Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

I was just thinking you know, we paid £5 million pounds for this kid where as Chelsea paid £24 for Michael Essien. Despite Chelsea's obviously inflated transfer market, this statistic is quite staggering when you look at the two players. Whilst I'm sure Essien is a better player than what he has showed so far in this country, I just don't see what the guy really has to offer that Sissoko doesn't.

I think the Essien comparison is quite apt, given their styles of play.  The difference is that Momo has come in with little fanfare and has far exceeded expectations, while Essien came in with the floodlights on him and has failed to scale the lofty heights as expected with all the hype.

This is to take nothing away from Momo at all...he has had a better season than Essien IMO.  I just think it has benefited Sissoko to have come in the position of being considered as 'one for the future' rather than as an essential part of the central midfield (well, at least at first).  Put another way, if he had come in as Gerrard's replacement, would he have been able to handle that pressure?

Another interesting comparison between Essien and Momo is how they are employed by their respective managers.  As Big Mick pointed out in another thread, Mourinho does not seem to use Essien to his full capacity--he tends to want him to sit deep and break play up alongside Makelele rather than bombing forward (except on Saturday when, inexplicably, he asked him to be the point in the diamond formation instead of Lampard!).  Mourinho seems very cautious about letting Essien play box to box.  Contrast this with Rafa, who is more than content to let Sissoko cover every blade of grass, bomb forward as needed and generally harrass and harry the other team anywhere on the pitch.

FWIW, I think Essien will bed in and start to come good for Chelsea next season...he's not the terrible player that some make him out to be and his style suits the English game.  Having said that, Momo's every bit as good as Essien on current form and he has tremendous potential to improve his game for the future.

I think in years to come, we'll look back on Momo's signing as one of the shrewdest bits of business Rafa has ever conducted (right up there with signing Xabi, IMO).

[anti-hero]

Hail Prince Mohammed. 

Prince Mohammed of Mali.


In my opinion, we'll see a more kick-as's Momo next season.

I've read the interview on lfc.tv and it seems like the guy's mature BEYOND his years and somehow it betrays him cause some people think that he's probably around his late 20s. 30s even.

He'll only grow better.

Playing besides Gerrard and Alonso can only be a tremendous learning experience.

I woulnt say that he's the next Viera.

I mean.. How can you be Viera if you're better than him?

[stmichael]

I think the Essien comparison is quite apt, given their styles of play.  The difference is that Momo has come in with little fanfare and has far exceeded expectations, while Essien came in with the floodlights on him and has failed to scale the lofty heights as expected with all the hype.

This is to take nothing away from Momo at all...he has had a better season than Essien IMO.  I just think it has benefited Sissoko to have come in the position of being considered as 'one for the future' rather than as an essential part of the central midfield (well, at least at first).  Put another way, if he had come in as Gerrard's replacement, would he have been able to handle that pressure?

Another interesting comparison between Essien and Momo is how they are employed by their respective managers.  As Big Mick pointed out in another thread, Mourinho does not seem to use Essien to his full capacity--he tends to want him to sit deep and break play up alongside Makelele rather than bombing forward (except on Saturday when, inexplicably, he asked him to be the point in the diamond formation instead of Lampard!).  Mourinho seems very cautious about letting Essien play box to box.  Contrast this with Rafa, who is more than content to let Sissoko cover every blade of grass, bomb forward as needed and generally harrass and harry the other team anywhere on the pitch.

FWIW, I think Essien will bed in and start to come good for Chelsea next season...he's not the terrible player that some make him out to be and his style suits the English game.  Having said that, Momo's every bit as good as Essien on current form and he has tremendous potential to improve his game for the future.

I think in years to come, we'll look back on Momo's signing as one of the shrewdest bits of business Rafa has ever conducted (right up there with signing Xabi, IMO).

Good post

Essien is a beast of a footballer in some ways; strong; quick; aggressive; powerful etc. However, he is NOT an attacking midfielder, nor is he a wide midfielder. He has had his best games when playing instead of Makelele, or just ahead of him. He does not have the array of talent that allows (for example) Gerrard to play anywhere on the pitch and excel.

Also, as you rightly say, he is a victim of Chelsea's "system". Everything Chelsea and Maureen do is very methodical and systematic. When he was at Lyon he was a box to box player who scored goals on a quite regular basis. Now at Chelsea (as happened with Scott Parker) he's been turned into a more defensive minded player. If they sign Ballack then despite costing £24m, he won't be in their team.

You compare this to Rafa's handling of Sissoko. There's absolutely no point bogging the kid down with systems and tactics. The guy's not like that. His game's all about high energy and ball winning. Giving him strict instructions will just negate the lad. Leave that to the more disciplined players like Alonso.

[bigmick]

Sissoko has surprised all of us. During the "he'll never be class" debate of around two months ago, few were prepared to put their hands up and say they thought the "new Vierra" claims were anything more than a Rafa fantasy. Around that time he put in an absolutely immense performance (Arsenal at home maybe) which made some of us re-assess his potential both in the short and long-term. In the "Sissoko, have we found a gem?" thread my memory is that qquite a few of us began to realise that we were wrong about him and he could indeed become a fantastic player. I'm going to dredge it up in a minute to have a look  but that is certainly my stance as of today..
Ball-winning midfielders don't normally hunt the ball on the edge of the opposition box, and in this sense Sissoko is absolutely unique in World football. His emergence has been nothing short of staggering and for me at least, he stands head and shoulders above everybody else at the moment as Rafa's best value signing. My suspicion is that had he signed for Everton and performed like he has for us, thaen Arsenal and Manchester United would compete for his signature in the Summer with the transfer fee being in the region of 13-15 million pounds.

[stmichael]

My suspicion is that had he signed for Everton and performed like he has for us, thaen Arsenal and Manchester United would compete for his signature in the Summer with the transfer fee being in the region of 13-15 million pounds.

Interesting point bigmick. A blind man could see that Sissoko would walk into Manure and Arsenal's team right now.

What Sissoko's value is in today's market God only knows, but when you consider that Manure recently tried to buy Diarra from Lyon and got quoted £25million+, Sissoko would be a snip given his age and potential to improve.

[banana]

Sissoko has surprised all of us. During the "he'll never be class" debate of around two months ago, few were prepared to put their hands up and say they thought the "new Vierra" claims were anything more than a Rafa fantasy. Around that time he put in an absolutely immense performance (Arsenal at home maybe) which made some of us re-assess his potential both in the short and long-term. In the "Sissoko, have we found a gem?" thread my memory is that qquite a few of us began to realise that we were wrong about him and he could indeed become a fantastic player. I'm going to dredge it up in a minute to have a look  but that is certainly my stance as of today..
Ball-winning midfielders don't normally hunt the ball on the edge of the opposition box, and in this sense Sissoko is absolutely unique in World football. His emergence has been nothing short of staggering and for me at least, he stands head and shoulders above everybody else at the moment as Rafa's best value signing. My suspicion is that had he signed for Everton and performed like he has for us, thaen Arsenal and Manchester United would compete for his signature in the Summer with the transfer fee being in the region of 13-15 million pounds.

I guess you are referring to me then? I was the one calling him one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. For that I took a huge amount of abise from all over the forum. However I always stuck to my own belief. And now it seems that most fans are starting to accept my view.

This is from january where me and a former board member named Stu had an argument:
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Quote (stu_the_red @ Jan. 13 2006,16:05)
He'll be a good player in a couple of years. Shown signs of promise early on. Not ready for the first team on a regular basis in my opinion but he's improving and learning.

We still need a right winger though and i am not liking what i'm hearing. (Nothing). Hopefully we can get a good one signed up before the end of January. Bullard or Pennant would be nice, Joaquin would be great. 
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Why do you keep saying he isn't ready for the first team?

He is. And not only that, he is doing a brilliant job. Probably the second best defensive midfielder in england. (only behind Makelele). So what is your problem?
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His passing is decent, not good, somteimes its woeful, see todays game... his tactical nouse is decent, not good and his lack of common sense when tackling is frightening.

As i've said many times, he's not ready on a regular basis. He is a good prospect and has potential, he'll become a really good player in time, however he's not there yet and has a way to go. He leaves holes when he "covers" all the ground, he gives the ball away cheaply and is careless at times aswell.
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You mix good post with garbage. This is garbage. Players like Sissoko in the reserves? Are you having a laugh pal? He is one of the best defensive midfielders in europe. He stings like a bee and moves like a butterfly. No Liverpool player win more tackles or duels than him. He ain't beautiful to watch like Ronaldihno or Zidane but he win you games. Sissoko in the reserves alongside Mellor and Raven? That's a waste of talent and garbage thinking. He was a regular a a title winning spanish team, he has numerous international caps and he has bags of skills and quality for such a young lad. Rafa has time and again praised Crouch and Sissoko's physicality on away games in the league. Who is better to protect Garcia and Alonso and making them shine? Getting points away to Everton and Bolton without Sissoko? Just let it go FFS Stu.
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Now i'm not saying he should ONLY be a reserve player, but thats where he should start and learn his trade. We've had to carry him a few times this season. In general he's been good but there has been 4 or 5 bad games. He needs to learn when to dive in to tackles, learn the correct pass and learn how to play the correct pass. He will become physically stronger aswell in time. Once he learns those few things aswell as a slight improvement to tactical knowledge we'll then have a player. He's not one of them who's going to impress everyone 19 times out of 20. He could be better than the likes of Barton and Parker in a few years though and become a really good squad player.

People in general don't mature properly till about twenty-two or twenty-three. For me he should DEFINATELY be around the first team, however i just feel for confidence and full development reasons he shouldn't be a regular as yet

It makes me laugh though when people say he's amoungst the best in the country.
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I feel sorry for you. He can become better than Barton and Parker in a few years? And become a decent squad player?
He cood be a good squad player soon?

Soon?
Soon?
Soon?

Bloody fool,

Like he wasn't that already. Sissoko doesn't get credit just because he doesn't play beutiful football. I am not like that. I am into winning games. You don't have to play like Zidane or Maradona to win. But you need players with COMPLIMENTARY skills. Momo offers something DIFFERENT. You need a team. Sissoko gives us omething we need. Something we have been lacking. And he gives the likes of Alonso and Gerrard the freedom to create, he protects our back 4, he is muscles and body enough to move mountains.

He is already way better than Parker or Barton will ever be. He runs faster, moves better, is stronger in the body, has better work ethic, has better mentality (don't show up drunk for practice as Barton does a couple of times every season).  Why have we improved 200% on away games this season? It is because we have Sissoko to break down attacks and mind my word; I've never seen a player move faster across the field. He is all over the place all the time. As a defensive midfielder i rate him as second best in the league (makelele first). And the boy is only 20 years. It's frightening how accomplished he is at that age.

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As far as I know the real reason Stu left the forum was Sissoko. He couldn't handle being wrong again. After his defeats over Murphy, Kirkland, Carragher, Owen and so on. SO he chose the easy way out and left instead of admitting his mistakes and apologizing to his fellow fans. Stu was wrong most of the time but didn't have the balls to admit it.

[kazza]

He should be the Young Player of the Year but as he does not score goals others do not see his worth.

Any team would love to have him.

[account deleted by request]

sissoko not only wins the ball but with his great running he makes sure the opposition dont have time on the ball to pick out their passes. next season im sure we will be talking about him in the same way we now talk about xabi and stevie. i think against kicking sides like blackburn, bolton etc you have to be able to compete and momo COMPETES! he reminds me of emlyn hughes when he first came to anfield but without the shooting ability (so far) and if he wins as many cups with us as emlyn did we wont go far wrong.

[ALONSO]

I think sissoko is the buy of the season. The amount of energy he has is unbelievable. His allround game is improving all the time. He was being touted as a viera of the future I am much happier momo plays for us rather than viagra, sorry i mean viera.

[Espionage]

Reina
Finnan        Carragher        Hypia       Riise
                            Alonso 
              Gerrard                Momo

? ? ?                                     Kewell/Gonzalez
                           Crouch     
With Gerrard and Momo playing box-to-box with Xabi filling the gaps i think that we would have argueably the best midfield in the world. From the start i believed that momo could be a new Viera/Keane/Gerrard type player.  I think that he has exceeded almost everyone's expectations with his play and level of commitment, who else would risk their football career the way he has to do what they love?
I think that Momo will cause Rafa lots of problems next year. You dont want to leave him on the bench, but then you cant leave Alonso or Gerrard either. It was made easy this season as Gerrard played on the right, but i think that Rafa will start playing the 4-5-1 formation above.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Sissoko has had a very good first season. He has improved an awful lot since he first came here. He brings huge amounts of energy, stamina, drive, domination and strength to the central midfield area, and although Gerrard also brings these qualities, Sissoko does it in a more concentrated area of the pitch and with a very different objective, he allows us to control the game by dominating and frightening oppositions midfield players.

What has improved more than anything is the fact that he doesn’t leave gaps as much as he used to. Unfortunately some people think being a good defensive midfielder is purely about chasing the ball like a head chicken like you do when you’re a school kid, and putting in tackle after tackle. Thankfully they are not in charge of Sissoko’s development, Rafa is teaching him the art of central midfield defending, which means not leaving gaps by ball chasing, working as part of team with your central midfield partner and not over committing in the tackle.

For me Sissoko will eventually settle down as a secondary midfield player, someone who will compliment a more dominate central midfielder player, like the Makelele role but he will do it in a different way but severing the same purpose. I don’t see Sissoko as being a genuine box to box central midfielder who you build your team around, he doesn’t have the technical ability, passing range, goal scoring ability, etc, to play this role. He is a hunter of opposition midfielders, but even hunters must hunt intelligently.

An valuable player who should complete the biggest part of his learning curve next season and then settle down into permanent role in the first team.