Moussa Sissoko

[DTA]

It was an amazing first time cross that maybe only 2-3 players in the prem maybe could have made (with purpose, and with any consistency)

As somebody else has already said the second goal was much more preventable, yet is not being discussed... Why is that?

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I dont think theres any particular agenda in not discussing a goal in a player thread where said player bore no responsibility at all.

Im sure if you went to the Winks thread and posted that you thought he was at fault for the second goal, it would be discussed in context of Winks and his involvement.

 

[scaramanga]

It was an amazing first time cross that maybe only 2-3 players in the prem maybe could have made (with purpose, and with any consistency)

As somebody else has already said the second goal was much more preventable, yet is not being discussed... Why is that?

Between Winks, Eriksen and possibly Sanchez, one of them should have been doubling up on the wide player to stop that precise move.

Thing is, none of them fudged up in the last match to let an easily avoidable goal in.

I also disagree - the first goal was very preventable. The quality of the cross is not of issue given where it was taken from - it can and should always be defended.

 

[DTA]

I dont think theres any particular agenda in not discussing a goal in a player thread where said player bore no responsibility at all.

Im sure if you went to the Winks thread and posted that you thought he was at fault for the second goal, it would be discussed in context of Winks and his involvement.

I will go over and look at the winks thread then and see if there is such a 'lively debate'

 

[DTA]

I also disagree - the first goal was very preventable. The quality of the cross is not of issue given where it was taken from - it can and should always be defended.

It could only be defended in as much as every goal that is ever scored could be defended. It was a worldie of a cross considering it was hit first time with such pace and accuracy.

 

[scaramanga]

It could only be defended in as much as every goal that is ever scored could be defended. It was a worldie of a cross considering it was hit first time with such pace and accuracy.

Yet it was still a cross, at height, from width, from deeper than the edge of the box. No matter how good that cross is, any player at any level just doing the basics stops that goal.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I will go over and look at the winks thread then and see if there is such a 'lively debate'

Maybe there is, maybe there isnt - doest actually point to the Anti-Sissoko thing you think it does though.

 

[DTA]

Maybe there is, maybe there isnt - doest actually point to the Anti-Sissoko thing you think it does though.

Hmmm. ok!

 

[Bishop]

I will go over and look at the winks thread then and see if there is such a 'lively debate'

There are a lot of people who do not rate Sissoko and consider him a weak link. His thread is bound to have a lot of traction.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Fapatalk

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Hmmm. ok!

Why dont you start the point over there, see if the conversation is similar - IE what part was Winks responsible for - and see if there is any real difference.

Because in this thread, it seems any negative post made about Sissoko, no matter how accurate and benign, is seen through a lens of "agenda" and such flimflam.

Im not seeing anything here other than discussing the players part in the goal, in the players thread. Its really that simple.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Yet it was still a cross, at height, from width, from deeper than the edge of the box. No matter how good that cross is, any player at any level just doing the basics stops that goal.

To be fair, a good cross is only made great in terms of the context of the movement of the targets and the positioning of the team around them. It's a great cross because City created overloads, and made a target that a good cross would hit. I don't think there was anything about the cross - as good as it was - in isolation that made it undefendable. But becuase the person marking the target was caught between two opposition players, it was easier for the target to steer home.

 

[scaramanga]

To be fair, a good cross is only made great in terms of the context of the movement of the targets and the positioning of the team around them. It's a great cross because City created overloads, and made a target that a good cross would hit. I don't think there was anything about the cross - as good as it was - in isolation that made it undefendable. But becuase the person marking the target was caught between two opposition players, it was easier for the target to steer home.

I agree. Marked up properly, that doesn't get near a goal.

 

[papaspur]

The Scape-GOAT

He can't help himself. Eriksen backs off KdB to let him get a cross in. 100% Sissoko's fault.
Brexit? Sissoko. Bridge in Genoa collapsing? Sissoko. 9/11? Sissoko.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Yet it was still a cross, at height, from width, from deeper than the edge of the box. No matter how good that cross is, any player at any level just doing the basics stops that goal.

I actually agree with this. It looked to me as though it would've been reasonably easy for KWP to adjust and get out to at least challenge Sterling as that cross was coming in. I think the problem was that Sterling was completely unaware that Sterling was at the back post.

 

[thfcsteff]

No properly defended cross should ever result in a goal - no matter how accurate.

Had Sissoko bothered to stay within even 5 yards of his man, it wouldn't have been a goal (for the second match in a row).

Are you now going to accuse him of being responsible for the goal against Villa? Jesus.

As for the Sterling goal? Sissoko should be covering Gungodan as much as anyone else given the shift and pattern of the attack at that moment. The problem starts with how fast City played in that moment, effectively taking out our CBs, neither of whom were in position. Davo is doing nothing where he is, Toby is the wrong side of Aguero, which forces KWP to shape up as though he is covering Aguero even though an experienced FB would've been more concerned about the speedster on the back post and thus made sure to check and be tighter to the space ahead of said-runner. KWP got caught switching off AND trying to figure out if he should cover Toby. Let's also give KdB his due, that was excellent play. Should Sissoko have covered better? Maybe Gungodan? The natural thought is "right side right player" but it simply wasn't matching up like that during that phase of play.

I do think that Sissoko had a poor game first-half and was absolutely wasted in that position. I said to my mates at HT that as unlucky as Winks would be, the only way we stood a chance was to haul him off and put Sissoko/Ndombele together more centrally and put Moura wide. Truth be told, very few had good games technically but everyone had fine games in the respect of n to crumbling under the arse-kicking we got.

The truth is that a key part of all three concessions this season has been Toby, whether positionally suspect, leaving himself with too much to do from a high line position and ball over the top and failing to track a runner in behind him. He obviously has some great strengths, but the truth is his legs are going and he is more vulnerable than I ever remember him being...

 

[scaramanga]

I actually agree with this. It looked to me as though it would've been reasonably easy for KWP to adjust and get out to at least challenge Sterling as that cross was coming in. I think the problem was that Sterling was completely unaware that Sterling was at the back post.

KWP was? I agree - he was. Reason being that he was taking the next forward in line - the runner from outside the box (as he should). The next man over (Sissoko) should then take the next man (Sterling).

 

[scaramanga]

Are you now going to accuse him of being responsible for the goal against Villa? Jesus.

As for the Sterling goal? Sissoko should be covering Gungodan as much as anyone else given the shift and pattern of the attack at that moment. The problem starts with how fast City played in that moment, effectively taking out our CBs, neither of whom were in position. Davo is doing nothing where he is, Toby is the wrong side of Aguero, which forces KWP to shape up as though he is covering Aguero even though an experienced FB would've been more concerned about the speedster on the back post and thus made sure to check and be tighter to the space ahead of said-runner. KWP got caught switching off AND trying to figure out if he should cover Toby. Let's also give KdB his due, that was excellent play. Should Sissoko have covered better? Maybe Gungodan? The natural thought is "right side right player" but it simply wasn't matching up like that during that phase of play.

I do think that Sissoko had a poor game first-half and was absolutely wasted in that position. I said to my mates at HT that as unlucky as Winks would be, the only way we stood a chance was to haul him off and put Sissoko/Ndombele together more centrally and put Moura wide. Truth be told, very few had good games technically but everyone had fine games in the respect of n to crumbling under the arse-kicking we got.

The truth is that a key part of all three concessions this season has been Toby, whether positionally suspect, leaving himself with too much to do from a high line position and ball over the top and failing to track a runner in behind him. He obviously has some great strengths, but the truth is his legs are going and he is more vulnerable than I ever remember him being...

Had Sissoko tracked Gundogan then KWP could have dropped off. There's no way he can if Gundogan is running in unmarked.

There's a really good reason why, when looking down the line, defenders take a man in turn. It's so that they don't have to mark an unseen player behind them. They're all marking someone in front or beside them.

And yes, he absolutely left his man against Villa too. I'm far from the only one who was making that point last week.

 

[Baleforce]

never would have happened under sherwood, they'd all have been shuffling across a bit

 

[thfcsteff]

I actually agree with this. It looked to me as though it would've been reasonably easy for KWP to adjust and get out to at least challenge Sterling as that cross was coming in. I think the problem was that Sterling was completely unaware that Sterling was at the back post.

Absolutely, He switched off. I think he was somewhat distracted by Aguero/who wasn't picked up, but he simply switched off! Blaming Sissoko solely for that goal, as has been done in this thread (not by you) is absurd IMO. We were literally in front of that channel watching it unfold; it was a brutal lesson for KWP, who otherwise did pretty well all-told. Sterling is approaching world class.

The person who HAS got away with culpability is Eriksen, who is trotting along back towards the action with DeBryunne before KdB checks back 5 yards for the pass whilst Eriksen is simply not tuned in. Truth be told, if Eriksen is focused at that point, KbD cannot play that ball. (APOLOGIES TO PAPASPUR WHO I JUST SAW MADE THIS VERY POINT EARLIER...AND MALTESE...).

 

[thfcsteff]

Had Sissoko tracked Gundogan then KWP could have dropped off. There's no way he can if Gundogan is running in unmarked.

There's a really good reason why, when looking down the line, defenders take a man in turn. It's so that they don't have to mark an unseen player behind them. They're all marking someone in front or beside them.

And yes, he absolutely left his man against Villa too. I'm far from the only one who was making that point last week.

But KWP has eyes on Aguero because guess who has left him drifting? KWP got done, plain and simple. There is nothing else to say there. We can debate Sissoko until page 1000, but the simple fact is if KWP is paying attention, he sees Sterling making that move. If that's on the left-hand side, Rose would not get done by that.

Again, Sissoko could well be tagged for not tracking the runner against Villa, but can you explain to me why Toby is where he is in that phase of play? He is CB whose legs are not what they were and he is caught between KWP and Davo (who is taking one for the team playing as a left-sided CB when he himself isn't) when he simply needed to drop off 5 yards the moment Villa get that ball? I am firmly convinced that right now, the chief issues we have in our concessions revolve around Toby and KWP, our defensive right. And for me, Toby is simply not leading like a senior with his talent and ability should lead. If Verts comes back into the manager's consideration, I'd bench him and play Davo long-term. KWP? I think we need to see him over a dozen games if we want to really figure out whether he will make it with us, but my gut says he won't.