Is Sissoko really a must to have in our team?

[AFII]

I'm starting to question if we really need him. We have other better central midfielders and Alonso can do the same work as him. We need creative players and can't afford to have a player who can't pass the ball. He is good at breaking up the play but he destroys that when he gives away the ball a few seconds later and then we must start chasing the ball again.

He really hasn't improved since last season. If Rafa can replace him with a more creative player then I would sell him.

I love his fighting spirit but the team comes first.

[Red Chilli]

You'd better ask Rafa that question as he loves him


Do we really need Mascherano?

[Shaggy]

I think he is a must in games against teams who are likely to have more possession than us - i.e the rest of the top 4, big teams in Europe etc. Or against bruisers near the bottom of the league.

All of his good work comes when we don't have the ball. In games where we will have the lion's share of possession, he shouldn't play.

[alunevans]

i thought he was poor today. he's great if you need someone to break things down but if you give him a game where he will get on the ball he'll do little with it positive and a lot negative.

i really like him, but if he can't progress into being a player who can do things creatively, or even just pass it straightforwardly, then he'll end up a limited yet occasionally useful player rather than a great one.

[anfieldanfield]

I like Sissoko, but today wasn't his game.

Villa are a very, very poor side, Rafa should have shown some bollocks and said...

"Right lads, Gonzalez left, Pennant right, Stevie and Xabi in the middle - Let's have a ****ing go at them today"

[Red Chilli]

Momo was incredible at the Camp Nou, that is a FACT.

[Howard_lfc]

You'd better ask Rafa that question as he loves him
Do we really need Mascherano?

I thought we all loved Momo?

Masher could well be a replacement for Alonso

[Shaggy]

Momo was incredible at the Camp Nou, that is a FACT.

Precisely - a game in which we didn't see too much of the ball. That's when he's a monster. In games like today's he should be on the bench.

[cobain]

Momo is a "must to have" when we're playing big teams or chasing the ball... But when we're playing "smaller" teams or in other words, have more possession than the opponents, he shouldn't play. And that's it.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

fair assessment

I think he is a must in games against teams who are likely to have more possession than us - i.e the rest of the top 4, big teams in Europe etc. Or against bruisers near the bottom of the league.

All of his good work comes when we don't have the ball. In games where we will have the lion's share of possession, he shouldn't play.

[Kinell]

I like Sissoko, but today wasn't his game.

Villa are a very, very poor side, Rafa should have shown some bollocks and said...

"Right lads, Gonzalez left, Pennant right, Stevie and Xabi in the middle - Let's have a ****ing go at them today"

Shouldn't need to show bollocks to name that midfield.

[red g]

Momo is a "must to have" when we're playing big teams or chasing the ball... But when we're playing "smaller" teams or in other words, have more possession than the opponents, he shouldn't play. And that's it.

i agree, but than thats admitting we are not as good as some other teams.....not something Scum, chelsea, Arsenal would do. Sissoko contributes massively to stopping other teams play.....but doesnt contribute to our play at all.

[redblood]

I'm starting to question if we really need him. We have other better central midfielders and Alonso can do the same work as him. We need creative players and can't afford to have a player who can't pass the ball. He is good at breaking up the play but he destroys that when he gives away the ball a few seconds later and then we must start chasing the ball again.

He really hasn't improved since last season. If Rafa can replace him with a more creative player then I would sell him.

I love his fighting spirit but the team comes first.

I've just said something similar in another thread just a few minutes ago although I think we should keep him. I think he should be used a little more sparingly. I don't think he warrants a place in the centre ahead of Stevie or Xabi.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I like Sissoko, but today wasn't his game.

Villa are a very, very poor side, Rafa should have shown some bollocks and said...

"Right lads, Gonzalez left, Pennant right, Stevie and Xabi in the middle - Let's have a ****ing go at them today"

Is right.

But it's been nearly 3 years now and he hasn't learned. It's a major concern.

Agree with what shaggy said above.

[AFII]

Momo is a "must to have" when we're playing big teams or chasing the ball... But when we're playing "smaller" teams or in other words, have more possession than the opponents, he shouldn't play. And that's it.

So he should be on the bench in all our home games and most of the away games. That probably means that he would play 10%-20% of the games. So we don't need him 80%-90% of the time.