Allan Saint-Maximin (now playing for Fenerbahce, on loan from Al-Ahli)

[Fantail Breeze]

3 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Sissoko went from over rated to under rated by people on here.

 

He tried his best and never hid so I always respect him for that.

 

Eh? He was one of the worst for hiding during our relegation season.

 

That Bournemouth performance one of the worst I’ve ever seen from a professional footballer - didn’t want the ball and whenever he got it he immediately lost it.

[Kid Icarus]

Wey he's 32 now, but is it also no coincidence that he was in the starting 11 of a team that got to the Champions League final and a rotation player then starting player in the league, finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th? Or is it also no coincidence that he was a rotation player in a team that won the World Cup?

Seems a bit selective to only point out his career with us and Watford.

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Kid Icarus

[Minhosa]

The Spurs fans I know (ST Holders) would all have happily driven him back to Newcastle at virtually ALL points of his career there other than a (very) short spell under Poch. He was a figure of fun for them for the most part and booed on many occasions during his tenure there.

 

IMHO, he took more from NUFC than he gave.

[gbandit]

Can only really talk about him based on his time here as I didn’t watch him closely at Spurs. The few times I did see him for Spurs, he seemed one of their weaker players. Maybe @leffe186 can let us know what the consensus of opinion from Spurs fans was on Sissoko there 

[Minhosa]

3 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Sissoko went from over rated to under rated by people on here.

 

He tried his best and never hid so I always respect him for that.

We must have very different definitions of hiding....

[Kid Icarus]

Considering Gini fucking Wijnaldum was in the same team, the idea that Sissoko went hiding is laughable like. 

[Smal]

Sissoko at his peak would be a very useful player in the PL for a counter attacking side. A pure transition player. No good for a possession team at all mind.

[Minhosa]

3 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Considering Gini fucking Wijnaldum was in the same team, the idea that Sissoko went hiding is laughable like. 

But but but he's won a CL.....

[Kid Icarus]

Just now, Minhosa said:

But but but he's won a CL.....

 

You brought up Sissoko at Watford. If you just want to talk about his and Wijnaldum's time at Newcastle, go for it. 

[Minhosa]

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

 

You brought up Sissoko at Watford. If you just want to talk about his and Wijnaldum's time at Newcastle, go for it. 

You literally cited Sissoko making a CL final appearance as justification for your defence of him and then slated Gini W despite him winning it .

[ponsaelius]

Sissoko never hid. I definitely refute that and always think it's revisionist nonsense mistaking playing shite (and looking a bit grumpy) to hiding. He was always fully fit, played every single game, and always gave it his all. It's just that he was not a very creative or refined footballer so relying on him into be your primary outlet in a relegation threatened side is asking for trouble. He was never good enough to be that player.

 

He became scapegoat for that relegation. While Wijnaldum, who basically downed tools with months left and couldn't get into the side, is looked back upon fondly by NUFC fans for some reason.

[The College Dropout]

9 minutes ago, Smal said:

Sissoko at his peak would be a very useful player in the PL for a counter attacking side. A pure transition player. No good for a possession team at all mind.

Nah he was ok enough in possession to be a decent "weakest man" on the ball.

 

At NUFC he was expected to be the main man on the ball which was his downfall.

 

IMO I remember him running into blind alleys again and again trying to make stuff happen. Didn't come off often because he wasn't skilful but it's all we had. Him and Janmaat down the right flank. All puff, little end product. Janmaat couldn't defend either.

 

I remember Thauvin on the left or on the bench or when he came on... he was v. quiet. Got on the ball rarely and did little with it. Sissoko got on the ball loads, did little with it too but at least he tried.

[Kid Icarus]

6 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

You literally cited Sissoko making a CL final appearance as justification for your defence of him and then slated Gini W despite him winning it .

 

Aye, because you brought up how Sissoko being in the starting 11 of a relegated Watford team said everything you needed to know about him. I just brought up all the bits you'd missed out. 

 

Judging them solely on their time here, I thought Sissoko was alright despite his regular big time charlie interviews with the French media (lining up with the way NUFC was sold to him as a stepping stone at the time) but I don't think he went missing, certainly not to the extent that Wijnaldum did anyway. 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Kid Icarus

[Kid Icarus]

5 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

Sissoko never hid. I definitely refute that and always think it's revisionist nonsense mistaking playing shite (and looking a bit grumpy) to hiding. He was always fully fit, played every single game, and always gave it his all. It's just that he was not a very creative or refined footballer so relying on him into be your primary outlet in a relegation threatened side is asking for trouble. He was never good enough to be that player.

 

He became scapegoat for that relegation. While Wijnaldum, who basically downed tools with months left and couldn't get into the side, is looked back upon fondly by NUFC fans for some reason.

 

This, more or less. Especially the way Wijnaldum's weirdly viewed fondly. 

[The College Dropout]

11 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

Sissoko never hid. I definitely refute that and always think it's revisionist nonsense mistaking playing shite (and looking a bit grumpy) to hiding. He was always fully fit, played every single game, and always gave it his all. It's just that he was not a very creative or refined footballer so relying on him into be your primary outlet in a relegation threatened side is asking for trouble. He was never good enough to be that player.

 

He became scapegoat for that relegation. While Wijnaldum, who basically downed tools with months left and couldn't get into the side, is looked back upon fondly by NUFC fans for some reason.

Aye. 

 

He got on the ball and attacked his fullback time and again. Tried to make runs off the ball to attack. That was reflected by most of our play coming from his side that season across 2 managers. he was limited in that role and it didn't work more time.

 

Gini again played in the wrong role. But he didn't get on the ball. That's why I don't look upon him fabourably. He downed tools and couldn't even get in the side.

 

Both were misused by several managers which isn't their fault. They should've played CM together maybe with a 3rd DM or an AM. That would've given us some dynamism in the middle of the pitch. In time both have shown themselves to be decent professionals that can perform at the highest end of pro football within the right setup.

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by The College Dropout

[The College Dropout]

In that era people on here loved Vurnon Anita. He was awful. Many preferred him to Tiote.

 

It's rare that people have a balanced view on players. Either shit or great.

[ponsaelius]

If anything it was the absolute polar opposite of hiding - with my abiding memory being watching game after game of every attack going through him. Which was always frustrating because you knew he just didn't have enough creatively as a player so it would always result in failure.

 

As a player with a very narrow function in a particular system he was an effective outlet. It's why he has a stupid amount of caps for France for a player of his talent level - more than ASM, Robert, Ginola, HBA combined. He found a tactical niche in a slightly weaker generation to the current one.

 

[Minhosa]

1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

Aye, because you brought up how Sissoko being in the starting 11 of a relegated Watford team said everything you needed to know about him. I just brought up all the bits you'd missed out. 

 

Judging them solely on their time here, I thought Sissoko was alright despite his regular big time charlie interviews with the French media (lining up with the way NUFC was sold to him as a stepping stone at the time) but I don't think he went missing, certainly not to the extent that Wijnaldum did anyway. 

 

 

 

Games are won and lost in midfield imho. I've always believed that and still maintain it nowadays despite all of the wider discussion around systems/styles/Klopp/Pep etc etc. Ultimately a team with an effective midfield wins more games than one without. Almost regardless of what's behind it or in front of it.

 

He's been a key component in two midfields that have been relegated. Contrary to some inferences on here, he's not and never was highly thought of at Spurs and I can't imagine Watford fans are too keen to see him grace their midfield next season.

 

I can't talk for his international reputation because I've not followed it particularly closely.

 

I can say having watched him closely for NUFC that he called it in on many occasions and was probably why he was very widely booed on his return to SJP.

 

He was also publically criticised by Poch after his first 18 months at Spurs I believe so he's not pulled up any tree's anywhere (except internationally, arguably) despite the defence of him on here.

 

I'd rate his time at NUFC as 3/10 and think he's a bit of an advert for the NUFC we were at the time.

 

I don't really see the value in comparing him to GW tbh but I know which one I'd take back at the club if forced.

 

[sushimonster85]

6 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

In that era people on here loved Vurnon Anita. He was awful. Many preferred him to Tiote.

 

That seems especially odd given that I'm pretty sure Anita was the player we signed to cover/replace Cabeye when we thought he was off the first time. 

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

If anything it was the absolute polar opposite of hiding - with my abiding memory being watching game after game of every attack going through him. Which was always frustrating because you knew he just didn't have enough creatively as a player so it would always result in failure.

 

As a player with a very narrow function in a particular system he was an effective outlet. It's why he has a stupid amount of caps for France for a player of his talent level - more than ASM, Robert, Ginola, HBA combined. He found a tactical niche in a slightly weaker generation to the current one.

 

Thing is... he wasn't bad technically in terms of simple passing, first touch. And that level of athleticism is rare even in elite football. So he was useful for 2 different managers in very different sides. Even Mourinho found him useful.

 

He essentially did Joelinton's CM role at those clubs and it largely worked. Think Sissoko was a little tidier in possession (obviously quicker and less strong) but worse in the box or final ball. I like that athletic profile of player in a midfield 3.

 

Agree with you overall. My abiding memory of him is exactly the same.

[Tiresias]

I remember being frustrated with Sissoko phoning it in too, he clearly had plenty of talent and I am sure it is more complicated than him not being motivated but I remember being delighted spurs decided to spend so much on him. He had some good games, his peaks were high but he wasn't consistent when we needed him. I do remember him absolutely rinsing Ashley Cole at Chelsea when we'd just bought him iirc and was glorious. 

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, sushimonster85 said:

 

That seems especially odd given that I'm pretty sure Anita was the player we signed to cover/replace Cabeye when we thought he was off the first time. 

Don't recall that.

 

I recall Tiote getting pelters week in week out though. Again, another one that didn't hide, always got on the ball and tried to make things happen. Did his best.

 

Anita always ran from the struggle. 

[triggs]

23 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

Sissoko never hid. I definitely refute that and always think it's revisionist nonsense mistaking playing shite (and looking a bit grumpy) to hiding. He was always fully fit, played every single game, and always gave it his all. It's just that he was not a very creative or refined footballer so relying on him into be your primary outlet in a relegation threatened side is asking for trouble. He was never good enough to be that player.

 

He became scapegoat for that relegation. While Wijnaldum, who basically downed tools with months left and couldn't get into the side, is looked back upon fondly by NUFC fans for some reason.

Bang on

[gbandit]

4 minutes ago, Tiresias said:

I remember being frustrated with Sissoko phoning it in too, he clearly had plenty of talent and I am sure it is more complicated than him not being motivated but I remember being delighted spurs decided to spend so much on him. He had some good games, his peaks were high but he wasn't consistent when we needed him. I do remember him absolutely rinsing Ashley Cole at Chelsea when we'd just bought him iirc and was glorious. 

Couldn’t believe the transfer fee we got from Spurs, all thanks to the international tournament that summer 

[Pata]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Don't recall that.

 

I recall Tiote getting pelters week in week out though. Again, another one that didn't hide, always got on the ball and tried to make things happen. Did his best.

 

Anita always ran from the struggle. 

 

This made me so mad. Many saying 'Anita kept us ticking, 8/10' while Tiote got pelters when in reality Tiote had way more touches, better passing % and was a beast physically compared to probably our softest CM ever. Grim times.