Papiss Cissé

[TRon]

Cisse needed dropping a long time ago, feel we are far past that stage now, dropping him will do more damage than good ATM, hopefully we can see him through it especially if we keep building on good performances and points.

 

If you're one of those who is of the opinion he's not a good striker, then I don't see why you would think it's pointless to drop him now, especially since he's not scoring goals. You could always start with Goffran off Remy as the main striker. I'm not one of those btw, I'd keep him in the side for a couple more games yet.

 

He's a good poacher out of form, he's a poor footballer though. He's mentally weak and why his rut is lasting so long. Needed a kick up the arse a long time ago but didnt get it, hes so far gone now he needs us to stick by him, dropping him will all but finish him off confidence wise and we might as well just sell him as do that.

 

I voted 6-10 goals, that seems wildly optimistic right now.

 

He's never looked like he lacks confidence to me. In any case the manager's job isn't to coddle the delicate sentiments of his star players, it's to put out the best team to win games. If Cisse doesn't deserve to be playing then he should be dropped.

[Cronky]

I think he thinks hes un-droppable and therefore can just phone it in so to speak, I would be tempted to go central with Gouffran against Hull with Remy staying exactly where he was today where he looked so effective.

 

Cisse needs to realise that he needs to perform to keep his place in the side, just like any other player.

 

Yeah, I wonder about his attitude, and how well that's going down with his team-mates. He avoids difficult physical challenges and often looks like he's a bit above it all. He didn't seem to participate much in the goal celebrations.

 

The Wonga episode looked like a bit of a pose, given other aspects of his lifestyle. None of the others, Muslim or not, felt the need for a public demonstration of their supposedly finer feelings.

 

That thing of inviting a group of fans to his house looked like a rather naive publicity stunt proclaiming himself as a great guy, more than anything else. I'm all for footballers devoting part of their spare time to community work, but a line should be drawn at the point of their home lives, and the whole thing won't have impressed his team-mates, however good it looked in the papers.

 

I just wonder if he's getting a bit isolated off the pitch, as well as on it.

 

He was definitely in there for the group hug for one of the goals like, that's just plain wrong.

 

On my recording, I can't see him at all in the second, and in the first, he arrives a bit late and it looks rather half-hearted. But I can accept there may be different opinions about whether he was 'participating much' in the celebrations.

 

At the end of the day, that was one detail amongst others, in the making of a general point. Team spirit and solidarity is very important, and he looks a bit too full of himself.

 

Watching it again I suppose Cisse didn't jump around that much in celebration, but is that not just his laid back style? If he's not committed to the cause then you would expect Pardew would be the first one to pick up on that. Maybe you are drawing too many conclusions based on what you think might be the situation.

 

Well of course it's all speculation.

 

As for Pardew, he's not going to have a go at one of his strikers when we're so light in the department, but it was interesting that in Gomis we seemed to be going for a player who would provide precisely what Cisse is not delivering ie an aggressive, physical presence up front.

 

I had my tin hat on when I wrote the original post. I thought my points about his attitude to his team-mates as shown by the Wonga issue and the home invite issue, were more likely to cause a reaction. Whether he intended it or not, the first contains the message 'I'm a better Muslim than you', and the second suggests, 'I care more about the fans than you do'. They were gestures that may have got him some applause outside the club, but would probably have caused irritation within it. At the end of the day, his relationships with his team-mates will have a far bigger bearing on results than his relationships with supporters.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I'm losing patience with him.  Isn't it 10 games without a goal now?

 

Its not that is concerning me so much, its the utter lack of overall play which to me is limiting how good the team can be.

 

Seeing it now makes you realise ( if it was ever needed) how great it would have been if another striker had come in.

[The College Dropout]

I'm losing patience with him.  Isn't it 10 games without a goal now?

 

Its not that is concerning me so much, its the utter lack of overall play which to me is limiting how good the team can be.

 

You're getting it Mole. Everyone always asks what the other lads can do for him but what does he do for them? He offers so little in general play that it's one of the prime reasons we struggle to create chances or sustain momentum.

 

The goals highly concern me though.. he's not scoring... so what is the point of him? I'd give him Hull to find the net.. if he doesn't score against them send him to the glue factory..

[Ste]

He's in the team to score goals, he isn't. We haven't got any real competition for his position, I think he's playing too comfortable. He's a man who knows he is guaranteed a starting place.

[Tiresias]

I think he should be dropped for Gouffran but I wouldn't be upset if he wasn't, Gouffran at his best isn't probably going to be all that great (don't get me wrong, he's the kind of hard working forward who will score scrappy goals we've lacked since Best left and I like him for that a fair bit) whereas an in form Cisse will do wonders for us. We do need to get him back in form and it may just take a few goals so it's a tough one.

[Belfast Mags]

Wor Papiss 

 

Really don't know what the answer is here, just hope he can kick into gear and bag one soon enough.

[TRon]

I'm losing patience with him.  Isn't it 10 games without a goal now?

 

Its not that is concerning me so much, its the utter lack of overall play which to me is limiting how good the team can be.

 

You're getting it Mole. Everyone always asks what the other lads can do for him but what does he do for them? He offers so little in general play that it's one of the prime reasons we struggle to create chances or sustain momentum.

 

The goals highly concern me though.. he's not scoring... so what is the point of him? I'd give him Hull to find the net.. if he doesn't score against them send him to the glue factory..

 

Such a massive Cisse critic, yet you still don't have the balls to recommend he's dropped for the next match. What a pile of meaningless guff you have contributed here over the last few months.

[merlin]

If you think back to all the decent strikers we have had in the last 20 years, they all had something to contribute even if they went through a dry spell of goal-scoring ; Shearer had aggression, movement and the ability to hold up play and bring others into the game ; Bellamy had raw pace, Ferdinand had decent pace and strength as well as aerial ability, Cole had pace and movement(was probably the closest in style to Cisse albeit a better all round player), Kelly never stopped running and harassing defenders, Peacock had all round skill but lacked size.....all these players were still an asset to the side when not scoring. Even the likes of Viduka had strength and skill on the ball although at the end of his career - only Owen was a disappointment but not as much as Cisse has been over the past year or so. I always thought Cisse would find it tougher in his second PL season but not as tough as he found it - the goals record tells you that....

 

We all thought he was given a tough job last season and people thought he would be more dangerous after Ba left but this proved to be a false hope. He is hopeless as a target man, cannot hold the ball and even though Remy was playing on Saturday, Cisse didn't seem any more comfortable but Remy was playing more of a wide role on the left and he and Cisse don't look a compatible partnership because Cisse needs the support of a big striker in the middle.

That is why I said we would rue not getting another central striker in before the deadline - Cisse is proving that he is a poacher and ONLY a poacher - in the current set up, his type of player cannot work because he lacks pace and the strength on the ball to beat defenders in a one against one situation.

 

At his age - 28 now - he won't get any better ...looks a shadow of the player from almost 2 years ago.

Cannot see an answer to this because Ashley will not do what is necessary to sort out the problem.

[Darth Crooks]

Be alreet man. We're only just starting to resemble a football team ffs. He'll get a return before mid-season.

[STM]

Not worried while we are playing well. Just keep playing him, it will happen.

[themanupstairs]

I'm losing patience with him.  Isn't it 10 games without a goal now?

 

Its not that is concerning me so much, its the utter lack of overall play which to me is limiting how good the team can be.

 

You're getting it Mole. Everyone always asks what the other lads can do for him but what does he do for them? He offers so little in general play that it's one of the prime reasons we struggle to create chances or sustain momentum.

 

The goals highly concern me though.. he's not scoring... so what is the point of him? I'd give him Hull to find the net.. if he doesn't score against them send him to the glue factory..

 

I don't disagree with the overall post. Just one point though, about him not doing enough for others. He created the space for both goals at Villa imo. His movement was correct in that he drifted towards the penalty spot and preoccupied 2 CB's, while Remy/Gouffran and HBA had the space to move into and make a telling contribution. Aye he wasn't really involved much throughout the 90 but he is still a lethal finisher that teams will worry greatly about especially dead center of the penalty box.

 

Yet another reason why we absolutely MUST play 433 as it's the only formation that suits Cisse, especially Cisse lacking in confidence and seemingly out of sorts.

[AlanSkÃrare]

He's needs his confidence back. His poor form has lasted too long now. I love Papiss but it's not good enough now. If he could bag a couple against Hull it would do the world of good form him.

[nufc4eva]

He's needs his confidence back. His poor form has lasted too long now. I love Papiss but it's not good enough now. If he could bag a couple against Hull it would do the world of good form him.

 

Aye, he needs to get back to the goals like otherwise we need to look to replace him (Although as we can't get an additional striker, replacing him seems unlikely).

 

I want first season Papiss back

[r0cafella]

How long can we put up with his bad form though?

 

Gouff came off the bench and scored surely he deserves a chance in the starting 11, it would also give us more flexibility as he and Remy could interchange positions.

[nufc4eva]

How long can we put up with his bad form though?

 

Gouff came off the bench and scored surely he deserves a chance in the starting 11, it would also give us more flexibility as he and Remy could interchange positions.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing Gouff start a few up there and drop Cisse to bench for a few just to see difference.

[BrettNUFC]

I wouldn't argue with anyone who say's Gouff should start but personally think we should stick with Cisse for the time being, we are starting to create more and i think it will only take one goal to set him off on a run. Along with that, i'd like to see that team from Saturday remained unchanged until we see some glaring errors, for now i don't think Cisse is one.

[nufc4eva]

I wouldn't argue with anyone who say's Gouff should start but personally think we should stick with Cisse for the time being, we are starting to create more and i think it will only take one goal to set him off on a run. Along with that, i'd like to see that team from Saturday remained unchanged until we see some glaring errors, for now i don't think Cisse is one.

 

Oh I think it would be good to retain same team for quite a few games, if an opportunity arises though we should drop Gouff in, maybe start him for Leeds match

[themanupstairs]

I wouldn't argue with anyone who say's Gouff should start but personally think we should stick with Cisse for the time being, we are starting to create more and i think it will only take one goal to set him off on a run. Along with that, i'd like to see that team from Saturday remained unchanged until we see some glaring errors, for now i don't think Cisse is one.

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I can't decide right now, sticking with him is all good and he is getting more chances, but I wouldn't be against giving him a couple of games out of the team to regroup. Depends on his mindset I suppose.

[themanupstairs]

I can't decide right now, sticking with him is all good and he is getting more chances, but I wouldn't be against giving him a couple of games out of the team to regroup. Depends on his mindset I suppose.

 

Sammy          Remy          HBA

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I can't decide right now, sticking with him is all good and he is getting more chances, but I wouldn't be against giving him a couple of games out of the team to regroup. Depends on his mindset I suppose.

 

Sammy          Remy          HBA

 

Not sure the sum of that is better than with Cisse in TBH.

[themanupstairs]

I can't decide right now, sticking with him is all good and he is getting more chances, but I wouldn't be against giving him a couple of games out of the team to regroup. Depends on his mindset I suppose.

 

Sammy          Remy          HBA

 

Not sure the sum of that is better than with Cisse in TBH.

 

I agree, but it could have its merits. A recovering Remy will have less to do in terms of running up and down the pitch, and Sammy's unpredictability will still keep fullbacks on their toes. It would work better than hoying Gouffran in either position (LF, CF), as IMO he is best coming off the bench to impact the game. If Cisse needs to gain some perspective watching a couple of games from the bench, then that's the way to go IMO.

[toptoon]

I wouldn't argue with anyone who say's Gouff should start but personally think we should stick with Cisse for the time being, we are starting to create more and i think it will only take one goal to set him off on a run. Along with that, i'd like to see that team from Saturday remained unchanged until we see some glaring errors, for now i don't think Cisse is one.

 

Can't really argue with this post at all as it is very true and sensible. Cisse has been poor it is a big concern but yes one goal could suddenly make a huge difference to him and we are playing well as a team and won our last two and not lost in four. But yes would be very interesting to see Gouff up there to see if he's better than Cisse. I really think he could be so i would try it. He is more of a physical presence, more aggressive and quicker too and seems to know where the back of the net is and Cisse for all his running just can't seem to hit a barn door at the moment.

 

I was dreaming of Mike Ashley going on a bender geting completey wankered and getting Benteke in Jan for 30 to 40 million.

Remy Benteke HBA.  Never going to happen i know don't tell me. He had one chance on saturday and scored it and they created nothing for him but what a top notch player he held it up so well and is exactly the type of player we need.

 

Remy Ba HBA would also be awesome and i haven't completely given up on that for Jan. If Cisse hasn't kicked into gear by Jan we may well have to consider selling him. Bit early to say that we definitely should now though.

[Guest firetotheworks]

A lot of people have already jumped ship with Cisse and I can definitely understand why. He's been in poor form. I'm sticking with him though, purely a gut feeling but I still think he'll come good once one goes in that gives him confidence.