French manager Didier Deschamps has always had a liking for Moussa Sissoko, and even when he was not playing well at Newcastle, he was included in the French squad.
The best Moussa played was when Rafa Benitez arrived, and the manager quickly picked him out as a leading player for Newcastle in the relegation battle two years ago.
To be fair to Moussa, he played exceptionally well culminating in a fabulous performance in the last game against Tottenham.
It was partly because of the performance that Pochettino paid out a massive £30M for the French midfielder.
And then, of course, he looked a different player for France in Euro2016, and that was down to the coaching of Rafa Benitez.
Moussa Sissoko – in Spurs’ colors
He was signed by Spurs 19 months ago £30M in the bank for Newcastle) and looked terrible in the first season but has performed better since then.
This is what Didier Deschamps has said about Sissoko to SFR Sport:
“One just has to look at the Euro final to see what Moussa Sissoko is capable of.
“I like Moussa Sissoko, he is not my teacher’s pet, but I would say that Moussa is the prototype of a soldier.
“He has gone from Toulouse to working under Pochettino, even if with the latter it was initially a little difficult.
“He does not complain, whether he plays 2 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or starts the match…
“Moussa Sissoko is very well liked by his team-mates and feared by his opponents.”
The thing that irritated Newcastle fans was whenever he sent away with the French squad he always talked about joining a bigger club than Newcastle.
We think that is we could have survived relegation two years ago Rafa could have continued to get the best out of the 28-year-old.
But £30M for Moussa two years ago was also a steal for us – as Spurs quickly found out.
And we’ll finish be saying some Newcastle fans were utterly delirious that we got so much for a player who was inconsistent at best for us.
Comments welcome.
104 comments so far
beermonkey
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:29 PM
Comment #81G
LOL neither but it does prove his avatar maybe isn’t all that bad
Could there be a more offensive avatar
We could have a poll and appoint a idiot off the week and as punishment they must have the Margaret Thatcher avatar
GeordieTwo
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:34 PM
Comment #82I agree beermonkey. We don’t have much Prem material at all. At least not top 10 Prem material.
GeordieTwo
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:34 PM
Comment #83Jib would look good with a Maggie Thatcher avatar. Hee hee.
jane
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:37 PM
Comment #84“Could there be a more offensive avatar”
Sunderland?
G
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Comment #85@jane, maybe Myra Hyndley or Ian Brady. Thats about it.
jane
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:45 PM
Comment #86that just pips Sunderland
G
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:46 PM
Comment #87Just about. In sporting terms though you nailed it.
beermonkey
Feb 21, 2018 at 10:48 PM
Comment #88Someone always goes to far
Jane you went to far
G2
At best most of our starting 11 would be squad filler
Look at how our on loan keeper has made elliot and darlow look really poor
I know we need a striker badly but looking at that keeper we would be a few more points better off if we had bought in a new keeper in the summer add a striker we could have been 10 15 points better off
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2018 at 11:18 PM
Comment #89Ancient doesn’t like it pointing out but his avatar is on there precisely to have the effect it has had. If he has any thought about respecting eds rules he’d see how provocative it was and switch it. But he won’t, because he can.
What a guy.
And I didn’t call Lesh “pathetic” – re-read it or shut it.
Munster Mag
Feb 21, 2018 at 11:22 PM
Comment #90Rob, as some people know, I think it’s fair to highlight rafa’s transfer errors as well as better stuff like great wins like the man u game. Agree all managers make errors but I just can’t understand what lazaars attractiveness was. Anyway, not to worry.
dig-n-dig22
Feb 21, 2018 at 11:48 PM
Comment #91Geordie” #53
Trump: Made a Billion U$D, Lost a Billion U$D ,now worth BillionsU$D, Not bad for a guy who doesn’t have a clue and can’t read or write. Just for the record, I detest the Trump as I do all US politicians
manxpie
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:06 AM
Comment #92Can we all stop talkin politics now!
Start afresh,
Sooooo…….
Who’s everybody’s favourite god?
GeordieTwo
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:13 AM
Comment #93Interesting comment digndig. Nobody really knows what Trump is worth. He won’t produce his tax returns and he lies constantly. He also in all likelihood owes hundreds of millions or more to Russian banks. They bought his loan off of Deutschbank a few years back to use as leverage against him. Mueller already subpoenaed Deutschbank for the records so it will all be in the indictment against him. There are a few decent American politicians but they are few and far between.
GeordieTwo
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:15 AM
Comment #94I think Ancient just likes Corbyn Tsunki. I think he is better than many. As for Fulham, I believe they will come up as well. But my predictions are often wild and wooly so with a pinch of salt I say.
GeordieTwo
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:16 AM
Comment #95We’re just waiting to tip out the rubbish and get a proper owner in beermonkey. Once that happens Rafa will transform us.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:43 AM
Comment #96Just goes to show what a good GK can do for the team, De Gea kept MU in their game against Seville.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 22, 2018 at 12:44 AM
Comment #97And that’s me for tonight G’dnight all.
Tsunki
Feb 22, 2018 at 7:38 AM
Comment #98And then we have Trump. What is it that’s hard to understand? No politics please!
The problem of having an avatar of your political hero is it inevitably leads down this path as we have seen. It’s as bad if not worse than those trolls who come on the site touting their personal blog or web page or product lines. No it’s worse.
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 22, 2018 at 7:53 AM
Comment #99……………….Dubravka
Yedlin Lascelles Lejeune Dummet
…………..Shelvey Diame
………Murphy Perez Kenedy
……………….Slimani
The first genuine incarnation of a genuine Rafa Benitez Newcastle epl team? It’s been a while coming but perhaps we’re finally starting to take shape and about to get a taste of what’s to come.
manxpie
Feb 22, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Comment #100It really isnt tsunki if people cant understand that someone might have a different political stance then them then thats their problem tbh
Jib
Feb 22, 2018 at 8:29 AM
Comment #101Nicky
Nobody can accuse that team of
being a championship one
punching above its weight
and
you haven’t even included
M’Bemba ,Hayden ,Clark ,Ritchie ,
Merino , Atsu or Murphy
Rafa is starting to get competition
for every place
Jib
Feb 22, 2018 at 8:37 AM
Comment #102This is the definition of damning with faint praise
Slavisa Jokanovic
Fulham manager
“Mitrovic needs time on the pitch, but I am very pleased
with what I have seen of him so far,”
dig-n-dig22
Feb 22, 2018 at 8:50 AM
Comment #103Geordie2#93
Trump released his tax returns months ago leaving all of his critics with red faces. The Clinton’s are under investigation by the FBI for far shadier dealings with the Russian’s than Trump is but you won’t see it on the MSM, Trump is only a lightweight compared to the Clinton’s,Obama, and the Bush family.
H.Houdini
Feb 22, 2018 at 9:01 AM
Comment #104B-)