Moussa Sissoko

[Bedfordspurs]

Out of curiosity, where has this been seen and written? I see quite a few posters have the same opinion, but I don't get where it's coming from.

Greg said in the transfer rumour thread that he's not a central/deep midfielder (paraphrasing). I'm sure he's watched Sissoko more than any of us. Whenever I've seen Sissoko be good for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's played pretty clearly as an attacking midfielder. For France at the Euros he played primarily as an attacking midfielder. Deschamps chose Pogba for the deeper role, despite (imo) Pogba being better further forward at this time and not particularly disciplined when it comes to positioning and defensive work.

It would be great for us if it turns out Sissoko can play anywhere across or along the middle. But I just don't get where this impression is coming from at this point...

Sissoko replaced Kante in the euros and IMO played as one of the two deeper to start with

He did play more attacking in the final in a kinda wide role

I've certainly seen him okay both roles and in his very first game for Poocastle he played a central midfield role where he bossed the game

 

[SpurMeUp]

Out of curiosity, where has this been seen and written? I see quite a few posters have the same opinion, but I don't get where it's coming from.

Greg said in the transfer rumour thread that he's not a central/deep midfielder (paraphrasing). I'm sure he's watched Sissoko more than any of us. Whenever I've seen Sissoko be good for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's played pretty clearly as an attacking midfielder. For France at the Euros he played primarily as an attacking midfielder. Deschamps chose Pogba for the deeper role, despite (imo) Pogba being better further forward at this time and not particularly disciplined when it comes to positioning and defensive work.

It would be great for us if it turns out Sissoko can play anywhere across or along the middle. But I just don't get where this impression is coming from at this point...

So he used to be deployed wide. A wide midfielder/ winger. But by most accounts he's far better through the middle - where he's played under Benetez with greater success and for France. So ergo he can (has) played anywhere across the middle.

I think he's best as a box to box midfielder, the more attacking of the midfielders. Basically Dembele's role.

 

[braineclipse]

Sissoko replaced Kante in the euros and IMO played as one of the two deeper to start with

He did play more attacking in the final in a kinda wide role

I've certainly seen him okay both roles and in his very first game for Poocastle he played a central midfield role where he bossed the game

Which games was that? For me at least in the final and semi final games he was not one of the two deeper players from what I remember. But I could be wrong of course.

I definitely do not remember his first game for Saudi Sportswashing Machine. But what Greg said was pretty clear and matched well with what I've seen and what another Saudi Sportswashing Machine fan has told me.

(not that he can't develop of course)

So he used to be deployed wide. A wide midfielder/ winger. But by most accounts he's far better through the middle - where he's played under Benetez with greater success and for France. So ergo he can (has) played anywhere across the middle.

I think he's best as a box to box midfielder, the more attacking of the midfielders. Basically Dembele's role.

Through the middle, but (imo) much more in a #10 role than a deeper role. For me when he's been at his best for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's either played Alli's role or on the right (Lamela's position, but not really his role).

For me players like Tiote, Cabaye, Anita, Wijnaldum and Colback played the deeper roles with Sissoko being given the more attacking positions either centrally or on the right (imagining a 4-2-3-1). Though describing their formation as a 4-3-3 might have been more accurate at times.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Which games was that? For me at least in the final and semi final games he was not one of the two deeper players from what I remember. But I could be wrong of course.

I definitely do not remember his first game for Saudi Sportswashing Machine. But what Greg said was pretty clear and matched well with what I've seen and what another Saudi Sportswashing Machine fan has told me.

(not that he can't develop of course)



Through the middle, but (imo) much more in a #10 role than a deeper role. For me when he's been at his best for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's either played Alli's role or on the right (Lamela's position, but not really his role).

For me players like Tiote, Cabaye, Anita, Wijnaldum and Colback played the deeper roles with Sissoko being given the more attacking positions either centrally or on the right (imagining a 4-2-3-1). Though describing their formation as a 4-3-3 might have been more accurate at times.

It was the Switzerland game

 

[braineclipse]

I know these things aren't necessarily accurate and that things are open for interpretation, but whoscored lists him as essentially never playing a DMC position and only very rarely in a CM position. Clearly the most games either AMC, AMR or AML. (I looked at the two last seasons). In my experience whoscored gets these things fairly right for the big leagues.

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Archive?stageId=12496

 

[glasgowspur]

The most heartening thing about this signing isn't who it is, or even that we backed the manager but that the manager seen a deficiency in our play and rectified it.
Poch, unlike some of our past managers, seems to realise that sticking to a rigid system year in and year out is only going to get us so far.
Poch goes up in my estimation again.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Which games was that? For me at least in the final and semi final games he was not one of the two deeper players from what I remember. But I could be wrong of course.

I definitely do not remember his first game for Saudi Sportswashing Machine. But what Greg said was pretty clear and matched well with what I've seen and what another Saudi Sportswashing Machine fan has told me.

(not that he can't develop of course)



Through the middle, but (imo) much more in a #10 role than a deeper role. For me when he's been at his best for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's either played Alli's role or on the right (Lamela's position, but not really his role).

For me players like Tiote, Cabaye, Anita, Wijnaldum and Colback played the deeper roles with Sissoko being given the more attacking positions either centrally or on the right (imagining a 4-2-3-1). Though describing their formation as a 4-3-3 might have been more accurate at times.

He's been played as the most attacking of the CMs recently. Either sitting in front of 2 CMs (not quite a 10) or one of 2 CMs.

His record suggests he wouldn't get enough goals at 10.


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

 

[braineclipse]

He's been played as the most attacking of the CMs recently. Either sitting in front of 2 CMs (not quite a 10) or one of 2 CMs.

His record suggests he wouldn't get enough goals at 10.

If he did so with any decent frequency it wasn't picked up by the guys at whoscored. And Greg, who watches them week in week out, didn't rate his performances there.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

Yea I have to agree, I only heard it floated that he could play dcm since he signed for us, I've certainly never seen him play there before, always AM or wide midfield (I've only seen him about 10 times to be fair).

 

[SpurMeUp]

If he did so with any decent frequency it wasn't picked up by the guys at whoscored. And Greg, who watches them week in week out, didn't rate his performances there.

Here some geordie **** who thinks he's best as a box to box midfielder. Doesn't really matter what you call the exact position. For me he doesn't score enough to play regularly in one of the 3 attacking births.

 

[jts1882]

I know these things aren't necessarily accurate and that things are open for interpretation, but whoscored lists him as essentially never playing a DMC position and only very rarely in a CM position. Clearly the most games either AMC, AMR or AML. (I looked at the two last seasons). In my experience whoscored gets these things fairly right for the big leagues.

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Archive?stageId=12496

He played DCM four times in 2014-15, and three times in 2013-14, which I wouldn't say was essentially never. I doubt he will play there for us unless there is an emergency, but the claim he has played all five midfield positions was accurate.

Last season he also played 11 times on the right of a midfield trio. From the Saudi Sportswashing Machine usage it suggests he is competing with Lamela and Alli rather than Dembele, unless we are going to play 4-3-3 sometimes. A front free picked from Kane, Janssen, Son and Lamela might work.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

We could always string all 4 (Dembele, Dier, Wanyama , Sissoko ) across the midfield if we didn't want a team to ever score against us ever again.

 

[braineclipse]

Here some geordie **** who thinks he's best as a box to box midfielder. Doesn't really matter what you call the exact position. For me he doesn't score enough to play regularly in one of the 3 attacking births.

People are describing Alli as playing box-to-box, people are describing Dembele as playing box-to-box. Very different roles and positions in our team. It matters a lot if he can play one of those roles very well, but not the other.

He played DCM four times in 2014-15, and three times in 2013-14, which I wouldn't say was essentially never. I doubt he will play there for us unless there is an emergency, but the claim he has played all five midfield positions was accurate.

Last season he also played 11 times on the right of a midfield trio. From the Saudi Sportswashing Machine usage it suggests he is competing with Lamela and Alli rather than Dembele, unless we are going to play 4-3-3 sometimes. A front free picked from Kane, Janssen, Son and Lamela might work.

And 0 times in 15/16. Total of 7 times in the last 3 seasons. Where he's played a total of 106 league games for Saudi Sportswashing Machine. That's 6.6% of his games. I think it's borderline pedantic to disagree with "essentially never" as a description of 6.6%. But sure, I'll agree to very rarely if you prefer that description. Not taking those numbers as gospel by the way, but as an estimate for how often he's played there I'm guessing it's not very far off.

On top of that Greg has said that it's not a position he rates Sissoko in.

I originally asked because it seemed to be accepted among a lot of posters here that Sissoko would provide good cover for Dembele. I was wondering why that was and I remain very much unconvinced that this opinion is informed by anything Sissoko has actually done for Saudi Sportswashing Machine.

I agree that a central attacking midfield role or right sided attacking midfield role seems the most likely starting spot for Sissoko in our line-up. And if we change to a more 4-3-3 looking formation he might do very well in one of those box-to-box roles. If Pochettino can change him into an effective deep midfielder all the better.

 

[camspur]

We could always string all 4 (Dembele, Dier, Wanyama , Sissoko ) across the midfield if we didn't want a team to ever score against us ever again.

That could be seen as the midfield for "closing out the game", something we have been woeful at. Could easily imagine Sissoko sitting on the bench and coming on the last 20 in place of Alli/Lamela/Eriksen and playing in that 4. Leaving Kane plus 1 up top.

 

[ShelfLife]

Out of curiosity, where has this been seen and written? I see quite a few posters have the same opinion, but I don't get where it's coming from.

Greg said in the transfer rumour thread that he's not a central/deep midfielder (paraphrasing). I'm sure he's watched Sissoko more than any of us. Whenever I've seen Sissoko be good for Saudi Sportswashing Machine he's played pretty clearly as an attacking midfielder. For France at the Euros he played primarily as an attacking midfielder. Deschamps chose Pogba for the deeper role, despite (imo) Pogba being better further forward at this time and not particularly disciplined when it comes to positioning and defensive work.

It would be great for us if it turns out Sissoko can play anywhere across or along the middle. But I just don't get where this impression is coming from at this point...

To be honest, it's more how I have seen others describe him than what I have seen first hand. My first hand experience is admittedly pretty limited, but at the Euros for example, he appeared to flit between playing deep, on the right wing and alternating with Payet at the tip of the midfield.

Just to stray from this point slightly, I have heard it said that we often lack creativity against the more defensively set sides. Actually, I'm not sure that's the issue. My impression is that we have a decent amount of flair and artistry, certainly more than most in the league. If anything, I think we sometimes have a tendency to either over complicate our play or rush things when we come up against against frustratingly stubborn, well drilled teams.

What I think we do lack at times is something more rudimentary: somebody with the ability to simply pick up the ball and either run past or bulldoze his way through two or three players in the middle.

Leaving aside the question over which part of the midfield he is best deployed, one thing there does appear to be some unanimity over is that it is Sissoko's pace and power which are his main attributes. If Poch can harness those qualities then he could be a big addition to our squad.

 

[parklane1]

The most heartening thing about this signing isn't who it is, or even that we backed the manager but that the manager seen a deficiency in our play and rectified it.
Poch, unlike some of our past managers, seems to realise that sticking to a rigid system year in and year out is only going to get us so far.
Poch goes up in my estimation again.

Could not agree more, his first season with Bentaleb and Mason was not going to work in the long term so he changed it, he now has accepted that our bench last season was not strong enough and changed that, and i am hoping that he has now seen we need more runners with pace and the signing of Sissoko will change that.

 

[We are Tottenham]

Obviously I would want him to work in our team but looking at him he does charge forward and run into brick walls without looking where he is going. It's no good going past one or two players in crowding areas...a gamble! We don't want our attacks breaking down,loosing the ball too many times over this!
His ball control is wanting a bit IMO .seems to knock the ball forward too much when challenged.instead of controlling the ball and beating the player.
His shooting,again is waisted knowing it's all he can do at the end of a run and blasted into No Mans land.
I hope poch can change this.
He could turn out a frustrating flop so he's a gamble in a side that can play well. He has to fit in and that may not be easy to change his spots......!?

 

[afsoc4life]

Sissoko would be wasted as DM. His main strength is his driving powerful run to the box. Those runs have troubled Spurs on 2 occasions in my memory.

 

[parklane1]

Obviously I would want him to work in our team but looking at him he does charge forward and run into brick walls without looking where he is going. It's no good going past one or two players in crowding areas...a gamble! We don't want our attacks breaking down,loosing the ball too many times over this!
His ball control is wanting a bit IMO .seems to knock the ball forward too much when challenged.instead of controlling the ball and beating the player.
His shooting,again is waisted knowing it's all he can do at the end of a run and blasted into No Mans land.
I hope poch can change this.
He could turn out a frustrating flop so he's a gamble in a side that can play well. He has to fit in and that may not be easy to change his spots......!?

Well Poch managed to get some output from Dembélé ( who for many years just went round in circles), lets hope he can make Sissoko into a major player for us as well.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

Well Poch managed to get some output from Dembélé ( who for many years just went round in circles), lets hope he can make Sissoko into a major player for us as well.

He really didn't! But that's been done to death in the dembele thread! Just because he's a ten out ten now doesn't mean he was brick or average before.