Papiss Cissé

[Interpolic]

He looked a smashing player when we played 3 up top last season, his all-round game was unquestionably very good IMO.  This idea that he can only score spectacular goals is rubbish as well, he's an instinctive finisher which will often have you wondering "How did he do that?" but he can score any type of goal including tap-ins and easy chances.  I've still got every faith in him, he/we could do with some genuine competition for his place though.  Has had a bad time of it but he'll be OK.

 

Think he'll be alright in the long run. Needs to just sometimes not smash it.

 

Agree, if we can have a less farcial time of it next year with him not being the one and only choice up front (and being played in his preferred position when he does play) then I'd back him to play well and get 15+ goals, no worries.

[Gallowgate Toon]

So nobody has been able to answer my question about what specific strengths he has, that we are not playing too, except for pointing to his number of shots as some form of evidence that we are not creating enough chances for him? Look, I don't need pointing out that we aren't exactly Brazil when it comes to creating chances, but neither do I think we are much worse than other teams in the league, and chance creation is as much something strikers contribute to actively as something that is done for them. From the statistics that Rich posted a couple of weeks ago his chance conversion was way below last season's and other top strikers. I don't even need to look at stats to know he's not brilliant at holding the ball up and creating chances for others. So I ask again, if indeed Cisse's disappointing season is a consequence of his team mates not doing their job well enough rather than he himself failing, how exactly should his team mates provide better service by playing to his strengths? Ping it high to him to hold it up, play through balls for him to beat the offside trap, make him work the channels, play crosses in from the sides? For me, based on what I've seen in the season and a bit he has been with us he scores the spectacular where he doesn't need to think and can just put his foot through it. Whilst these goals obviously look fantastic, it's pretty damn hard to base your gameplan around one of them happening every forthnight if you ask me.

 

His main asset is his movement, that's something we certainly don't play to. To complement that, we need to give him service quicker, both in terms of crosses out wide and balls through the middle. His goal against Bordeaux was class, it came from a left-footed left back that can whip in a ball early, something we've not seen in the league. Last month's link up with Cabaye and Sissoko showed exactly what he'd really been missing, someone with vision who could supply early through balls as he hung on the shoulder of the defender. Lastly, get some people and movement around him in the box, we don't get enough players in there and he just doesn't have the power (like Ba) to get extra bit of space while battling with defenders. It's simply too slow and predictable and there's consequently too much of an emphasis on physicality getting goals, there's no intelligence there and he's not going to thrive like that.

 

In terms of general play, use him as a target and link up man as little as possible, and if we do, keep it on the deck because he's useful with one touch passes etc. Sissoko's pretty much a centre forward for us, he's the link man between midfield and attack, his presence should allow Cisse to play on the shoulder, where he's most effective.

[Flip]

One thing that gets me is how deep he seems to get sometimes. If I was Pards I'd tell him to play on the last defender even if he gets offside 100times, instead of dropping deep to hold up play, we have Sissoko for that. Let him play as a poacher and stay offside 10 times as long as he gets onside once or twice and scores.

[Flip]

So nobody has been able to answer my question about what specific strengths he has, that we are not playing too, except for pointing to his number of shots as some form of evidence that we are not creating enough chances for him? Look, I don't need pointing out that we aren't exactly Brazil when it comes to creating chances, but neither do I think we are much worse than other teams in the league, and chance creation is as much something strikers contribute to actively as something that is done for them. From the statistics that Rich posted a couple of weeks ago his chance conversion was way below last season's and other top strikers. I don't even need to look at stats to know he's not brilliant at holding the ball up and creating chances for others. So I ask again, if indeed Cisse's disappointing season is a consequence of his team mates not doing their job well enough rather than he himself failing, how exactly should his team mates provide better service by playing to his strengths? Ping it high to him to hold it up, play through balls for him to beat the offside trap, make him work the channels, play crosses in from the sides? For me, based on what I've seen in the season and a bit he has been with us he scores the spectacular where he doesn't need to think and can just put his foot through it. Whilst these goals obviously look fantastic, it's pretty damn hard to base your gameplan around one of them happening every forthnight if you ask me.

 

In terms of general play, use him as a target and link up man as little as possible, and if we do, keep it on the deck because he's useful with one touch passes etc. Sissoko's pretty much a centre forward for us, he's the link man between midfield and attack, his presence should allow Cisse to play on the shoulder, where he's most effective.

 

Hadn't seen this before posting but

[Cajun]

Thought his goal wasn't going to be considered for goal of the month there

[Scotty66]

My missus commented on Enrique's goal "not being that special"

 

Completely agree.

[Cajun]

A few of those selected were a bit shit tbh, that's why I thought Cisse wasn't going to be included. My rant was already half typed out

[Flip]

My missus commented on Enrique's goal "not being that special"

 

Completely agree.

 

 

The Liverpool hatred on here (forum) is so blatant. I hate them as much as the next guy, but Suarez not being the best in the league and the Enrique goal not being anything special

[Mole_Toonfan]

While i agree the Enrique goal was very good and i'd be constantly if we scored a similar goal there is nothing about thinking Suarez isn't the best in the league its a very debatable subject and for me RVP is better.

[Deuce]

I'd much rather have RVP on this team than Suarez. Not only for his footballing skill, but, despite them both being supreme cunts, RVP is the lesser of two evils.

[Kanj]

He scored a few tap ins and un spectacular goals last season too - his double vs. Liverpool springs to mind. Its two-fold for him, he's clearly having a tough season and we are clearly not creating enough chances for him. Both need sorting out and he'll be fine.

[Cronky]

Most of these strategies consist of building the team around Cisse, but imo he's not good enough to make that worthwhile.

[Guest ObiChrisKenobi]

Teams playing higher against us.

Cissé very rarely being in the penalty box.

Cissé not having an really pace or ability to beat a man.

Offsides.

Us sitting deeper.

[Dr Venkman]

So nobody has been able to answer my question about what specific strengths he has, that we are not playing too, except for pointing to his number of shots as some form of evidence that we are not creating enough chances for him? Look, I don't need pointing out that we aren't exactly Brazil when it comes to creating chances, but neither do I think we are much worse than other teams in the league, and chance creation is as much something strikers contribute to actively as something that is done for them. From the statistics that Rich posted a couple of weeks ago his chance conversion was way below last season's and other top strikers. I don't even need to look at stats to know he's not brilliant at holding the ball up and creating chances for others. So I ask again, if indeed Cisse's disappointing season is a consequence of his team mates not doing their job well enough rather than he himself failing, how exactly should his team mates provide better service by playing to his strengths? Ping it high to him to hold it up, play through balls for him to beat the offside trap, make him work the channels, play crosses in from the sides? For me, based on what I've seen in the season and a bit he has been with us he scores the spectacular where he doesn't need to think and can just put his foot through it. Whilst these goals obviously look fantastic, it's pretty damn hard to base your gameplan around one of them happening every forthnight if you ask me.

 

You need to have a word with our manager.

[HawK]

We need to be 4-3-3 to get the best out of this world-class finisher, with HBA right and Gouffran left, Marveaux subbing in where necessary. Midfield 3 of Sissoko/Tiote/Cabaye and the regular flat back 4. No idea what's holding Pardew to 4-4-2.

[Unbelievable]

We need to be 4-3-3 to get the best out of this world-class finisher, with HBA right and Gouffran left, Marveaux subbing in where necessary. Midfield 3 of Sissoko/Tiote/Cabaye and the regular flat back 4. No idea what's holding Pardew to 4-4-2.

 

We haven't played 442 for months

[The College Dropout]

Not as good as we thought he was, simple as that, the sooner people stop making excuses and accept this, the better.

 

Thank you.

 

Suarez, Bale, heck even Demba Ba get themselves into positions either with skill, pace, movement or just sheer strength and they get their shots off. He's shown he can score in this team, as has Demba Ba.

 

Now all of a sudden, we are so crap creatively 6 goals in 20 something games is "about right"? The same amount of goals as Yohan Cabaye? Less than Lambert. Probably around the same as a couple Reading lads. Aye, "about right".

 

People moaned and cried for months from him to be the head of a 4-3-3 type system. We've done that. We've added some pace and movement to the left. A better outlet from deep on the right. Real movement, strength, power, pace and quality balls from our #10 type player and #4 deep midfielder.

 

Now these guys aren't doing enough FOR Cisse. Maybe Cisse isn't doing enough for them?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

It's almost literally unbelievable to me the amount of our fans (well, on here anyway) who are doubting Cisse. Throughout his career he has shown he is a predatory finished and returns a good number of goals per game.

 

A disrupted first half of the season, and a dry spell in the second, do not change that. Just play him every week and wait for the goals to come.

[The College Dropout]

So nobody has been able to answer my question about what specific strengths he has, that we are not playing too, except for pointing to his number of shots as some form of evidence that we are not creating enough chances for him? Look, I don't need pointing out that we aren't exactly Brazil when it comes to creating chances, but neither do I think we are much worse than other teams in the league, and chance creation is as much something strikers contribute to actively as something that is done for them. From the statistics that Rich posted a couple of weeks ago his chance conversion was way below last season's and other top strikers. I don't even need to look at stats to know he's not brilliant at holding the ball up and creating chances for others. So I ask again, if indeed Cisse's disappointing season is a consequence of his team mates not doing their job well enough rather than he himself failing, how exactly should his team mates provide better service by playing to his strengths? Ping it high to him to hold it up, play through balls for him to beat the offside trap, make him work the channels, play crosses in from the sides? For me, based on what I've seen in the season and a bit he has been with us he scores the spectacular where he doesn't need to think and can just put his foot through it. Whilst these goals obviously look fantastic, it's pretty damn hard to base your gameplan around one of them happening every forthnight if you ask me.

 

Agreed. first time instinct finisher. 1-2 touches from anywhere. If it's not working at this point, it's probably HIS fault. These people are still like "NOPE, it's probably Jonas fault".

[AyeDubbleYoo]

So what if it's his fault? It's always going to be at least partly his fault. All that means is he's going through a difficult bit of form.

[The College Dropout]

Bit of an intuitive finisher rather than a methodical one. Hit and miss in other words. Can be frustrating as he seems the type that will get goals in gluts with periods of less prodcutivity.

 

My main worry is that he's not the type to grab a team by the scruff of the neck and lead from the front in a struggling side, but he just doesn't seem that type of player.  If we can go on a winning run again then I'm confident he'll play his part in it, chipping in with goals and intelligent all-round play and movement.

 

Agreed. His game seems to be very natural and confidence based to strike a ball cleanly. If there's shit loads of pressure strikers tend to think more which isn't his strength.

[Unbelievable]

So what if it's his fault? It's always going to be at least partly his fault. All that means is he's going through a difficult bit of form.

 

A difficult bit of form that has now lasted since last summer, i.e. for almost 8 months, coming off a spell where his confidence couldn't have been higher?

[The College Dropout]

What Unbelievable is saying... if he's not that strong, nor fast. Can't create from nothing. Isn't great at link-up. And is so reliant on excellent service. Maybe, just maybe.... he's not that great of a footballer.

 

This is why I compare him to Bent. For ages people have been telling me he's more than a poacher.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Not as good as we thought he was, simple as that, the sooner people stop making excuses and accept this, the better.

 

Thank you.

 

Suarez, Bale, heck even Demba Ba get themselves into positions either with skill, pace, movement or just sheer strength and they get their shots off. He's shown he can score in this team, as has Demba Ba.

 

Now all of a sudden, we are so crap creatively 6 goals in 20 something games is "about right"? The same amount of goals as Yohan Cabaye? Less than Lambert. Probably around the same as a couple Reading lads. Aye, "about right".

 

People moaned and cried for months from him to be the head of a 4-3-3 type system. We've done that. We've added some pace and movement to the left. A better outlet from deep on the right. Real movement, strength, power, pace and quality balls from our #10 type player and #4 deep midfielder.

 

Now these guys aren't doing enough FOR Cisse. Maybe Cisse isn't doing enough for them?

 

You are completely missing the point. I don't think 6 goals is where he SHOULD be at, but considering the complete lack of service and consequent lack of decent chances, it's not really a surprise and regarding Demba, he's a different striker who scores different types of goals. You mention Lambert but he plays in a very creative team and takes their free kicks and penalties. Cisse's had a couple of games at most this year where he's had more than one decent opportunity and there's been lots of others where he's had absolutely nowt to work with. Are you genuinely calling us a creative side here? Like I said, I don't think Ba's goals this year were really because of great or even decent, inventive service, he's just first class at getting on to stuff and making something out of very little, that's his game.

 

And as if it was going to be as simple as moving to a new shape. You cite new players, but how have they helped him in the last couple of games? We've improved as a team, but you're unbelievably narrow minded if you think we're getting the best out of Cisse in any way, shape or form. This doesn't mean I think he's at all blameless here, the offsides are annoying etc. but I still don't think we're doing enough to help him out, we're not playing to his strengths as a striker and we won't until we attack with more variety.

[Unbelievable]

Alternatively you could argue he's not the ideal striker for our current system. I've said this before, but I think with the pace of Gouffran, Sissoko and Ben Arfa we are perfectly set up to be a great counter attacking side. Up top you would want a forward capable of holding the ball up and bringing runners into play as well as create chances for himself and others, and considering we're playing with only one real striker, somebody who can be relied upon to hit the net more often than not when presented with a chance. A threat from set pieces wouldn't go amiss either seeing as we're useless at them. As it is, Cisse provides none of these requirements in sufficient quantities. I really do hope it clicks soon, but I find myself incredibly frustrated by seeing one of our better players in theory having a stinker for such a long time and people continuing to blame the manager, the system and his team mates before even contemplating there may be an issue with the player himself.