Papiss Cissé

[Gallowgate Toon]

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.

 

I wouldn't disagree with the first part of this. I do think he of course has to take some blame, but I don't think he's now a poor striker and there are a lot of different factors that go into his overall season. Basically, I sympathise with his lack of chances, he's not really being given a good platform to work with and I'll call him out on it if he gets that but doesn't take said opportunities.

[The College Dropout]

No i'm not missing the point. "Considering the lack of service" is bullshit. Same service we've had for ages where our strikers have been scoring goals.

[merlin]

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.

1. How long do you wait ?

2. Do you think any of this is down to the way the team is set up to play..?

[Guest icemanblue]

He'll start scoring again, regularly, soon. Then, this will all be forgotten. Any further lean patches will see it re-emerge, using this period as justification for why he's not as good as we think he is. Football circle of life.

[pi_D]

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.

 

Summary.

 

Loads of faith in Cisse.

[Gallowgate Toon]

No i'm not missing the point. "Considering the lack of service" is bullshit. Same service we've had for ages where our strikers have been scoring goals.

 

Facts are facts, 2 shots a game this season (I bet the majority of which weren't even decent chances) isn't enough service for the majority of strikers and it's completely irrelevant trying to compare him to Ba, a player with a different style and strengths who can profit from different situations. Cisse's had a poor year, eveyone can see that but it would be complete lunacy to put all of the blame on him, not all of the factors are within his control. He's still a very good striker, who can score a variety of goals and thrives off good service.

[The College Dropout]

Maybe the point is, Cisse doesn't do enough to have enough shots at goal? Maybe he's not fast enough, not skillful enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air, needs to improve his movement etc.

 

It's always what others arent' doing for him. But he's not doing enough for himself or the team.

 

Adam LeFondre has 10 league goals.

Arouna Kone has 8.

Rickie Lambert has 12.

Benteke has 11.

 

The list goes on. Only QPR below us don't have a player who has scored more goals.

 

It's not everyone else's fault.

[pi_D]

Maybe the point is, Cisse doesn't do enough to have enough shots at goal? Maybe he's not fast enough, not skillful enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air, needs to improve his movement etc.

 

It's always what others arent' doing for him. But he's not doing enough for himself or the team.

 

Adam LeFondre has 10 league goals.

Arouna Kone has 8.

Rickie Lambert has 12.

Benteke has 11.

 

The list goes on. Only QPR below us don't have a player who has scored more goals.

 

It's not everyone else's fault.

 

I wouldn't take any one of those plays over Cisse.

 

 

[The College Dropout]

I'd have Benteke. At 21, he's a better all-rounder and prospect.

 

Point is, these are inferior strikers in inferior teams,who have scored more goals. So, Cisse must take some of the blame. Most of the blame for his lack of goals.

 

"About right" is bullshit.  Worse strikers in worse teams do better.

[pi_D]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

[Guest neesy111]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

 

That's debatable tbh.

[Cronky]

For me, the main issue is that in a 4-3-3, the central striker can't just hang around between the centre backs, waiting for chances to come his way. At that level, there needs to be more flexibility about the movement of the team as a whole. If the striker is static, he ends up isolated and the team looks predictable. It's like playing with 10 men. He also needs to be able to hold the ball up.

 

In fairness to Cisse, in recent weeks we have seen him occasionally move around deeper and wider to link with his team-mates. His work rate is fine. The trouble is, he's not very good at it. He has a poor first touch and the ball often bounces off him towards an opponent, or he mis-places a pass.

 

As for his finishing, we could discuss all day whether his conversion rate is better than this, that or the other striker, but it's apparent that last year he was on a good streak (as can happen) and what we see now is what we can expect.

 

Another weakness that he shows in his all round game is a lack of appetite for competing physically in the penalty area. He looks for gaps between defenders rather than make a challenge (esp at the near post). Obviously that's not always the right decision.

 

 

[Hanshithispantz]

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.

Definitely the worst post I've ever read.

[Unbelievable]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

 

That's debatable tbh.

 

It's not. Benteke is much more all round..

[brummie]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

 

That's debatable tbh.

 

I don't know enough about Cisse to have an opinion on that, but I will say that Benteke works really hard for the team, and always puts a decent shift in. Something that Bent never really does, hence him not getting much time on the pitch.

[pi_D]

Maybe I'm a little bias because I love Cisse but i think he is a fantastic striker and when playing well has far better attributes than any of the above listed.

 

His confidence has been shook this season and he has been below par, but he is far better than the above mentioned players.

[Mole_Toonfan]

On this Cisse and Benteke debate.... both work very hard, both link up well but Benteke is much stronger thus much better in the air and holding the ball up.

 

Out of the ones Dropout named Benteke is the only one i'd take but it would never happen, for one he would be far too expensive.

 

I'm still undecided which type of striker would be best in front of our attacking trio of Gouffran-Sissoko-Ben Arfa....

 

In theory Cisse could be fantastic for it, but you could also make cases for a target man with ability like Bony could also fit and you could also make a case for a lightning quick, dribbling machine like Aubameyang too.

 

Either way there needs to be an alternative bought, whether he can play wide is irrelevant now although it would be a nice bonus.

[Hanshithispantz]

Unbelieveable and Dropout are usually too busy queuing up the "Cisse " posts for when he misses a volley on his weaker foot to realise he spends the majority of games level with Sissoko. He's not exactly Sheringham but he grafts his arse off every week helping out in midfield to the benefit or hindrance of his own game. He's nothing even remotely close to what you would describe as a poacher, but that still doesn't completely negate his need for good service.

 

He's got 3 in 8 since Ba left (who on an unrelated note has 2 in 7 at Chelsea), it's still not spectacular by any means for a forward but it's a definite improvement on what it was, we just need to hope he regains the rest of his form sooner rather than later.

[pi_D]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

 

That's debatable tbh.

 

It's not. Benteke is much more all round..

 

Not from what I have seen. Benteke is great in the air, is a beast physicially, as Brummie says puts in a good shift. Cisse  has a better touch, passing, positioning, technique, and a better awareness of what is going on around him.

 

I'm comparing Cisse from his purple patch last season, not his current form.

 

 

[Mole_Toonfan]

Unbelieveable and Dropout are usually too busy queuing up the "Cisse " posts for when he misses a volley on his weaker foot to realise he spends the majority of games level with Sissoko. He's not exactly Sheringham but he grafts his arse off every week helping out in midfield to the benefit or hindrance of his own game. He's nothing even remotely close to what you would describe as a poacher, but that still doesn't completely negate his need for good service.

 

He's got 3 in 8 since Ba left (who on an unrelated note has 2 in 7 at Chelsea), it's still not spectacular by any means for a forward but it's a definite improvement on what it was, we just need to hope he regains the rest of his form sooner rather than later.

 

i have actually seen some games when Sissoko's average position is in front of him

[Gallowgate Toon]

I'd have Benteke. At 21, he's a better all-rounder and prospect.

 

Point is, these are inferior strikers in inferior teams,who have scored more goals. So, Cisse must take some of the blame. Most of the blame for his lack of goals.

 

"About right" is bullshit.  Worse strikers in worse teams do better.

 

And you don't think there's another reason that these 'inferior' players might have gotten more goals? The fact that the managers might play to said strikers' strengths? Wigan and Southampton play open and attacking football, I bet they've created more clear-cut opportunities over the course of the season than we have. I'd say Villa are more attacking too, they're another one let down by a poor defence. Let's not forget that Benteke and Lambert also take penalties too, as well as free kicks for the latter.

 

I think there's blame on both sides, Cisse's poor form is partly down to rubbish management and partly down to him.

[The College Dropout]

Cisse is a far better 'all-rounder' than Benteke.

 

That's debatable tbh.

 

It's not. Benteke is much more all round..

 

Unbelievable makes the most sense on this forum.

[Guest ObiChrisKenobi]

[Kanj]

I'm all for some thoughtful analysis and its a forum where debate and difference in opinions are what drives the damn thing, but this Cisse slagging is some ridiculous shit. He scored for fun in the 2nd half of last season and has struggled this season in a struggling team. He has much to work to do - but that can be said about the rest of our squad and our manager - who for the most part have not been up to par this season.

[pi_D]

I can see Liverpool lodging a cheeky £35million bid for Benteke this summer.