NUFC's 'marmite' - Moussa Sissoko
CAN THE WANTAWAY MIDFIELDER PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN NEWCASTLE’S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL?
One minute you’re singing his name in great elation, the next you’re pulling your hair out in sheer annoyance – Moussa Sissoko is just one of those players you can’t put your finger on. Newcastle signed the French international from Toulouse for just over £1.5m in January 2013. The midfielder made an instant impact, including scoring a memorable brace on his home debut as Newcastle beat Chelsea 3-2. He played an instrumental role in Newcastle avoiding the drop that season. What a bargain, what a superb piece of business – Moussa Sissoko now laid down the benchmark. However, his Newcastle career has not exactly gone the way many would have anticipated.
“Ineffectual,” “Heartless,” “Lazy,” are some of the damning words that are heard around St. James’ Park and tempestuously vented on social media to describe the 26-year-old. There are two reasons on why Sissoko has felt the wrath of his own fans: (1) He has so much ability, yet so much half-heartedness in his performances and (2) He has made no secrets about wishing to leave Newcastle for a Champions League club. The latter is understandable; as a professional footballer you want to test yourself at the highest level, but it’s the manner in which Sissoko makes his imploration to potential suitors that irks the Geordies.
Most will have lost count on how many interviews Sissoko has done with the French media. His most recent interview was with Téléfoot last month, 24 hours after Watford defeated an all too familiar abject Newcastle side 2-1 at Vicarage Road. To nobody’s surprise, the interview was another “come and get me” plea and his desire to play in the Champions League were reiterated. He also added that the reasons on why he hasn’t left Tyneside yet was simply because the club wouldn’t let him go and he needs to play games in order to get in the France’s Euro 2016 squad. Hardly inspirational stuff from a player that has been once touted as “future Newcastle captain.” Playing poorly, fighting relegation for the second consecutive season and fresh from another defeat, doing such an untimely interview speaks volumes of the man’s disloyalty and illustrates his complete disregard for the club that pays his reported £3.5m-per-year salary.
A player that struggles to string a handful of decent performances together believes he’s more than good enough to play in Europe’s elite competition, coupled with pitiful interviews in his homeland to engineer a move away from St. James’ Park may suggest the Frenchman is being terribly advised.
Unquestionably, the midfielder has immense ability. On his day, Moussa Sissoko can be unplayable. Rewind back to his home debut against Chelsea, he gave one of the Premier League’s best ever full-backs Ashley Cole an absolute torrid time. Last season at The Etihad, in the League Cup against Manchester City, he came on as a substitute and wrapped up the win with a brilliant individual goal. More recently, Newcastle United’s 6-2 win over Norwich – Sissoko’s link-up play with Wijnaldum throughout the game was a joy to watch and he also had a hand in five of the six goals scored. The strength, the power and the pace – Newcastle’s no.7 can be a game-changer, but only if he wants to be.
Prior to signing for Newcastle, Sissoko played typically in a more central position for both his club and country. However, since arriving in the North-East he has mainly been deployed as a right-winger. Leaving many to argue that one of the reasons for his fluctuating performances is simply because he’s being played out of position.
With Andros Townsend coming in and the distribution of Jonjo Shelvey from the middle of the park, Sissoko is better suited staying out wide where he can switch flanks with Townsend and receive top-rate service from Shelvey. A consistent Sissoko will get into most teams, and if there’s a better time for Sissoko to put himself out in the shop window: this is it.
Can the French international play a pivotal part in Newcastle United’s fight for survival? In short: yes. Despite playing poorly against West Ham United in last season’s Survival Sunday, Sissoko scored the all-important opening goal. He may continue to be one of our most exasperating players, he may give another laughable interview to the French media, and he may leave at the end of the season to ply his trade in the Champions League, but one thing is for certain as we head into the business-end of the season: Sissoko will step-up. He will put in at least a couple of more outstanding performances – a final hurrah – and that just might be enough for the Magpies to ensure their Premier League status.
