played in just about every single game Spurs has played this year.

Poch IS NOT GOING TO SELL HIM IN JANUARY.

Disagree with Poch if you like - and there's nothing wrong with that - but anyone who thinks Poch doesn't value him (for whatever reasons) is just not paying fucking attention. And it gets really boring.

It's fine not to rate him but try and deal in reality.

Can't stand the player in all honesty, but have to agree with the idea that Poch does. I think we will see less of him now that Lamela is back, but I really hope the summer marks the end of this experiment. He has no ability outside his running.

 

[Phomesy]

Can't stand the player in all honesty, but have to agree with the idea that Poch does. I think we will see less of him now that Lamela is back, but I really hope the summer marks the end of this experiment. He has no ability outside his running.

Think the return of Wanyama and Toby, as well as as Lamela, will see Sissoko get much less time on ground. But that is a clue to why he's had so much time - he can play a part in Poch's teams in CM and AM. That's what Poch likes about I assume - that and the fact that Sissoko is clearly playing to very disciplined and limited role as laid out for him and has been very professional about it. For a limited player I like that about him.

He's done a very important job for us. With a full squad we won't need him but with all our injuries he's been very important for the coaching staff and deserves a little more credit that the scorn heaped on him by so many.

 

[SugarRay]

He’s having a pretty good season to be fair to him.

Much better than last season.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Think the return of Wanyama and Toby, as well as as Lamela, will see Sissoko get much less time on ground. But that is a clue to why he's had so much time - he can play a part in Poch's teams in CM and AM. That's what Poch likes about I assume - that and the fact that Sissoko is clearly playing to very disciplined and limited role as laid out for him and has been very professional about it. For a limited player I like that about him.

He's done a very important job for us. With a full squad we won't need him but with all our injuries he's been very important for the coaching staff and deserves a little more credit that the scorn heaped on him by so many.

I'm not sure Poch wants an CM/8 in a a CM3 system to be as limited as Sissoko is or was last night against a bus Parker. Of the starting 11 only two players made less key passes, Lloris and Aurier. And he wasn't very disciplined either, he was constantly - almost entirely - ahead of the ball. Only two players equalled Sissoko's grand total of no tackles and no interceptions last night, Lloris and Son. Even Eriksen made 4 tackles and 1 interception. Here's his positional heat map, showing he spent more time in advance of even Eriksen:

I can think of at least 3 or 4 players we have in our club who could do a much better job of the role Sissoko played last night.

Sissoko is probably the best advertisement ever for why clubs should put a bit more effort into integration. Because with just a modicum of bollocks and bit of common sense we could have saved ourselves about 30m + 9m-12m wages (minus whatever we eventually manage to get back of course) and been a better team for it.

 

[srups34]

On his day he's unplayable.. He's deserves a new contract.

 

[Phomesy]

I'm not sure Poch wants an CM/8 in a a CM3 system to be as limited as Sissoko is or was last night against a bus Parker.

Yes, yes - we all know your feelings about Sissoko. And I completely agree (it might surprise you) Sissoko's presence in a 4-2-3-1 (or muddled 4-3-3) which we played against Brighton is his least effective formation (he's "most" effective when we cede possession and play on the break).

But that's not my fucking point BC. This is what you don't seem to understand. It's not what you or I seem to think that counts. It's what Poch thinks that counts.

And Poch will know all of Sissokos limitations and yet still plays him. Because he thinks its his best choice given limited options.

Which part of "in a full squad Sissoko won't get minutes" don't you understand?

We have an injury riddled squad (less now Lamela is back) - Sissoko plays because he does what Poch asks. End of story. Whining about it; slagging him off - what does any of this achieve? Nothing. It doesn't make you look clever and it certainly doesn't help team morale. So why keep on bitching about a player who is doing his best because the manager keeps asking him to fill a role?

Sissoko has been told to fill space and - when he gets the ball to give it straight back to Winks or Dier. That's his orders. he follows them religiously. That's why Poch likes him because he does what Poch tells him to fucking do.

Isn't this obvious now? Do we really need to keep slagging the guy off? What does it achieve?

 

[bigpalacios]

Hes wank... Simple.

He wont be here next season, his lack of technically ability and awareness is staggering. Hes an outlier in terms of making at as an international footballer.

I love Poch and admire him but this is one player I struggle to give any credence to.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Yes, yes - we all know your feelings about Sissoko. And I completely agree (it might surprise you) Sissoko's presence in a 4-2-3-1 (or muddled 4-3-3) which we played against Brighton is his least effective formation (he's "most" effective when we cede possession and play on the break).

But that's not my fucking point BC. This is what you don't seem to understand. It's not what you or I seem to think that counts. It's what Poch thinks that counts.

And Poch will know all of Sissokos limitations and yet still plays him. Because he thinks its his best choice given limited options.

Which part of "in a full squad Sissoko won't get minutes" don't you understand?

We have an injury riddled squad (less now Lamela is back) - Sissoko plays because he does what Poch asks. End of story. Whining about it; slagging him off - what does any of this achieve? Nothing. It doesn't make you look clever and it certainly doesn't help team morale. So why keep on bitching about a player who is doing his best because the manager keeps asking him to fill a role?

Sissoko has been told to fill space and - when he gets the ball to give it straight back to Winks or Dier. That's his orders. he follows them religiously. That's why Poch likes him because he does what Poch tells him to fucking do.

Isn't this obvious now? Do we really need to keep slagging the guy off? What does it achieve?

Yes, yes we all know how you feel about Sissoko, "he's making mugs of all of us" eh? - but I wasn't so much slagging him off, as I was you, for talking bollocks about him, and Pochettino for picking him when he doesn't have to or wouldn't have had to if he'd integrated better.

 

[Phomesy]

Yes, yes we all know how you feel about Sissoko, "he's making mugs of all of us" eh? - but I wasn't so much slagging him off, as I was you, for talking bollocks about him, and Pochettino for picking the fucking mung bean when he doesn't have to or wouldn't have had to if he'd integrated better.

What "bollocks" have I talked about Sissoko? Which part of "no injuries he doesn't play" don't you fucking get?

But good to know you think Poch's a mug. That's helpful.

Sheesh...

 

[Bus-Conductor]

What "bollocks" have I talked about Sissoko? Which part of "no injuries he doesn't play" don't you fucking get?

But good to know you think Poch's a mug. That's helpful.

Sheesh...

Which part of "I think we have better options and should have integrated them instead of ending up having to rely on a player as poor as Sissoko didn't you understand ?

Good to know Poch's discusses his thoughts with you. Can you ask him to give Rose a slap for me.

 

[Dharmabum]

I am also a bit perplexed about the purchase of Sissoko but he is not as bad as many on here claim though and has proven himself against teams like Real M.
But yes, I do agree that he lacks a bit of end product (his shooting is on pair with that of Zokora and Freund).
So I would not be against selling him IF a proper replacement was lined up and the price should be around 25-30M (maybe a Chinese club would come in). Both Pochettino and Deschamps rates him so he must have "something".

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Jesus Christ - you can't all be that fucking thick. He's played in just about every single game Spurs has played this year.

Poch IS NOT GOING TO SELL HIM IN JANUARY.

Disagree with Poch if you like - and there's nothing wrong with that - but anyone who thinks Poch doesn't value him (for whatever reasons) is just not paying fucking attention. And it gets really boring.

It's fine not to rate him but try and deal in reality.

When is he going to play when Wanyama comes back? We have to adjust our formation to even fit him in because he can only play on the right in a midfield 3. Poch plays him because thats all we have.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Jesus Christ - you can't all be that fucking thick. He's played in just about every single game Spurs has played this year.

Poch IS NOT GOING TO SELL HIM IN JANUARY.

Disagree with Poch if you like - and there's nothing wrong with that - but anyone who thinks Poch doesn't value him (for whatever reasons) is just not paying fucking attention. And it gets really boring.

It's fine not to rate him but try and deal in reality.

I'd like that very much, thank you.
Furthermore, I disagree with you.

Jesus Christ - you can't be that fucking thick. We've had Cms and Ams injured for just about every single game Spurs has played this year.

Poch IS NOT LOVING WHAT SISSOKO BRINGS TO THE TABLE.

Close your eyes if you like - and there's nothing wrong with that - but anyone who thinks Poch does care much for him (for whatever reasons) is just fucking deluded. And - it gets really boring.

It's fine if you can't see the wood for the trees, but try and deal in reality.

 

[dontcallme]

Good to see civil debates are alive and well.