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Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

isaac94

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2017
2,921
9,733
Massive credit to him and Poch for his improvement and stick at it. Seems to me his much more aware of his strengths and limitations now, and has a lot clearer about his role in the side (not being played AMR etc). His not the best technically, but is deffo up there physically, strength and stamina wise, and he uses that to his advantage
 

eViL

Oliver Skipp's Dad
May 15, 2004
5,840
7,960
Needs to make his mind up what he's going to do when he gets to the box while he's passing the half way line; because, a bit like Dembele, the only thing that can actually stop him from doing as he intends is his indecision.

Physically, I can't see many being able to compete with him in midfield right now. He just needs to be as direct in the mind as he is in the body.
 

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
He basically simultaneously played RB and RW at Barcelona, breaking their attacks down and providing potential assists for us by marauding down their flanks. A feat up there with the resurrection of the Christ and the creation of life
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,596
Agree with all of that. I can't remember a player whose form was so dependent on their level of confidence. You always have dips in self-belief, but can continue to play at a high level. But when Sissoko isn't feeling good on the inside, his play can be downright dreadful. Now that he's got some vim and verve about him, he's doing brilliantly. The immense swing in form is borderline bi-polar. Look at the chap who started a couple of our FA cup games last season, and that guy was embarrassingly poor. Compared to the guy who played last night, and you wouldn't know they're the same player. The gulf between low-confidence Sissoko versus high-confidence Sissoko is the size of an ocean.
Now, the question is whether the coaching staff can keep him at this level, and help him avoid the low-points.
I think they will but it's also important for the fans to keep behind him. If his form drops I hope we dont turn on him again. We shouldn't because we know how good he can be now. Keep the Ohh Moussa Sissoko chants going and I'm sure we'll continue to see the best of him.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,988
81,925
We had a similar attitude towards Bale

Did we? I think the vast majority saw Bale as a high quality player with huge potential.

The vast majority saw Sissoko as a low quality player in his prime so little room for improvement.

I just don’t see the comparison beyond a slow start.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,596
I genuinely want him in our first team every game. He adds so much to our play and the rapid transition he's often involved in is what we were missing. So pleased for him. It's Alli and Eriksen who are now contributing less, but the good thing is others are making up for it.. Son, Lucas, Lamela. Our squad is so much better than it was. Dembele Wanyama and Dier are effectively all vying for the cdm role and could all be replaced by a younger option imo. Winks and Sissoko to support in CM.
This is so true. As great as Dembele has been over the years he was really slowing down. I love Winks in there but Sissoko is the powerful athlete we were missing. I can understand why we've been linked with Nbombele, we didn't get him but thanks to Sissoko we dont really need him now. Although you could argue the case as a young long term replacement for Sissoko.
 

razzmaster

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2008
2,311
13,051
I think Sissoko's transformation highlights how important confidence, trust, self belief and a sense of belonging are when it comes to footballers. It took a while but the turnaround in his game has been miraculous. All those writing off KWP after his mistake, or Wanyama following his injury, or Onomah after a couple of poor loans might just want to be a bit more patient. Thankfully Poch is a master of this and deserves huge credit for turning Sissoko into a beast for us in recent games. Fingers crossed it lasts.
 

cozzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2005
3,541
6,225
Did we? I think the vast majority saw Bale as a high quality player with huge potential.

The vast majority saw Sissoko as a low quality player in his prime so little room for improvement.

I just don’t see the comparison beyond a slow start.

I think at the time, Bale was more than a slow start, there were numerous calls for him to be sold.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
I think at the time, Bale was more than a slow start, there were numerous calls for him to be sold.
Bale was quality under Jol, then was injured on and off for about two years. He was never a jinx, just played in a few horrible teams; only an idiot would believe in superstition like that. He was a young hot prospect, Sissoko was poor at Newcastle and poor for two years with us. Bale did show that he could score goals, control a football and took time to find his true position.
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,866
16,055
I think Sissoko's transformation highlights how important confidence, trust, self belief and a sense of belonging are when it comes to footballers. It took a while but the turnaround in his game has been miraculous. All those writing off KWP after his mistake, or Wanyama following his injury, or Onomah after a couple of poor loans might just want to be a bit more patient. Thankfully Poch is a master of this and deserves huge credit for turning Sissoko into a beast for us in recent games. Fingers crossed it lasts.
We can only back Poch’s judgement. If he plays someone he has clearly has confidence in them if he does not play them then clearly he doesn’t.
 

glacierSpurs

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2013
16,163
25,472
I wanted to cry hearing it from the boss

https://www.football.london/tottenh...chettino-press-conference-every-word-15539416

Moussa Sissoko was everywhere tonight and had to fill in in three different positions, what did you make of his performance?

I am so happy, because from the day he signed two and a half years ago he struggled to adapt at the club in the way that we wanted him to play. But in the same way I am so proud of him because he showed his a great person, a great man, a really top man and then he's a great professional. The quality that he had he always gave 200 per cent in every single game. Sometimes he was better than others, sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but one thing we can always describe him as is honest, such an honest person and an honest player. That is a massive thing for a player that they need to play for the team and show fantastic commitment.

If you follow his Instagram, you can really feel he is a down-to-earth guy. His current form really is a delight, so so so glad for him. I was very happy when we signed him. Naturally the current transformation is really sweet.
 

JAYSTAR

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2012
3,316
3,800
This is so true. As great as Dembele has been over the years he was really slowing down. I love Winks in there but Sissoko is the powerful athlete we were missing. I can understand why we've been linked with Nbombele, we didn't get him but thanks to Sissoko we dont really need him now. Although you could argue the case as a young long term replacement for Sissoko.
Agreed, younger long term replacements seem to be the strategy now. Dembele has been my favourite player for years and although I wanted us to buy Sissoko, I was not thinking of him as a replacement at all. But now, he is just bossing midfields and using his body to bully the opposition and it's great to watch. I honestly don't miss Dembele now. Sissoko just instinctively wants to attack and it fits our front four so well to have someone bursting forwards and drawing defenders away from them. Now we are finding space in behind, through the middle, over the top, down the flanks. It's amazing what a difference one player's approach can have on the whole team.
 

shoggy33

Well-Known Member
Feb 25, 2007
1,354
4,538
Nope, he was fucking garbage and i was right to say he was fucking garbage, now he's playing quite well and that make me happy. However he has to do more than a month and a bit of playing well to undo two years of being an absolute liability to balance that out.

As great as he's been doing he is still in performance 'debt', if he left tomorrow it would be correct to say that overall he was still a waste of money. But hopefully he wont, hopefully he will continue this trajectory and by 2020 he'll win the Ballon D'or, or be heavyweight champion of the world or probably by that point Prime Minister.

Lol 'quite well'- not really enjoying that humble pie are you? He's been arguably our best player against City, Chelsea, Inter and Barcelona. If he was 'fucking garbage' back then he's certainly doing more than playing 'quite well' now.
 

kungfugrip

Well-Known Member
Apr 8, 2005
1,613
1,523
I think at the time, Bale was more than a slow start, there were numerous calls for him to be sold.

No, he started brilliantly. Three goals in his first five games I think. THEN got injured and took a long time to get match fit. We went on a long run without winning with him in the team, but he actually started really well and showed his incredible potential early on.
 

SpunkyBackpack

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2005
7,831
9,372
Lol 'quite well'- not really enjoying that humble pie are you? He's been arguably our best player against City, Chelsea, Inter and Barcelona. If he was 'fucking garbage' back then he's certainly doing more than playing 'quite well' now.

He was rubbish and i never wanted to see him in a Spurs shirt ever again, now he's playing well and i am happy, is that not enough? He's not been magnificent or fantastic or some sort of revelation that some people who are prone to overreacting to good performances might say but he doesn't need to be, I'm still happy.

It's not a competition as to who can be the best supporter you know, you don't have to pick a side and stick to it so when something changes you can score points off of people. But anyway, well done for rating him higher than i do, help yourself to a special supporters badge and a biscuit.
 
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