"Sissoko was doing a fantastic job" - Rafa

[kurtangle01]

“Sissoko was doing a fantastic job. If he didn’t give the ball away sometimes he would be the best player in every game."

Except he does give the ball away pretty much every time he gets it so Rafa's point falls flat, don't you think?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Rafa from the Echo:

“Sissoko was doing a fantastic job. If he didn’t give the ball away sometimes he would be the best player in every game because he runs more than anyone, he regains more balls than anyone and he covers all his team-mates.

“He needs to improve in front of goal, but I am really pleased with him.

To be fair he's not going to come out and critisize him is he?

Which would be fine if he didn't do it to Gerrard.

I hope this is the case because if he did mean it then that's something to be very concerned about.

[The Erectile Banana]

He didn't criticise Gerrard's performance as such, he just said he put Lucas on as he offered something different.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

People on here are slagging the manager for not taking momo off but he was obviously doing the job he was briefed to do. And doing it better than the job that gerrard was briefed to do. He and gerrard aren't like for like players so to say he should have taken momo off instead of gerrard shows a lack of understanding of respective roles.

His role in the side isn't as explosive as Gerrard's so you can't make direct comparisons - he's a more limited destructive player. In that role he was doing a pretty good job, because the bitters kept resorting to the long ball to bypass the midfield.

The fact that Rafa felt he needed a Momo type out there - as you put it, rather than Gerrard, against 10 men - is what concerns me.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

My prob Tom is that the manager was giving a negative brief against a team with ten men. Masher was already protecting the defence. Why also have someone on who is no more than a break-it-up player.

I don't think Momo played well personally, but more to the point I don't think his role was actually needed once we went a man up.

Even if its true that he was doing ok in his role as "a limited destructive player", my question is why we need a limited destructive player when you're drawing in the derby against 10 men, given that Masher is already offering the back 4 plenty of protection.

Rafa might have the bottle to be unpopular, but he doesn't have the bottle to take the game to the opposition if he prefers to keep both Masher and a limited destructive player on the park against a 10 man team. And that is my overriding worry.

Spot on.

[tomasjj]

I guess it was about balance, even if Momo was shocking, he was the one closing down, running and harassing, winning the ball back.
You can't have too many players wanting to play the same role, they end up stepping on each others toes.

I do understand that it seems overtly negative, but like Emmo says, Everton were pushing forward more with 10 than 11 players!?

And Lucas calmed us down, sprayed it about and we won the game.

[kurtangle01]

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=454912

A few quotes from Momo, apparently, confirming that he does want to leave.

See you around then, Momo. Thanks for your hard work.

[desertscouser]

If those quotes are correct then he's a disgrace. Good riddance to ANY player who feels they are better off elsewhere.

To be honest, Momo should be kissing Rafa's arse on a daily basis for being allowed to put on the red shirt without even knowing how to pass from A to B.

[Morph]

If those quotes are correct then he's a disgrace. Good riddance to ANY player who feels they are better off elsewhere.

To be honest, Momo should be kissing Rafa's arse on a daily basis for being allowed to put on the red shirt without even knowing how to pass from A to B.

I wouldn't like to say that Sissoko isn't really trying, but could it be the case that his mind is on other things, and he's not giving his all for the team, particularly with his passing which is sometimes inexplicable

[desertscouser]

I wouldn't like to say that Sissoko isn't really trying, but could it be the case that his mind is on other things, and he's not giving his all for the team, particularly with his passing which is sometimes inexplicable

You may well be right. His quotes are that of an unhappy player and I suppose that would explain why his performances are getting worse and worse each game.

[Morph]

You may well be right. His quotes are that of an unhappy player and I suppose that would explain why his performances are getting worse and worse each game.

the only thing against that is Rafa must see this disapointment in him, now was he trying to make sissoko feel important by playing him on sat, or did he really just think he was the man for the job

[desertscouser]

the only thing against that is Rafa must see this disapointment in him, now was he trying to make sissoko feel important by playing him on sat, or did he really just think he was the man for the job

It would certainly explain a) keeping him on the pitch instead of Gerrard and b) making those ludicrous comments in the press about him.


Or Rafa could be the mind game master of all mind game masters by trying to convince Juve that Momo is an incredible player and that they should sign him in January for a huge amount of cash.

[akjs123]

the only thing against that is Rafa must see this disapointment in him, now was he trying to make sissoko feel important by playing him on sat, or did he really just think he was the man for the job

I dont think Rafa would ever play someone just to make him feel important.

[kurtangle01]

I'm not 100% sure that the quotes I posted from that website are real. If they had been real then surely they would be all over every website by now?

That said though, if they are true then he has to go.

I've been of the mindset for some time that he's not good enough and I hoped that we would cash in last summer but in the end he stayed which was the wrong decision by both him and the club it would seem.

I would honestly be happy if we sold him. His level is somewhere like Bolton or Fulham, imho.

[Morph]

I dont think Rafa would ever play someone just to make him feel important.

depends, rafa knows he's got a job on trying to keep 5 midfielders happy, if he wants to keep Sissoko then he might well give him games, bassed on this, like the way he kept him on the pitch when he could have taken him off