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Player Watch: Moussa Sissoko

tobi

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose
Jun 10, 2003
17,446
11,568
He was playing well but that free kick was so unnecessary and then not jumping with his man.

Fine margins and all that.
 

fletch82

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2015
2,652
8,489
Its time for everyone to accept the fact that he is a great athlete but a bang average footballer.
I also think I am being kind with that description
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Its time for everyone to accept the fact that he is a great athlete but a bang average footballer.
I also think I am being kind with that description
I’m not sure anyone has suggested he’s more than an ok footballer so not quite sure who you’re targeting. I doubt you’ll find one member on Sc wood have him as first choice when all are fit.
 

fletch82

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2015
2,652
8,489
I’m not sure anyone has suggested he’s more than an ok footballer so not quite sure who you’re targeting. I doubt you’ll find one member on Sc wood have him as first choice when all are fit.

Just a musing really
Maybe I am hoping jose will read it haha
 

holmesy

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2006
195
327
I dunno what the answer is with a MF 3 if i am honest... Look at todays issues and set pieces, given the size of Sissoko you'd want hinm in there to help defend, but he actually makes a half arsed attempt of getting off the floor.. if you swap him out with Gio, hes not going to help us defesnsivly on set pieces either

id be inclined to try 3 4 3

Rodon, Dier Alderweirld
Doherty Hohberg Ndombele Reguliion
Bale Kane Son

When defedning, Doherty and Reguliion narrow up to help CM or drop into FB and Bale and Sonny drop back into WB positions

Gio can then rotate with Ndombele quite happily
 

Wizzy77

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2019
1,006
4,316
Basic expectation of a taller footballer is to JUMP and challenge for the ball. Sorry he is responsible for giving the crucial first goal away.
 

Strikeb4ck

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2010
4,483
9,409
PEH is getting a lot of credit for his midfield performances (and rightly so) but feel Moussa is being a bit unfairly looked over. That partnership he has formed with Hojbjerg has been excellent defensively, bar the collapse against West Ham (and even then, that was a different midfield with Winks also involved).

I think he's been excellent the last few games. He'll never be a standout player technically but the way he plugs gaps and spaces and seems to be all over the pitch is very impressive and quietly vital for this system. The only way we can play with two fullbacks who like going forward so much is with a player like Sissoko who regularly mops up on both flanks when one gets caught out too high. The amount of tackles he makes out wide and 1v1s he wins after a 40 yard sprint into a contested space is unmatched.

The PEH + Sissoko partnership is why we've conceded 1 goal (that shouldn't have stood) vs Burnley and Brighton. It was also good for 0 against West Ham until the collapse (again, different midfield setup when they scored) and 1 vs Man United. They've been rock solid together.
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
Dunno, I get that he's very mobile and strong does mop up quite a bit of danger. Maybe he warrants a spot for that now that we're playing with two attacking fullbacks. The defensive work he excels at is the simple stuff. Chasing people down in transitions, but his positioning is sometimes very shady and he's a total liability in the air on set pieces.

And a lot of the defensive work he has to do is down to us having to spend one midfielder spot on a player that's so limited in attack. No one trusts him enough to even contemplate giving him the ball when we're playing out from the back, he's not a player you can combine with in passing moves, and he seemingly has to use every ounce of his concentration to find even the most obvious of passing option. The option the opponents wanted him to choose, and that they knew of way before Sissoko did.

Not trying to chop his head off, but I feel he's a guy that starts more fires that he puts out.
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
PEH is getting a lot of credit for his midfield performances (and rightly so) but feel Moussa is being a bit unfairly looked over. That partnership he has formed with Hojbjerg has been excellent defensively, bar the collapse against West Ham (and even then, that was a different midfield with Winks also involved).

I think he's been excellent the last few games. He'll never be a standout player technically but the way he plugs gaps and spaces and seems to be all over the pitch is very impressive and quietly vital for this system. The only way we can play with two fullbacks who like going forward so much is with a player like Sissoko who regularly mops up on both flanks when one gets caught out too high. The amount of tackles he makes out wide and 1v1s he wins after a 40 yard sprint into a contested space is unmatched.

The PEH + Sissoko partnership is why we've conceded 1 goal (that shouldn't have stood) vs Burnley and Brighton. It was also good for 0 against West Ham until the collapse (again, different midfield setup when they scored) and 1 vs Man United. They've been rock solid together.

I totally agree with you. I feel he is harshly treated or rather judged... Look he isn't a world beater but in all honesty I'm far more comfortable with him in the team than without. He adds a bit of strength and power in that midfield. He isn't great technically and isn't a great passer but he just adds a bit of mobility in our midfield that we don't have in abundance.

Basically what I'm saying is that the majority of people are wrong and you and I are right so we should be applauded.
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,763
12,519
He's in there because he's the best of a bad bunch of options tbh. Sometimes he can surprise you with a really nice long pass, but it's his ability to deal with the ball in tight spaces that really leaves a lot to be desired. He's ahead of Winks because he's better defending.

IMO someone like Neves or Phillips would be perfect in there.
 

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
I don’t mind Sissoko against a team like United City or Chelsea where watching a world class player make runs from the wing or midfield is crucial. In fact he was really excellent in both the United matches since July, good playing in the NLD, etc. He definitely has value, especially against big teams and he’s good aerially.

But he legitimately points for a long ball 80% of the time and cannot turn or make a quick pass if his life depended on it. Why do you think we’ve gotten pressed off the pitch by the 4 worst teams in the league? He’s not even a passing option, it’s like playing with 10 men. I also don’t buy the defensive solidity thing on the whole when, our front 3 is excellent if we have possession and press breakers. If we could play fluid stuff we end up pinning their FBs back by default and it’s always easier to win 4-1 than 1-0.

Legitimate upgrade needed.
 

kent brockman

Beware of the Daviesaurus
Sep 1, 2012
1,247
2,618
Whereas we do need an athletic and mobile option in CM, it has to be someone with better ball skills than Sissoko.
Should be our highest priority after landing a top quality CB.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Sissoko shits himself when he gets too near opponents goal.

Definitely need an upgrade as we need to control games in midfield more.
 

DannyNZ

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2017
1,740
4,726
Today he was simply awful and was a complete liability. Someone has to be the worst player on the field and today that was clearly Sissoko. Would be nice to see us more dominant against teams like West Brom but our midfield is just not able to control possession and feed the forward players.
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
I really dont get why people slate Sissoko

To play Ndombele and to play PEH - you need someone who is willing to do the grind, the dirty work - Sissoko does that. He isnt a great passer, we all know that but he is great at nicking the ball off the opposition. PEH is pretty slow, you need someone pacey with him, that is where Sissoko is at.

I think he is clearly being undervalued here.... he isnt the best, he is limited but what he does do is he gives us strength and pace in the middle.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
I really dont get why people slate Sissoko

To play Ndombele and to play PEH - you need someone who is willing to do the grind, the dirty work - Sissoko does that. He isnt a great passer, we all know that but he is great at nicking the ball off the opposition. PEH is pretty slow, you need someone pacey with him, that is where Sissoko is at.
What? That’s exactly what Hojbjerg does. Against a team like West Brom you don’t need 2 players to do that.
 

Rosco1984

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,740
7,048
should play against the sides who play high and leave space to run into. Shouldn't play against sides who sit deep and clog up the midfield pretty simple really. He is what he's is and in general he's excellent at causing a bit of chaos in midfield against the top sides but woeful at moving the ball quickly against the shit. I have a feeling once Lo Celso is fully up and running that is how they will be rotated.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
should play against the sides who play high and leave space to run into. Shouldn't play against sides who sit deep and clog up the midfield pretty simple really. He is what he's is and in general he's excellent at causing a bit of chaos in midfield against the top sides but woeful at moving the ball quickly against the shit. I have a feeling once Lo Celso is fully up and running that is how they will be rotated.

I think the only option we have is Winks and clearly he isn't trusted. Seems like Jose wants to play Gio with Ndombele but he's managing their fitness by rotating them at the moment.
 
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