Tottenham supporters were once again furious with Moussa Sissoko after witnessing his performance against Southampton, but the midfielder isn’t the one their anger should be aimed at.
The 28-year-old played for the full 90 minutes of Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Southampton on Sunday, and fans cried out for him to be sold on social media.
However, his performance against the Saints was classic Sissoko.
The French international’s lack of impact on the game, had fans’ blood boiling; but he’s never consistently been a player capable of being a game changer.
It’s hard to argue that Sissoko hasn’t been a Tottenham flop, since arriving at the club 18 months ago.
The 28-year-old joined Spurs in August 2016 on transfer deadline day joining the club for £30million from Newcastle United, according to the BBC.
Sissoko has since made 66 appearances for Tottenham, scoring two goals and registering seven assists.
These would be disappointing stats if you had misleading expectations for the midfielder who can be utilised as an attacking or defensive option.
During his entire Magpies career, he only managed 12 goals and 19 assists in 133 appearances.
Now you can argue that the midfielder was perhaps adding a steely presence to Newcastle United’s midfield, but you’d be wrong.
While he can’t take all the blame for every single goal, the midfielder was not a comforting defensive presence as 65 goals flew into the Magpies’ net in the league, during his last season with them.
Or maybe Sissoko was the engine of the team given his ability to make runs going from box to box, this is nearer the truth but there’s a big but connected with it.
The 28-year-old was capable of being an energetic box-to-box midfielder when he felt like it; which made him inconsistent and unable to be relied on.
So why did Spurs pay £30million for him?
It was because the midfielder was impressive at Euro 2016; Sissoko even managed to steal the show from Paul Pogba in the final of the tournament.
The midfielder showcased all his best offensive attributes that would have made him look like the ideal Spurs signing.
However, Sissoko was playing in order to earn himself a big move as the Magpies had been relegated, and he didn’t want to play in the Championship.
The 28-year-old got his wish as he signed a five-year-contract with Tottenham.
The midfielder then went back to being the inconsistent, sometimes invisible, presence in midfield that he had been for the Magpies; just this time he was doing for more money and under intense scrutiny because of his £30million price-tag.
This intense scrutiny is what has led Tottenham fans to slam his poor performances, and rightly call him an expensive flop.
Now the midfielder is putting in his usual performances, while it’s true that he has the ability to do more; he’s never been able to perform consistently for whatever reason.
Therefore, fans shouldn’t be sangry at their £30million flop; but instead blame the man reasonable for splashing that sort of cash on him, which made them expect more.