Liverpool FC Forum

[115-1073096938]

He is the exact player we need in the squad. If there has been one thing we've been lacking in the past is the need for some midfield steel. Sissoko provides that, Hamann is able to do so but is getting on and less likely to be as energetic as Sissoko. He needs improvement with choice of tackle, etc but all in all a decent addition to the squad

Alonso and Gerrard don't provide steel?

Can't agree with that at all.

Alonso and Gerrard can provide steel when needed but yo can hardly catagorise them as tacklers. They aren't the same players as Vieira, Hamann, Sissoko, Gravesen, Keane, are they? Alonso and Gerrard are more creative players, their jobs are different.

Steven Gerrard is probably the most the natural ball winner in the premier league lad.

Watch the Man Utd game. He's the best tackler in the country, hence the reason he's probably the best right back in the country.

The amount of times he tracked back and won tackles on Rooney (one of the worlds best players) in that game says it all.

The best things in Gerrard's game are aggression, bottle, passion, work rate and tackling ability. Closley followed by athletisism and shooting ability.

As for Alonso again you're simply wrong. He's a deep lying playmaker with great vision and picks incredible passes that open games up, but he's also excellent at tackling, his positional sense and reading of the game are amounst the best in the country and his ability to sweep up, calm situations down and win tackles are invaluable to this side, last season away to Juventus, he'd be out for 6 months then marked Nedved (one of the best players in europe) out of the game.

[metalhead]

Alonso and Gerrard can provide steel when needed but yo can hardly catagorise them as tacklers.

Woah!! Alonso and Gerrard arent tacklers? What did Gerrard do to hold off serginho in the CL final last may? He tackled and he did well in it. Alonso against Juventus, he won the midfield battle by his tackling ability! Alonso and Gerrard have excellent tackles!

[stmichael]

wild sissoko sounds like an oriental herb

[115-1073096938]

A positive first thread is usually a good idea...


Anyway, I reckon he could be the next Patrick Viera.  He'll definitely mature and with the right coaching he could be a great player.  He's certainly got the athleticism and the desire...and if he scares a few opponents in the process all the better.

Vieira?

Oh come on get real, he's nowhere near Vieira's class. Vieira was as good at as Xabi at the same age if not better. Sissoko is nowhere near and will never be anywhere near that level of player. As good as he is, to label him that is rediculous.

How can you say he will never be as good as Vieira!? At 21 Vieira was a virtual nobody, 'one for the future' at best. Sissoko has years ahead of him. All he needs is the right training and direction. Even now Vieira is by no means the most skillfull or elegant player but he excells in his role with persistence. Bloody hell he picked up 8 reds in the premiership and consistently got yellows, it took him years to perfect the player he is now.

Why can't Sissoko do the same thing?

Sissoko has every chance to be the player Vieira is, to say he hasn't is ridiculous

Its quite simple really. Vieira was a world class prospect with immense talent.

Sissoko is a very good prospect with good talent.

He's 21, compare him to Owen at 17, Rooney at 16, Fowler at 18.

Fowler never reached a world class level, yet look at the class difference. Its quite simple really, Sissoko isn't that good. Vieira had everything on him, he was better in EVERY area. Players don't become good, they are at a level when they come through and the adapt to the team and surroundings, you don't see players all of a sudden gaining ten yards of pace or becoming a world class passer or tackler. They either have it, or they don't.

Sissoko is not and NEVER EVER will be as good as Vieira. The same was as Sinama-Pongolle who is easily as good prospect will never be in Owen's class or Schevchenko's.

The same way Traore at 18 was never going to be the new Thuram. They aren't good enough.

Sissoko will become a very good player, but he'll never be even to class, let alone the best in his position in world football.

Do yourself a favour and get real.

[115-1073096938]

Alonso and Gerrard can provide steel when needed but yo can hardly catagorise them as tacklers.

Woah!! Alonso and Gerrard arent tacklers? What did Gerrard do to hold off serginho in the CL final last may? He tackled and he did well in it. Alonso against Juventus, he won the midfield battle by his tackling ability! Alonso and Gerrard have excellent tackles!

He's talking rubbish.

[LFCNUTTER]

A positive first thread is usually a good idea...


Anyway, I reckon he could be the next Patrick Viera.  He'll definitely mature and with the right coaching he could be a great player.  He's certainly got the athleticism and the desire...and if he scares a few opponents in the process all the better.

Vieira?

Oh come on get real, he's nowhere near Vieira's class. Vieira was as good at as Xabi at the same age if not better. Sissoko is nowhere near and will never be anywhere near that level of player. As good as he is, to label him that is rediculous.

Momo is only 20 yrs old how do you know what viera was like at 20 and to compare viera with xabi is ridiculous both very differant players if he keeps progressing as he is he can be as good as viera dont forget stevie gerrard was guilty of flying into wreckless tackles at 20

[metalhead]

Alonso and Gerrard can provide steel when needed but yo can hardly catagorise them as tacklers.

Woah!! Alonso and Gerrard arent tacklers? What did Gerrard do to hold off serginho in the CL final last may? He tackled and he did well in it. Alonso against Juventus, he won the midfield battle by his tackling ability! Alonso and Gerrard have excellent tackles!

He's talking rubbish.

I know, Gerrard and Alonso are excellent ball winners!

[115-1073096938]

Another example, Gerrard at 18-19 was a far better player than Sissoko. Even Gerrard isn't as good a central midfielder as Vieira.

Sissoko is nowhere near Alonso, Gerrard, Vieira, Keane or anyone else of that quality.

[Dundalk]

So why did Milan flog Viera to the Gunners if he was so good?

[115-1073096938]

A positive first thread is usually a good idea...


Anyway, I reckon he could be the next Patrick Viera.  He'll definitely mature and with the right coaching he could be a great player.  He's certainly got the athleticism and the desire...and if he scares a few opponents in the process all the better.

Vieira?

Oh come on get real, he's nowhere near Vieira's class. Vieira was as good at as Xabi at the same age if not better. Sissoko is nowhere near and will never be anywhere near that level of player. As good as he is, to label him that is rediculous.

Momo is only 20 yrs old how do you know what viera was like at 20 and to compare viera with xabi is ridiculous both very differant players if he keeps progressing as he is he can be as good as viera dont forget stevie gerrard was guilty of flying into wreckless tackles at 20

Because Vieira played in the Arsenal side that won the league at 20 years old and was one of the "finds" of the season.

Also to compare Xabi and Sissoko isn't rediculous, they are both central midfielders. Is it rediculous to say Gerrard is better than Warnock? No its not, so don't use that as an excuse.

As for Gerrard at 20, you're right he was wreckless OCCASSIONALLY. However, he was excellent alround and didn't have any major weakness, he occassionally his to many long passes but that was all. He didn't lack basic passing ability, tactical sense and a host of other things.

Sissoko as good as he is, will never in this life reach Vieira's level. When he doesn't you'll no doubt say i was just guessing, but i'm not. If he becomes what i count as world class then i'll gladly admit i was wrong, however that won't happen.

[115-1073096938]

So why did Milan flog Viera to the Gunners if he was so good?

Please tell me you're joking?

Do a search on AC Milan in the 90's and check out there team mate.

[Igor Zidane]

I'm sure i've seen this argument before on another thread, de ja vu.

[RAFABENITEZ]

http://www.patrickvieira.info/

[Dundalk]

Yeah so they had a good team but if he was so good at that age, the surely they wouldnt have sold him knowing what he was going to achieve.

Are you saying if United had 2 world class forwards then Rooney couldnt get into the team because of his age?

If you are good enough your old enough and if he was as good at his age that you are saying he was the Milan would never have sold him and definatley not for that money

[SouthCoastShankly]

Sorry but Vieira between 18-22 was nothing more than a prospect. Look at the facts, Arsenal only signed him when he was 20 (Milan didn't even see his potential as he only made 2 full starts before he was flogged!), he didn't even make his national debut until he was 21 - he only got a full call up prior to the 98 world cup.

With that in mind how can you say that Sissoko at his current age is nowhere near as good as Vieira at the same age when Vieira did sweet F.A. until he was 21 when Arsenal won their first league title of the ninties?

I think it is you sir who is speaking out of his rather large @rse