Nobody is in a position to say that. Clearly, Bissouma’s career is not over, there’s also no talk about this in the media. If there is no further police interest, then there is no Bissouma ‘situation’ at all.
Aurelien Tchouameni / Signs for Madrid
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Nobody is in a position to say that. Clearly, Bissouma’s career is not over, there’s also no talk about this in the media. If there is no further police interest, then there is no Bissouma ‘situation’ at all.
Well, I think he is a better player, but there’s no science to football opinions so fair enough.
What makes him better?
I have never really been that impressed by Bissouma. Always thought he is at least a level below Rice and almost a bit hyped. Good player, but he dont offer enough on the ball.
In my opinion, Tchouameni and Rice could also improve on the ball. But they are. And they are significantly younger.
Statistically, the player Bissouma appears to be most similar to is actually McTominay. And while McTominay do benefit from playing next to better players I do think Brighton is top five among the best coached team in the PL.
So what if the are coached well. He is a very good player regardless. Should we downgrade the likes of DeBruyne because he is coached well
I actually feel like Bissouma is a bit more comfortable on the ball. Both are good ball winners. Not much in it for me, but I find Bissouma extremely graceful on the ball and I prefer him as a result.
It can be flattering for a good player compared to a player in a less well-functioning team.
I certainly think this is something one should watch out for when buying a player (Kagawa, Sahin, Donny etc).
I agree. He is very elegant and graceful. And I think there is a slight chance that could even make him a bit overrated.
Bissouma doesn't have long on his contract too right?
We should just fix our coaching in my opinion
In addition to his grace he is also an excellent ball-winner, even for those who evaluate players statistically. I think he does his job very well. The grace may seem superficial, but it helps a number of intangibles that separate players. Small things like how well he can receive a ball in all situations. Can he turn and open up a pass with his first touch or does he need two? Can he play certain types of passes? Small details separate players whose metrics may appear similar.
It’s why I don’t care much for the vast majority of statistics. I need to watch a player to decide whether I rate them, and I don’t rate every player who has great statistics, nor do I dismiss every player who doesn’t.
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Good point. He does look like he always has time on the ball. A player that could fit very well with Fred.
But would you not expect that to show up in certain stats?
I’ve always appreciated how well Rice make use of both feets when passing the ball. It makes him press resistant, quite efficient and at the same time progressive. But that shows up in his stats;
A) 15 percent of his passes is with his weaker foot.
B) His pass completion is 90,3 % in a team with an average of 78 %.
C) Each pass he completes moves 4,78 yards forward.
D) He is very rarely dispossed or miscontrols the ball.
You could argue that this is not only down to him being able to make good use of both feets and I would agree. But in my opinion, watching him play it is obvious it helps.
In Bissoumas case his numbers dont reflect a player with a great touch or with a clever touch. It reflects a decent player, but not a very good one.
A) His completion rate is good at 89,7 % compared to his team average of 81 %. But we should be able to expect that because he is quite careful with his passing;
B) Each pass he completes travel less than 3,31 yards.
C) All metrics give indication of a player who creates very little with his passing. Numbers like
- progressive passes (11th percentile)
- passes into the final third (34th percentile)
- passes into the penalty area (23th percentile)
- shot creating passes (6th percentile)
D) He also miscontrols the ball or get dispossed too often compared to comparable players.
That being said, his lack of progressive passing could easily be excused due to how Brighton plays football. The lack of flair in his numbers? Quite the opposite, I would argue.
It is perhaps not his job to offer flair. But it is probably not his job because he is too restricted to do that job. Tchouameni and Rice, to a far bigger extent, offer both.
But to be clear, if Bissouma gets «cleared» he would be a good and useful player for us. I would prefer him over Kalvin Phillips. When we bought Pogba, Klopp went and got Winjaldum. While Winjaldum was more restricted than Pogba, he was a great tool for Liverpool. I do think Bissouma could be the same; a great tool. But he has a few limitations.
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I wasn’t comparing Bissouma to Rice, who would be my personal first choice. I was comparing him to Tchouameni, who would be similarly priced.
As for the rest of it, no disrespect, but it’s all just very soulless to me and I will never get to the point where I treat footy for something to be read over something to be watched. Personally. I have no scientific or mathematical reason for every pass Bissouma decides to play. I just watch him and get a feel, and to me, he is a great ball winner, but also has excellent composure in possession, which I like.
I was also a fan of Wijnaldum, and said as much on a number of occasions on here the summer he left Newcastle, but if I recall correctly, was mainly laughed at because I was suggesting we go and sign a midfielder from NEWCASTLE to come and improve us.
I really enjoy combining it (watching the games and looking at the stats). I also really like that one can watch a player for 10 games and then use statistics from 50 games to contradict or support a view. Or try to spot something new worth watching out for. And it usually takes less than 5 minutes. I think it makes it quite a powerful tool.
I also really like it because there has been so much BS from supporters and pundits over the years. No they are more likely to be proven wrong.
I find no disrespect in the fact that you dont like it or find it «soulless». But it is what it is. I respect your opinion on Bissouma, but both based on watching Tchouameni, looking at his stats and his «standing» (regular for France, «chased» by PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool) I do think you are wrong.
Not that I think we should go for Bissouma for ethical / PR reasons, but I do think it would be a bit unfair to judge him performance wise on the whole of this season given how disrupted it was by the legal troubles he's had. If you were to assume that that cloud had been lifted then you'd expect his performances to improve. He was really balling at the start of the year.
Any talk of Bissouma is pointless anyway until we hear the outcome of his impending court case.
That’s fair enough, and I’ve enjoyed our pleasant and respectful discussion on the matter.
I do place value in some stats I guess, but not many, and it appears every season there are new ones people want to discuss every game. It’s as if it is an attempt to make it more automated, just like everything else. When it comes to strikers, I do place huge stock in goal return, for the record. The game can evolve as much as it wants to, but a non-scoring centre forward can never be impressed upon me as a top player, and conversely, even if I am not a personal fan of their style - a 25+ goal striker will always command my respect. To be honest, that is probably the only statistic that I pay any attention to coming to think about it. The rest are all open to interpretation, and I feel that on the whole, I’ve been watching football and been able to form an opinion on what a good player is and what a bad player is long before all these numbers came into it.
Like you, it seems, I’m a fan of Declan Rice. I couldn’t tell you what his numbers are, but I watch him and I’m sure he has good numbers for tackling and intercepting and for successful passes. But I also imagine there are players I don’t particularly rate who someone could tell me have good numbers too, somehow. With Rice, however, I am mainly drawn to him again by an intangible. I see him as not only a Manchester United player, but a Manchester United captain, and the idea of having someone on the pitch who will take responsibility and accountability appeals to me hugely. Again, I think these are the things that are picked up from watching a player. So I don’t get into arguments like ‘player x has just the same stats and is worth this amount less than Rice, he’d be a far better signing’. A lot more to it.
It’s pointless to you. How many times have you heard anyone that matters discuss his legal issues in the context of any transfer? Probably none. Villa tried to sign him just in January, and he still continues to be linked with a summer move away. So, while your position is understandable, it clearly isn’t pointless.
Also, I don’t even think he has an ‘impending court case’. He is ‘under investigation’ but hasn’t been charged with anything, unless I am mistaken.
Good read for anyone that doesn't know a lot about the player. The article delves into his versatility where he can comfortably be deployed as both a #6 or #8. And is currently being utilised as a #6, which allows the CB, Disasi to step out of the back line and be more aggressive or even bring the ball out of defense, whilst Tchouameni comfortably slots in to the vacated CB space.
Yeah you would think if it was as serious situation as Mason that he wouldn't be on the pitch
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I bloody love a good stat BUT it always has to come with observation of a player to form any solid opinion.
Same here with regards to Declan Rice.
Agreed.
Statistics are a good tool to back up the eye test at elite level football clubs. And there's many clubs who have benefitted from such a approach.
But even with with the eye test, opinions can be subjective. But for me it's not only about aesthetics but also about effectiveness in a game where a player is expected to be both effective in the offensive and defensive transition. And if we look at our current team, then we're far too easily bypassed in defensive transition, and someone like Tchouameni who is a monster at winning aerial and ground duels is a player who can vastly improve us in that regard whilst also being tactically versatile, which is a big advantage for a prospective head coach who wants to press high with a compact high line.
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And that’s exactly why I don’t want to get my hopes up too much regarding Tchouameni because for once it doesn’t seem to be hype.
Erik has to really sell the United project he's building and how he wants him to be a key part in that
Brighton can't be overly worried given he's still training and playing, especially given how we have dealt with the Greenwood situation.
I read on twitter he's alleged to have had a scuffle in a club hasnt he? Doubt very much he will be getting sent down for that.
Its a sexual assault case. But it seems maybe he isnt the one whos going to get charged
Yeah that was my thoughts exactly as well, think Villa are the frontrunners for him now and see that very much on the cards, however that mindset would change drastically if Liverpool, City, Arsenal even us suddenly decide to come in
A friend of his then?
I didn't know that. I read there had been a fight but I suppose that could have prompted the fight to occur.
As I said Brighton must be fairly confident he's not done much wrong then.
https://www.brightonandhovenews.org...after-police-release-him-under-investigation/
Bissouma, 25, and a man in his forties were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Arch, a seafront night club in Brighton, in October.
I hope Tchouameni is the statement signing of the new era. The midfield must be the priority.
He should be our number 1 priority, sadly I can see Madrid, Bayern, PSG and other ahead of us in his priority list.
Bayern will have Kimmich, Goretzka and Gravenberch next season so they won't be in for him.
The biggest inclination that points to him being able to make the step up is how dominant he looks when you watch him play. He looks head and shoulders above his competition, it’s not just a player who has shown good moments and you’re paying for potential.
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Agreed City, Barca and Bayern don’t need a player like him at the moment. All other clubs (including Liverpool) he wouldn’t look out of place.
Madrid and Chelsea are the two teams who would be after him, Chelsea already got decent MF so its between Madrid and us,
Chelsea letting go of Jorginho in the summer and looking to replace Kante
I still think he'll go to Liverpool.
Chelsea can't even sign anyone this summer I thought?
He'd be a downgrade on Fabinho imo.
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