What's new

Player Watch Player Watch: Pape Sarr

-Afri-Coy-

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2012
5,866
18,663
And to think some fans were clamouring for Bentancur to replace him in the squad when he returned from injury.

Kid’s going to be world class, I’ve been saying it for a while now.
 

14/04/91

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2006
3,586
5,793
I just hope he doesn’t take too much of a risk with the afcon.
Richarlison went to the WC with an injury and set himself back by doing so.
 

DogsOfWar

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2005
2,303
3,645
And to think some fans were clamouring for Bentancur to replace him in the squad when he returned from injury.

Kid’s going to be world class, I’ve been saying it for a while now.

If Bentancur and Maddison are fit they start.
It's Sarr and Bissouma who are fighting it out for that third spot and on current form/discipline it's definitely Sarr.
 

-Afri-Coy-

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2012
5,866
18,663
If Bentancur and Maddison are fit they start.
It's Sarr and Bissouma who are fighting it out for that third spot and on current form/discipline it's definitely Sarr.

No arguments there, but a couple weeks ago, before Bentancur regained fitness, the narrative was Bissouma - Maddison - Bentancur based on nothing other than the fact that Bentancur was sublime last season.

Don't get me wrong, I believe Bentancur SHOULD start for us, but he had to earn that spot back which in all due respect he has done since returning. Coming back from nearly a year off is an immense task and most players don't return to the same form they had with a severe injury like that.

Sarr has been our most consistent player alongside Maddison. There is zero reason to drop him from the starting 11 and it needs to stay that way.

Bissouma is unfortunately on the outside looking in at the minute.
 

DogsOfWar

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2005
2,303
3,645
No arguments there, but a couple weeks ago, before Bentancur regained fitness, the narrative was Bissouma - Maddison - Bentancur based on nothing other than the fact that Bentancur was sublime last season.

Don't get me wrong, I believe Bentancur SHOULD start for us, but he had to earn that spot back which in all due respect he has done since returning. Coming back from nearly a year off is an immense task and most players don't return to the same form they had with a severe injury like that.

Sarr has been our most consistent player alongside Maddison. There is zero reason to drop him from the starting 11 and it needs to stay that way.

Bissouma is unfortunately on the outside looking in at the minute.

Agreed, especially what you say about consistency.
Comparing Sarr and Bissouma it's Sarr who has played more like a 27 year old, Premiership experienced player with Bissouma performing more like a 21 year old, inexperienced kid.
And at this level you need players you can rely on week in/week out and Sarr has shown he can be.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,304
57,740
Get him signed up immediately. He's going to be a huge star and already has more than a touch of Yaya Toure about him.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,626
331,650
No arguments there, but a couple weeks ago, before Bentancur regained fitness, the narrative was Bissouma - Maddison - Bentancur based on nothing other than the fact that Bentancur was sublime last season.

Don't get me wrong, I believe Bentancur SHOULD start for us, but he had to earn that spot back which in all due respect he has done since returning. Coming back from nearly a year off is an immense task and most players don't return to the same form they had with a severe injury like that.

Sarr has been our most consistent player alongside Maddison. There is zero reason to drop him from the starting 11 and it needs to stay that way.

Bissouma is unfortunately on the outside looking in at the minute.
When I said that it was based on the best versions I have seen of those players. The best version I've seen of Bissouma and of Bentancur is currently better than the best version of Sarr I have watched. Of course form and fitness will come into the equation when actually picking the starting XI, but if I'm asked to pick our best XI when all fit and firing it's still Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison for me as our midfield 3.
 
Last edited:

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,688
17,568
When I said that it was based on the best versions I have seen of those players. The best version I've seen of Bissouma and of Bentancur is currently better than the best version of Sarr I have watched. Of course form and fitness will come into when actually picking the starting XI, but if I'm asked to pick our best XI when all fit and firing it's still Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison for me as our midfield 3.

Honestly I’d be surprised if there was any disagrees on this. All those 3 are in their prime currently and Sarr really is still a young guy.

Do I believe that Sarr will become better than them, I think he has all the attributes to be just as good as the 3 and isn’t a million miles away now.

The only thing that matters though is that we have 4 absolutely fantastic options for those 3 places. Then we can add GLC and Kulusevski into the mix aswell.

6 - Bissouma & Bentancur
8 - Sarr & Lo Celso
10 - Maddison & Kulusevski

When you look at that you would struggle to find a better set of players in the league and is why I don’t necessarily think we need Gallagher. If anything we could do with another winger if Kulusevski has to move central.
 

-Afri-Coy-

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2012
5,866
18,663
When I said that it was based on the best versions I have seen of those players. The best version I've seen of Bissouma and of Bentancur is currently better than the best version of Sarr I have watched. Of course form and fitness will come into when actually picking the starting XI, but if I'm asked to pick our best XI when all fit and firing it's still Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison for me as our midfield 3.

Adding this context is very important, and I somewhat agree with you however I feel the more time Sarr has on the field the closer that gap to Bissouma becomes. And no disrespect to Bissouma, but he isn’t consistent enough as it is to be ahead of Sarr in the pecking order.

The chances of us seeing all three players fit and firing seems slim but it’s possible. It’s a good problem to have though when it comes to fruition.

I know Sarr is a young player and we shouldn’t burn him out by any means, but he’s very Yaya-esque and the more time he gets the more he’ll improve IMO.

FWIW, I hadn’t even seen your post regarding this, I had actually seen it blasted all over twitter and that’s why I mentioned it here.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,626
331,650
Adding this context is very important, and I somewhat agree with you however I feel the more time Sarr has on the field the closer that gap to Bissouma becomes. And no disrespect to Bissouma, but he isn’t consistent enough as it is to be ahead of Sarr in the pecking order.

The chances of us seeing all three players fit and firing seems slim but it’s possible. It’s a good problem to have though when it comes to fruition.

I know Sarr is a young player and we shouldn’t burn him out by any means, but he’s very Yaya-esque and the more time he gets the more he’ll improve IMO.

FWIW, I hadn’t even seen your post regarding this, I had actually seen it blasted all over twitter and that’s why I mentioned it here.
You seem to be ignoring the fact they play in a different role though. So lets say what you are saying is correct and that there is very little difference between Sarr and Bissouma as far as their level is concerned, then it comes down to what role Bentancur is better playing, and for me that's the all action 8 and not the holding 6.
 

-Afri-Coy-

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2012
5,866
18,663
You seem to be ignoring the fact they play in a different role though. So lets say what you are saying is correct and that there is very little difference between Sarr and Bissouma as far as their level is concerned, then it comes down to what role Bentancur is better playing, and for me that's the all action 8 and not the holding 6.

I’m not ignoring it, I’m overlooking it because Sarr can play both roles well, so if the midfield 3 is Sarr, Bentancur and Maddison then we can use Sarr as the 6 and it would be just as good as putting Bissouma in the same role. Purely opinion though, I’m not saying I know better than anyone else.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,626
331,650
I’m not ignoring it, I’m overlooking it because Sarr can play both roles well, so if the midfield 3 is Sarr, Bentancur and Maddison then we can use Sarr as the 6 and it would be just as good as putting Bissouma in the same role. Purely opinion though, I’m not saying I know better than anyone else.
Where/when have you seen Sarr play in that press resistant 6 role? Personally I haven't seen him do it so I have no idea if he can play that role well. Certainly not as well as I know Bissouma can play it because I've seen him do it a good number of times.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,529
147,603
When I said that it was based on the best versions I have seen of those players. The best version I've seen of Bissouma and of Bentancur is currently better than the best version of Sarr I have watched. Of course form and fitness will come into when actually picking the starting XI, but if I'm asked to pick our best XI when all fit and firing it's still Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison for me as our midfield 3.
It’ll be quite exciting to see such quality competition for the places in the midfield three. I agree with your assessment, but Bentancur and Bissouma will need to maintain good form to keep their starting spot when you have Sarr ready to step in.

What a lovely dilemma to have.
 

-Afri-Coy-

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2012
5,866
18,663
Where/when have you seen Sarr play in that press resistant 6 role? Personally I haven't seen him do it so I have no idea if he can play that role well. Certainly not as well as I know Bissouma can play it because I've seen him do it a good number of times.

I’ve seen him make more than enough interceptions and runs back to our box to defend to know he should be able to play that role perfectly fine if he’s asked too. He’s definitely a natural box to box though, this is just me basing an opinion from what I’ve seen him do on the pitch.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,626
331,650
I’ve seen him make more than enough interceptions and runs back to our box to defend to know he should be able to play that role perfectly fine if he’s asked too. He’s definitely a natural box to box though, this is just me basing an opinion from what I’ve seen him do on the pitch.
So how well will he screen the back four? How good is he in tight spaces on the half turn under pressure, How disciplined is he to hold his position and not burst forward etc etc. There's a whole lot more to Ange's 6 than breaking up play, and the 6 and 8 is a different role altogether. He's doing very well as the box to box 8, but he doesn't look much like a press resistant 6 to me from what I have seen and certainly not as good as Bissouma(which is what you said). If you want to play those 3 together Bentancur has to play the 6 which he is very capable of, but again isn't better at it than Bissouma is when Biss is on top form.
 
Top