Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

[ardiles]

If we have a buyer for Sissoko then we should sell him. We have enough versatile players to fit in the team without Sissoko. If we wait to sell him only after we buy a replacement, then when will our youth players (Onomah, Amos et al ) get the experience playing with other members of our team?

 

[Shadydan]

Pure fantasy? Sorry, but quite strongly disagree. So what if Sissoko is ahead of Onomah and Amos, by then you're down to 8th and 9th choice and woudl have to have an injury crisis of magnificent proportions.

1. Dier
2. Dembele
3. Wanyama
4. Winks
5. Eriksen
6. Dele
7. Sissoko
8. Omomah
9. Amos

How many players have to be injured before selling Sissoko becomes a major blow? As long as at least one of the first 4 (above) are fit then Eriksen and/or Dele can partner them in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, or we only need one CM in a 3-3-3-1

If we don't sell Sissoko it will be because either:

1. No-one wants him
2. No-one will offer us a suitable price
3. Or, because Poch likes his versatility and attitude (as he always puts a shift in, trains hard and buys into the team ethos).

It won't be because we are light in CM.

For the record, I am not a Sissoko hater, I appreciate his effort and versatility myself, I just don't think he is needed with our current squad.

You're the one who bought up Onomah and Amos not me, I merely made a point that if you want to count them as midfield competition then you need to count Sissoko ahead of them seeing as the manager seems to trust him more thant them.

Also as I said before Dembele is unreliable due to his ongoing injury problems so not sure we can fully count on him in which you can make a case for Wanyama as well, so we're down to 5/6 guaranteed options in that midfield...question mark over Winks' fitness as well but that remains to be seen.

But don't take my word for it, take Poch's. You're not telling me anything I don't already know about him but my point is don't be surprised if he's still in the squad after September 1st, the reason you don't want him around is because he's not good enough, I agree but Poch isn't going to leave himself short just because Sissoko doesn't fit some fanatical ideologies of how some fans want the squad to look like.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

If we have a buyer for Sissoko then we should sell him. We have enough versatile players to fit in the team without Sissoko. If we wait to sell him only after we buy a replacement, then when will our youth players (Onomah, Amos et al ) get the experience playing with other members of our team?

If all we ever did was give youth a chance, at the expense of experience etc, then we would never get anywhere.
I feel like our youth products are over rated too often. For every Kane there's a hundred that won't make at at Premier League level. None of them deserve a chance, they have to earn it, and, with Poch's record, I would deduce if they're not given a chance, they haven't earned it.

 

[ardiles]

If all we ever did was give youth a chance, at the expense of experience etc, then we would never get anywhere.
I feel like our youth products are over rated too often. For every Kane there's a hundred that won't make at at Premier League level. None of them deserve a chance, they have to earn it, and, with Poch's record, I would deduce if they're not given a chance, they haven't earned it.

Whenever KWP has played in the first team recently, he has played well. Do you think he deserves more game time? IMO, he deserves more game time (with us, and not on loan).

If Poch is willing to put a youth player on the bench then I’m sure he has the confidence in that player getting on the pitch when needed.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Whenever KWP has played in the first team recently, he has played well. Do you think he deserves more game time? IMO, he deserves more game time (with us, and not on loan).

If Poch is willing to put a youth player on the bench then I’m sure he has the confidence in that player getting on the pitch when needed.

He's earned it on the right side, yes. I'd play him more than Aurrier, who hasn't.

Onomah has done nothing in our first team though, despite many chances.

 

[ardiles]

He's earned it on the right side, yes. I'd play him more than Aurrier, who hasn't.

Onomah has done nothing in our first team though, despite many chances.

I’d prefer if we kept Onomah instead of loaning him out to sides that may not use him at his best position.

Training with our first team would help him improve and also have a better understanding of how our players play.

There’s also Amos that could come on (instead of Sissoko). He may not have the experience yet but he has a higher ceiling than Sissoko and keeping him behind Sissoko isn’t helping him improve.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I’d prefer if we kept Onomah instead of loaning him out to sides that may not use him at his best position.

Training with our first team would help him improve and also have a better understanding of how our players play.

There’s also Amos that could come on (instead of Sissoko). He may not have the experience yet but he has a higher ceiling than Sissoko and keeping him behind Sissoko isn’t helping him improve.

I'm not saying I wouldn't keep Onomah around. I'm saying I wouldn't sell a feckin unit like Sissoko, who has played at big tournaments (European final) and just throw a kid in who hasn't proven he can do it.

 

[ardiles]

I'm not saying I wouldn't keep Onomah around. I'm saying I wouldn't sell a feckin unit like Sissoko, who has played at big tournaments (European final) and just throw a kid in who hasn't proven he can do it.

I understand what you mean but the ‘kid’ isn’t likely to start as we do have enough available midfielders at the moment . The youth player would likely only be used if there’s an injury (without any other experienced midfielder available on the bench) or if we have a big lead and just want to give our youth some playing time.

If we really do get a (good ) offer for Sissoko , in this window, I think we should take it as we may not have another good opportunity in the next window or beyond to sell him at a good (Levy good) fee. His value drops after each window.

If our youth are not up to it when called upon, there’s still the injured midfielders to return or the next window is just a little over 4 months away.

Anyway, as I don’t want to drag this further, let’s just agree to disagree. ?

 

[ilya]

I want to see our best players getting rested in cup games and some others too, so would happily keep him except if Poch think some youngsters are better than him.

 

[LSUY]

 

[dagraham]

Lol at Mourinho giving the ball to Aurier for the throw

 

[dagraham]

Yes!!!!

 

[sammyj]

oh my god what a night

 

[erhieyid]

Shame, we could have done with him tonight.

 

[The Apprentice]

The perfect night cap.

 

[Woodyy]

I would rather we had sold him, loans seem pointless unless we are getting a loan fee or there is a clause in there for them to buy him at the end.

 

[SpursDave88]

I would rather we had sold him, loans seem pointless unless we are getting a loan fee or there is a clause in there for them to buy him at the end.

Expect we will get a decent loan fee.

 

[WiganSpur]

The best thing about this is that it will mean more opportunities for our young players in the lower priority games.

 

[scat1620]

I for one will be sad to see @Eric_s leave, but I thank him for his efforts on SC and wish him well posting in his new home on the Marseille forums.

 

[Deleted member 22380]

Strangely I think we may miss Sissoko.
I thought he did well last season as a useful squad player that could fill in anywhere in midfield, which was much needed due to the injuries we had.

I wish him all the best. A lot of people on this site like to shit on him unfairly.
Hopefully Onomah is a capable replacement in the "Sissoko utility role" whether it be at CM or AM.