This season Moussa Sissoko has played 40 games in all competitions for us this season. I`ll just leave that with you for a moment?
The Frenchman is not necessarily a bad player, but at times I have been scratching my head to try and work out why Pochettino has used him so often, despite his lack of end product. The player does have his good qualities, his power and direct running can be of useful to break forward, especially late on in games when the opposition are tired out. He can pick out a pass as well, and create chances.
Yet, the numbers speak for themselves. Since his arrival at the club for £30million Moussa has scored just twice and assisted nine other goals. It`s not a good return, and it`s the main reason why many would like to see him leave at the end of the season.
However, I`m still not sure that will happen. There is a huge disconnect between how managers see the midfielder, and how fans see him. Successive managers of the France national team certainly see something in him. He has 53 caps for France, 33 more than N`Golo Kante, 4 more than Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann, who are only a couple of years younger than him. Are we missing something that professional coaches can only see?
I don`t think we are, and I believe his consistent selection at both club and international level in the past has been down to his adaptability. His athleticism means he is able to play a number of positions in different tactical set ups. This season, Poch has selected him from the start, or from the bench, to play on the right, on the left, in central midfield and in some instances as an attacking midfielder.
At Euro 2016, he starred playing from the right for Didier Deschamps` team, yet despite his performance catching the eye of observers, he did not score or provide an assist during the side`s run to the final. He was also coming off a back of a season where his Newcastle had been relegated to the Championship although he had played more consistently during that season, with eight assists in all.
He was certainly overpriced when we bought him, mainly due to his profile being risen after his exploits in a summer tournament. An inconsistent player with flashes of inspiration is what he has always been, and he remains the same to this day. I`m certainly not alone in thinking that after two seasons, he could be on his way out, having had little impact, but I`m still not entirely certain of that. Will Sissoko leave at the end of the season? Let me know in the poll.