Scout Scribbles – Sissoko Relishing New Role

Newcastle’s new number 10 claims he is made for the English top flight. The clamour to shift Gareth Bale up front gathers momemtum. David Luiz is closing on a return to fitness, while Adam Le Fondre keeps patient as he waits on a shift in tactics at Reading….

Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko has offered reassurance to those Fantasy managers who have already taken to the market to acquire his services. Talking on his impact over his first two matches in the stripes of Newcastle, Sissoko has expressed his joy at his role in the side having arrived on Tyneside from Toulouse…

“I am very happy to be in England. This championship is my style of play. The coach told me I was going to move to this position in the first two matches. It went well. So much the better for me and my team…Toulouse are a good team with quality players but going forward sometimes we experienced difficulties. English football is made for me. I’ve thought that for a while. I know I will often be in a position to score, just like last weekend….It is the same in the France team. I feel better and better. At first, I didn’t dare to take risks – I just did control and pass. Nowadays if I have to dribble, I do it.”

Indeed, from the interview in L’Equipe magazine, it’s clear that French coach Didier Deschamps has also noted Sissoko’s recent form as an attacking midfielder. When asked whether he was concerned that he was being forced to look overseas to find new talent for his squad, he singled out Sissoko’s recent impact, underlining the recent change in role as the key factor…

“It is a good thing…Take the example of Sissoko. Now he is a No 10. I could not imagine seeing him in such a position.”

It’s clear then that Fantasy managers are currently dealing with something of an unknown quantity with Sissoko. Played in a withdrawn, holding role at his former club, we have little data to go on other than his two performances so far for Newcastle. It must be said that those displays, as a very small sample, indicate that Sissoko will be a significant Fantasy talent. Further returns at Spurs this weekend, going into Newcastle’s favourable run of fixtures will surely see Sissoko’s stock and ownership continue to rise at pace. Almost 70,000 managers have acquired Sissoko so far this weeek following his brace at the weekend – only Liverpool’s assets have seen more activity and they have the double Gameweek in their favour.

Gareth Bale is another key fantasy target subject to a recent change of role. With Andre Villas-Boas mulling the idea of switching Bale to an advanced central role, or even deploying him as a striker, Wales’ boss, Chris Coleman, appears to be offering Bale the chance for a dress rehearsal. According to reports, Coleman is considering switching Bale up front for Wales for their forthcoming qualifiers with Scotland and Croatia…

“He can play anywhere cant he? Both flanks, down the middle and we even played him as a striker in the second half against Croatia. I saw the two centre-backs change their positions when we did that because they were petrified of his pace. Naturally, because he is a winger he wants to get the ball deep so he can run at players. But he can be just as devastating if you put the ball behind and have him running on to it.”

The talk of Bale being switched to a position that can maximise his goal threat, both for club and country, is clearly something that requires monitoring. The statistics show that Bale is amongst the most threatening players on show in the Premier League, although, from the flank, the majority of his efforts are fired from outside the box. Should he be granted the freedom to advance further up field and in central areas, his potential would surely enjoy a further boost which could prove significant over the remainder of the season. At Spurs, Jermain Defoe’s prognosis will prove vital to this – should the striker be ruled out for several months, Villas-Boas would have only Emmanuel Adebayor and Clint Dempsey as recognised strikers with Premier League experience – arguably players who offer very similar traits up top.

Moving to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea’s Demba Ba was confirmed as a doubt for the weekend clash with Wigan at Stamford Bridge having withdrawn from Senegal’s squad for their friendly with Guinea after suffering a broken nose in the defeat at Newcastle. Ba’s start against the Latics is clearly at risk, which could see Fernando Torres lead the attack in the weekend clash and in Thursday’s Europa League tie with Sparta Prague – Ba is cup tied in Europe. Elsewhere in the Chelsea camp, David Luiz remains a doubt for Brazil as they prepare to face England this evening. Luiz has missed Chelsea’s last two league encounters with an ankle injury, from the quotes from the Brazil camp, however, is clearly close to a return. Brazil’s coach, ‪Felipe Scolari‬, has pledged not to take any gambles with Luiz’s fitness…

“Regarding David Luiz he will (have to) pass another exam with our physios, then we will decide whether he will play or not…We will not take any risks with him.”

Reading’s Adam Le Fondre has drawn plaudits following a return of vital goals for the club in recent weeks – there’s even talk of an potential England call-up. The striker is still unable to establish a starting role in Brian McDermott’s side and, yesterday, spoke out on the situation, stating he was willing to bide his time…

“I’ve got to do what’s right for the team for the time being, until I can play in the team. Ever since I’ve come here I’ve wanted to play games – but the way things are going at the moment I’ve just got to bide my time and wait and see if we can play two up front.”

Unfortunately for Le Fondre, Reading’s recent form has coincided with a shift to a 4-5-1 formation which has seen Pavel Pogrebnyak impress as the lone striker. Le Fondre has proved effective coming from the bench late on and would seem set to continue in that role. That hasn’t perturbed Fantasy managers who have invested in the budget striker in their droves: Le Fondre, priced at 4.9 in the Fantasy Premier League game, drew 70,000 net transfers in the last Gameweek and has gained almost 20,000 new owners in this latest period.