A few days ago I saw Mathieu Flamini enter the fray for the Gunners just before half time against bitterest of rivals Tottenham and though ‘what an ideal player for a game like this’.
Flamini isn’t everybody’s cup of tea and he certainly isn’t your typical Frenchman. What he is, however, is a ‘spoiler’. I couldn’t understand it when Arsenal let him leave after what was his best season at the club, after striking up a great understanding with Fabregas and giving the side some much needed steel and I would’ve been surprised had Arsenal managed to see out the 1-0 win on Sunday without that sort of bite in midfield.
It hadn’t even dawned on me that the former AC Milan player might be available, let alone on a free transfer and, to be honest, I was quite disappointed that we hadn’t considered bringing him in as cover for Lucas.
So when I found out that former Juve, PSG and Liverpool FC midfielder Mohamed Sissoko was currently available – also on a free transfer – it just seems like far too good an opportunity to pass up.
Over the years when other fans and journalists have championed ‘going back’ to former managers or players (as in the cases of Fowler, Dalglish and more recently Torres) I’ve been on the opposite side.
There have been occasions when it’s seemed like a good thing, when the players (and one former manager I can think of) still had a lot to offer but generally, once they’ve left it’s never a good idea to get them back.
I believe that Sissoko could be a very, very useful player. Once we had Mascherano, and later Lucas, the Mali midfielder was believed to be surplus to requirements but the only other viable option in Lucas’s position is Jordan Henderson.
It would be criminal to not only leave ourselves short when a player of Sissoko’s quality is going for nothing, but also to risk leaving Henderson to cover in a position where he is qualities are wasted and he is not properly utilised.
It is true that Lucas Leiva is our most important midfielder. As has been pointed out many times, we won only 6 of 20 games when he wasn’t available last season, between August and December and while many look at the arrivals of Coutinho and Sturridge in January as being key to our upturn in form, Lucas’s return, and subsequent return to form, was just as important.
The strength in depth we now have with the summer transfers and the quality of most of those signings has given me a great deal of confidence. Not only in the manager’s judgement, but also in the prospects for the side in the league this season.
But there is no getting around the fact that if Lucas is struck down with another injury our seasons prospects will all of a sudden look much, much more grave.
Bringing in Momo would not only give us cover for the Brazilian general but would mean we have an option from the bench to help make those games that we want to close out even tighter and more assured.
There are no doubts that Sissoko is far from a great footballer and even though Rafa Benitez signed up for two clubs, he knew when he had better options at his disposal he wasn’t going to be his first choice.
But you don’t get signed by four of the top clubs in Europe, winning leagues, cups and European medals because you’re a bit rubbish and Momo showed during his 80-odd games for Liverpool that he has the commitment and attitude to be a real asset at the heart of midfield.
Many will disagree, I’m sure, but given that he is currently – supposedly – only in talks with Reading, I doubt very much that he would turn his nose up at even a 12 month deal, with the option to extend. And frankly, I think we’d be the fools to pass up the chance to bring him on board.
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Yes!!!
Look I have no problem with us signing the Momo of 2006 but is he still that player? Why wouldPSG let go on a free if he was? We may well be short in the holding midfield role with only the loaned out Conor Coady a natural defensive midfielder outside of Lucas. But if we were to sign Sissoko how many games would he realistically get unless Lucas is hurt? I doubt we’ll ever see Momo in a LFC short again (sadly)
On a free, he wouldn’t expect big wages, why ever not. It would be worth giving him a run out in the reserves. As has been said he’d provide cover for Lucas.
i totally agree with this article,anyone that really knows liverpool knows that he would have the goods to do the job.he could get a run in the cups just to make sure he doesnt get rusty whilst lucas is fit?great idea if u ask me.ynwa
Sissoko has nothing to do in Anfield. Lucas is ok, Gerrard,Allen & Henderson can do the job if Lucas is injourd.Rodger should go for Alonso in Jan transfer. Up liverpool
Why are u guys so impossible? We have nothing to loose if he comes.. Lucas is injury prone this days and momo would have to come in..
Lets hope lucas will be fit rodgers should go for a young and active cover for lucas in january.sentiment aside i will recommend 2 Nigerians in the shape on Ogenyi Onazi of Lazio and Haruna Lukman of Kiev
pls sign momo unless BR is gonna use sakho there lucas is two yellow cards from missing one game,pls lucas at the endings of the next two games get yellow cards so u will miss manc game to return against sun’land.Y.N.W.A
What i just think his that there is no need for lfc to sign a defensive midfielder when we already have a lot of defenders,we can convert one of them to a defensive mifielder.with the likes of thiago abiola ilori,and sakho.
am having a laugh…clueless article
Rodgers could and should bring Momo Sissoko(28) In on free transfer for cover until January or for the season, But for the long term in January the owners need to give B Rodgers £45-£55M to strengthen three more positions within Squad.
Now Rodgers has strengthened back 4 with class, quality, there is now more quality competition for places at back, these positions need strengthening in January:
1: GK: A Good Class Quality Keeper to Compete and Cover Mignolet: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading for £4-£7M
2: DM: A Mobile Tough Tackling Enforcer is needed: M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan Or B Matuidi(26) Of PSG for £12-£16M to compete and Cover Lucas Leiva
3: RW / RWF: G Agbonglahor(25) Of A Villa Or J Montero(23) Of Monarcas Morelia in Mexico for £5-£12M to compete and Cover Sterling ( As Moses is just loan signing , with No Option to Buy)
4: LW / LWF: B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle or D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £6-£14M to compete and Cover IBE
Lucas, exactly where he plays. Utilise him as a starting choice alongside Gerrard for the next 35 games. Any other games don’t select him. We need him in the pl. not a coincidence our performance improved with him on side.
Lucas is quite simply the single reason Gerard is able to have the free role he has Lucas like hamman and macallister before sweeps and distributes short and long balls he should be by brazil considered one of the first 3 choices when they pic their starting 11 team and would be an ideal choice as their captain
Lucas is no doubt one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe but he needs a cover in case of injury – Cissokho is a good candidate for that.