Moussa Sissoko

[Nifel]

And how is his physicality, his defensive postioning? His alernetness to danger? His absolutely ability to carry out instructions for the team? His ability to win his individual battle? All things coaches love and why he gets in the team.

We paid too much for him for the role he ultimately fulfills, but he’s earning his spot in our team right now. I don’t think any of the skills you’ve listed above are as bad as a lot of people will make out, but I would like to see more decisive contributions from him in an attacking sense. Part of it is because clearly his role is to give it to Eriksen or Dembele or whoever quickly and let them to damage. But when he does have opportunities, it would be good if he was more decisive. Otherwise though, his contributions to the overall team, structure and system are why he’s earning a place in our starting line up right now, as he is genuinely excellent at a lot of that. Spurs fans don’t necessarily warm to physical box to box midfielders, but he’s doing what he needs to do.

- Physicality is top notch. His athleticism is his major strength.
- Defensive positioning is good. Can still be improved on.
- Not so sure about his awareness and alertness to danger. His awareness seems poor. especially going forward.
- Carry out instructions - probably good. who knows? Would probably be dropped if he failed here.
- Ability to win individual battles. On the ball - abysmal. Off the ball - okay. He is no wanyama, dembele or even Palacios in his prime.

I totally disagree that he does what he needs to do. He needs to quickly control and precisely pass the ball, which he on regular basis utterly fails to do. Defensively he is good, but not great. If he was a youngster he would have potential. He is soon 30 and still doesn't have his basic technique sorted out.

I agree that we certainly overpaid. 6M would be about right. He is a squad player who doesn't get his basics right.

Does he really earn his spot in the team? Isn't he playing because of injuries to central players? Tottenham utilizing the squad. Who else can play while Wanyama, Alderwereild and Lamela is out and Dembele and Winks only just have returned? Son is the only one I can think of.

Sissoko a box-to-box midfielder... He fails to comfortably control the ball anywhere near the opposition box, so no wonder the fans don't warm up to him.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

- Physicality is top notch. His athleticism is his major strength.
- Defensive positioning is good. Can still be improved on.
- Not so sure about his awareness and alertness to danger. His awareness seems poor. especially going forward.
- Carry out instructions - probably good. who knows? Would probably be dropped if he failed here.
- Ability to win individual battles. On the ball - abysmal. Off the ball - okay. He is no wanyama, dembele or even Palacios in his prime.

I totally disagree that he does what he needs to do. He needs to quickly control and precisely pass the ball, which he on regular basis utterly fails to do. Defensively he is good, but not great. If he was a youngster he would have potential. He is soon 30 and still doesn't have his basic technique sorted out.

I agree that we certainly overpaid. 6M would be about right. He is a squad player who doesn't get his basics right.

Does he really earn his spot in the team? Isn't he playing because of injuries to central players? Tottenham utilizing the squad. Who else can play while Wanyama, Alderwereild and Lamela is out and Dembele and Winks only just have returned? Son is the only one I can think of.

Sissoko a box-to-box midfielder... He fails to comfortably control the ball anywhere near the opposition box, so no wonder the fans don't warm up to him.

Just have no time for this idea that he struggles to control a football. It’s nonsense.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Just have no time for this idea that he struggles to control a football. It’s nonsense.

He does seem to make some of the simplest things look hard at times

 

[Nifel]

Just have no time for this idea that he struggles to control a football. It’s nonsense.

Look at him when he receives the ball. Often he needs 3 touches to control it and the 4th touch sends the ball 3 meter away, making it easy for the defender to stop the move or grab the ball. 1st half today.
Look at him when he runs with the ball. Every time he either gets the ball under himself, giving the defenders time to catch up with him (he failed to get a shot away when he had 5 yards head start and free run on the keeper earlier in the season), or he over-hits it, giving the defender time to take the ball, or he gets the direction wrong which slows him down. His 50 meter surge forward today ended in nothing because he failed to control the ball, as usual.

His passes are often under-hit, over-hit or at unfavorable height.

Would he ever do this properly, Sissoko would be a great player.

 

[Rorschach]

You can argue about Sissoko's ability or lack thereof all night but what I won't accept is that he played badly today. He wasn't scintillating, nor did he have any game defining moments but that goes for everyone on the team without exception. He was far from perfect but his performance level was above most of the rest of the team and if you didn't see that then your preconceived notions of him have blinded you to what is in front of your eyes.

Last season he was completely useless and I had no problem saying it. And I have no problem saying it this season either when I see it, but I won't say it today.

 

[Jordinho]

You can argue about Sissoko's ability or lack thereof all night but what I won't accept is that he played badly today. He wasn't scintillating, nor did he have any game defining moments but that goes for everyone on the team without exception. He was far from perfect but his performance level was above most of the rest of the team and if you didn't see that then your preconceived notions of him have blinded you to what is in front of your eyes.

Last season he was completely useless and I had no problem saying it. And I have no problem saying it this season either when I see it, but I won't say it today.

For him it was a good performance. For someone starting for a top 6 side it was pretty poor. He didn't lose the game for us, that was down to Mike Dean, his assistants, Dier and Vertonghen.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

One other thing he does that I just cant work out, when he passes to a team mate and then runs alongside them, getting in the way. What's that all about? He was not our worst player yesterday, but Arsenal's press exposed him yet again.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

There are some people on here who are addicted to negation. Seriously, they think Sissoko is up to standard? And what's with all the red herrings re Dele's form, or Eriksen's or Kane's? What the hell does that have to do with anything? They were all brick yesterday, but the debate is about Sissoko's complete inability to kill a ball dead and to execute a simple five yard pass, without it hitting the target's hip. There really is some wishful thinking on this board, people comment on how they wish things were, rather than how things actually are. Has he played some decent games...yes he has, but the game yesterday showed once again that he is not up to it and we are not improved by having him on the pitch. Arsenal knew he would do nothing with possession, so they let him have the ball and it provided them with the ability to cover our better players. An above poster made a great point re Capoue. How is this guy a better player?

 

[StephenH]

Capoue managed not to look like one of those blind footballers trying to control a ball with bells in too.

Put in some very credible performances with Watford last season if I remember correctly.

We are sadly not going going get the Modric level of player. Wanyama is such a big miss, was a excellent purchase.
Be glad when he’s fit and playing.

 

[StephenH]

There are some people on here who are addicted to negation. Seriously, they think Sissoko is up to standard? And what's with all the red herring re Dele's form, or Eriksen's or Kane's? What the hell does that have to do with anything? They were all brick yesterday, but the debate is about Sissoko's complete inability to kill a ball dead and to execute a simple five yard pass, without it hitting the target's hip. There really is some wishful thinking on this board, people comment on how they wish things were, rather than how things actually are. Has he played some decent games...yes he has, but the game yesterday showed once again that he is not up to it and we are not improved by having him on the pitch. Arsenal knew he would do nothing with possession, so they let him have the ball and it provided them with the ability to cover our better players. An above poster made a great point re Capoue. How is this guy a better player?

He is not a better player than Copoue. But he’s not going anywhere ATM and has improved from a very poor player last season, nothing more.
I think he has be a dreadful signing. But he put in ‘better’ performances by his low standards admittedly!

 

[scaramanga]

Put in some very credible performances with Watford last season if I remember correctly.

We are sadly not going going get the Modric level of player. Wanyama is such a big miss, was a excellent purchase.
Be glad when he’s fit and playing.

Modric and Sissoko are bookends on the shelf of footballing ability.

Between the two, there's a whole world of variation and I think as supporters of a club with league winning ambitions, we should expect our footballers to be towards the Modric end of that scale.

 

[Lemonade Money]

Around the 70th minute he pulled a brilliant move from the edge of our box. Let the ball go accross him, used great strength to shield it, turned the player and broke on them through the centre. Had two players ahead of him and made 40 or 50 yards.... Then promptly over ran it and gave up possession.

At no point did I get excited at the potential goal. And when it broke down I didnt even react. Why? Because I fully EXPECTED it.

Which is about as straight an assessment I can make of him. He just isnt good, despite his best efforts.

Nobody covered themselves in glory today, not really. But nobody was as inept as Sissoko either.

Embarrassing comment, you could've written that about anyone.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Look at him when he receives the ball. Often he needs 3 touches to control it and the 4th touch sends the ball 3 meter away, making it easy for the defender to stop the move or grab the ball. 1st half today.
Look at him when he runs with the ball. Every time he either gets the ball under himself, giving the defenders time to catch up with him (he failed to get a shot away when he had 5 yards head start and free run on the keeper earlier in the season), or he over-hits it, giving the defender time to take the ball, or he gets the direction wrong which slows him down. His 50 meter surge forward today ended in nothing because he failed to control the ball, as usual.

His passes are often under-hit, over-hit or at unfavorable height.

Would he ever do this properly, Sissoko would be a great player.

I watch him all the time very closely, and I can see that he can definitely control a ball, and pass it 5 yards. It’s just nonsense to say he can’t.

Does he look less graceful than some of our other players? Yes, but the output when doing the simple things is the same. If you expect him to lose it and are on edge every time he is in possession, that isn’t his fault.

There is no way someone can look at the game yesterday and decide Sissoko needs the criticism. Or the new ‘yeah he was ok, but he’s still not top 6 standard’. Based on what? Based on featuring in every single game this season, more often than not starting, and us having our best ever PL start? Based on being one of our better players in some of our biggest games?

I maintain, if Sissoko played Dele’s game yesterday, he would have gotten some of the worst ratings and criticism ever. It was Dele who couldn’t control a ball or pop it 5 yards to a team mate. But he gets off because he can score a goal and is sometimes creative. Fine. But Sissoko is not Dele, he brings different strengths and different weaknesses. Appreciate him for what he is and give him credit when he’s been one of our better players, rather than trying to assert frankly ridiculous criticism like he can’t trap a ball. It’s nonsense, it’s boring, and it says more about your pre conceived opinion of a player than your ability to objectively analyse a game.

 

[Lemonade Money]

Alli had a terrible game, as did most of our team and our manager.

Alli has shown himself to be one of the best players in the league - he has earned a starting place in our team.

Sissoko had a par game by his ability. Unfortunately for us, a par game by Sissoko's standards is below that of a professional footballer.

You keep using this argument, Sissoko keeps having decent games, and you keep sounding stupid. Look at who is giving you likes for a clue.

 

[StephenH]

Modric and Sissoko are bookends on the shelf of footballing ability.

Between the two, there's a whole world of variation and I think as supporters of a club with league winning ambitions, we should expect our footballers to be towards the Modric end of that scale.

Can’t argue with that!
Sadly now though ‘a Modric’ would cost in excess of £150m ish? Or maybe even more
The majority are still dumbfounded by the £30m paid at the time. But it is what it is, it does little good slagging these player off continually. He has improved and he is going nowhere until his stock rises.
I give you Danny Drinkwater @ £35m and dread to think what his wages are on top of that......

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Can’t argue with that!
Sadly now though ‘a Modric’ would cost in excess of £150m ish? Or maybe even more
The majority are still dumbfounded by the £30 paid at the time. But it is what it is, it does little good slagging these player off continually. He has improved and he is going nowhere until his stock rises.
I give you Danny Drinkwater @ £35m and dread to think what his wages are on top of that......

And that would probably be too much for some

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Embarrassing comment, you could've written that about anyone.

Actually no, I couldn't, and that's he point.

Do I expect other players in that position to be a success everytime? No. But I get excited, I hope, I see potential. And sometimes it comes to something.

Sissoko? I just don't. I think "how long before he tackles himself?"

And here's the bit people can't seem to accept - it's nothing personal. It's simply because of how he's been time and again.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

 

[StephenH]

And that would probably be too much for some

got ya 'million'

 

[StephenH]

Sissoko is a Spurs player. Suck it up and move on people.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Sissoko is a Spurs player. Suck it up and move on people.

What other choice do we have?

I hope if he plays against Dortmund he is MOTM, an absolute game changer, bossing the entire game. Id absolutely love it.