Sissoko

[honourablegeorge]

I know he's umpopular on here with some, but I thought his retention/use of the ball on Saturday showed further signs of improving.

 

And somehow, through a drunken haze, I thought I saw him do s pirouette-style manouvre - did that actually happen?

[Rimbeux]

For me, it's more about what passes he can actually spot, more than what he can actually complete. If he was spotting good passes to play and just cocking them up, there would be reason to believe.

 

There are some pretty low expectations of what passing game he needs aspire to, imo

Edited December 10, 2007 by Rimbeux

[AntM]

He didn't play badly on Saturday although he did have a trademark wild swipe at the ball from 20 yards out with about 5 minutes to go...

[Logic]

To me it looks like he does everything well/great when he has absolutely no time to think about what he's doing but then f*cks things up when he has time to think.

 

Like that pirouette thingy.... quality stuff under pressure. Then a couple of times in the game he has all the time in the world to pass the ball and f*cked up the pass.

 

Or maybe it's just my imagination.......

[honourablegeorge]

For me, it's more about what passes he can actually spot, more than what he can actually complete. If he was spotting good passes to play and just cocking them up, there would be reason to believe.

 

There are some pretty low expectations of what passing game he needs aspire to, imo

 

 

I see what you're saying, but he's never going to be that player. he was winning th eball, passing it and keeping it simple. I don't liek to see him on the edge fo the D tryign to play a through ball, but what he did, he did competently - winnin gthre ball, and giving it to someone else in a red shirt.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I see what you're saying, but he's never going to be that player. he was winning th eball, passing it and keeping it simple. I don't liek to see him on the edge fo the D tryign to play a through ball, but what he did, he did competently - winnin gthre ball, and giving it to someone else in a red shirt.

 

The additional problem in this is where he plays. There are some who argue that his unorthodox position for a tackling midfielder is a plus as it enables us to win the ball higher up the pitch, but the flip side is that we are left with an advanced midfielder who offers no real penetration and at best keeps it simple in the final third. Winning the ball and giving it to someone in a red shirt is an excellent philosophy for a holding midfielder, not so much for one playing higher up the pitch.

[Rimbeux]

I see what you're saying, but he's never going to be that player. he was winning th eball, passing it and keeping it simple. I don't liek to see him on the edge fo the D tryign to play a through ball, but what he did, he did competently - winnin gthre ball, and giving it to someone else in a red shirt.

 

 

But it's less than simple, not effective passing, that's my issue. You dont need to be playing great through balls or spraying it like Alonso, just have a good feel for how pass and move works and move the ball constructively. I see it with such as Masch and Makelele, reading the game with and without possession.

[fred]

I agree with the original post FWIW. To me it seems that he starts nervously and usually has a Momo moment early on in the game but improves as the game progresses - noticed it against Newcastle and thought Saturday was similar.

 

As for spotting a pass: wasn't there one occasion where he put Kewell (or somebody - it was definitely on the left though) through with a beautifully weighted pass over the defense?

[sutty]

As I said, I thought he did OK on Saturday

 

But the lads (and wife) who saw it on the box were more scathing

[Rimbeux]

I agree with the original post FWIW. To me it seems that he starts nervously and usually has a Momo moment early on in the game but improves as the game progresses - noticed it against Newcastle and thought Saturday was similar.

 

As for spotting a pass: wasn't there one occasion where he put Kewell (or somebody - it was definitely on the left though) through with a beautifully weighted pass over the defense?

 

Do you think his issues in possession are because he lacks technical ability or because he's unsure of what to do when he gets it?

[yuriska]

As I said, I thought he did OK on Saturday

 

But the lads (and wife) who saw it on the box were more scathing

 

So did I. But is that because of lowered expectations now? Have we accepted that he's never going to be all that anymore? I mean when the downturn in his form started we were all shocked and dissapointed. Now if he plays an 'allright' game (i.e. not a stinker) we're ok with it.....

[MFletcher]

Do you think his issues in possession are because he lacks technical ability or because he's unsure of what to do when he gets it?

 

 

Momo has shown on many occasions that he has good range with his passing and has the ability to pass very well indeed. To me, he seems to panic a bit when he gets the ball and he isn't always sure where he should pass it once he receives it. This causes him to hesitate, panic more and lose the ball sometimes. I think this is one of the things Lucas is brilliant at though - he always seems to know where he's going to pass the ball after he receives it.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

He did alright on Sat. As someone in the bar pointed out - someone else (I think it was Arbeloa) played a real hospital ball at one stage which was met with dissappointed "aaaaah"s - if it'd been Momo there'd have been bile.

 

He played some great footwork too at times.

 

he certainly had no direct impact in our defeat. I was surprised how slow Rockets was on the 4th - either their guy was flying or Rockets isn't as fast as I'd previously credited

[honourablegeorge]

But it's less than simple, not effective passing, that's my issue. You dont need to be playing great through balls or spraying it like Alonso, just have a good feel for how pass and move works and move the ball constructively. I see it with such as Masch and Makelele, reading the game with and without possession.

 

I think he did that on Saturday, to an extent - certainly moreso than he did early in the season. He was spreadign the ball nicely for Arbeloa or Kewell as they made runs, that sort of thing. Being part of passing moves, and opposed to being the end of them.

 

I've giving the lad a bit of praise for improving his game, is all. Same as I gave him stick earlier in the season for being muck.

[AntM]

He did alright on Sat. As someone in the bar pointed out - someone else (I think it was Arbeloa) played a real hospital ball at one stage which was met with dissappointed "aaaaah"s - if it'd been Momo there'd have been bile.

 

He played some great footwork too at times.

 

he certainly had no direct impact in our defeat. I was surprised how slow Rockets was on the 4th - either their guy was flying or Rockets isn't as fast as I'd previously credited

I think the problem with Sissoko is that I never expect him to have any real impact on our ability to win a game either. To answer an earlier post, I think my expectations have been lowered. Yes, he can tackle and win the ball, but once he has it it's rarely used productively, and by that I don't just mean it's given back to the oppo but that it goes 10 yards sideways.

 

Ask yourself the question; what's his contribution?

[sutty]

I think the problem with Sissoko is that I never expect him to have any real impact on our ability to win a game either. To answer an earlier post, I think my expectations have been lowered. Yes, he can tackle and win the ball, but once he has it it's rarely used productively, and by that I don't just mean it's given back to the oppo but that it goes 10 yards sideways.

 

Ask yourself the question; what's his contribution?

 

I've reached that point with him, where I think it isn't enough. I'm the same with Kuyt

Edited December 10, 2007 by sutty

[IgPig]

I think his confidence is all but gone and a move would benefit him as much as us.

[Hassony]

I've reached that point I think with him, where I think it isn't enough. I'm the same with Kuyt

 

I think Kuyt gets unfair critisicm on here, He is the best partner for Torres at the club and has scored 6 goals already this season.

 

he had a poor game at blackburn (where he played on his own!) that seem to have stuck in the minds of fans

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

I've reached that point I think with him, where I think it isn't enough. I'm the same with Kuyt

 

I agree. Voronin isn't good enough also.

[sutty]

I think Kuyt gets unfair critisicm on here, He is the best partner for Torres at the club and has scored 6 goals already this season.

 

he had a poor game at blackburn (where he played on his own!) that seem to have stuck in the minds of fans

 

 

Nothing to do with Blackburn

 

I said it at the end of last season.

 

He might be the best partner for Torres at the club (I'm not convinced he is), but all that does is speak volumes about the compeition.

[Rimbeux]

Momo has shown on many occasions that he has good range with his passing and has the ability to pass very well indeed. To me, he seems to panic a bit when he gets the ball and he isn't always sure where he should pass it once he receives it. This causes him to hesitate, panic more and lose the ball sometimes. I think this is one of the things Lucas is brilliant at though - he always seems to know where he's going to pass the ball after he receives it.

 

 

That's a pretty good summary. I think to live with the company in our midfield, you have to have that ability to see moves and how they can develop and the best way to use the ball, where to pass it to give you man the best chance. Just dont see it in Momo's game, his ambition is no more than finding a red shirt, he needs more than that.

[sutty]

That's a pretty good summary. I think to live with the company in our midfield, you have to have that ability to see moves and how they can develop and the best way to use the ball, where to pass it to give you man the best chance. Just dont see it in Momo's game, his ambition is no more than finding a red shirt, he needs more than that.

 

 

Am ambition which is probably too infrequently relaised.

[sean]

He's a decent destroyer but he undoes a lot of his positive toil with many ways to give the ball away. I'd move him out, he's been good in parts for us and I think he'd make us a profit on the sale.

[The_Adder]

I've reached that point with him, where I think it isn't enough. I'm the same with Kuyt

 

Me too.

 

I think there is no way he matches up to the competition he has in that area of the pitch, Gerrard, Masch, Xabi and Lucas are all on a much, much higher level and all have an excellent mix of qualities, its all very balanced.

 

We really dont need Momo to be honest. He'd be great playing against Barca in the Nou Camp (as he has proven), but we cant keep him in the expectation we might play them there at some stage of the season.

 

We've had some great use of the lad, but its time to let him go reckon and we'd get more than we paid too, which is damn unusual for us to be honest

[D.Boon]

I genuinely believe he is no better than Robbie Savage.

 

Savage just runs and pesters people all game with no real footballing talent. Although Savage actually takes a reasonable free kick now and then which Sissoko does not.

 

In which case he may be worse than Savage

Edited December 10, 2007 by gackwilliams