Spurs: Bissouma would no longer be a better option than Redknapp’s “world class” player for Ange
Under Ange Postecoglou, the Lilywhites are flourishing, but a former star would propel them to new heights.
Nobody anticipated Ange Postecoglou to get off to such an immediate start with Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League season, which has been utterly unique.
The Australian, though, is a decent value for their great form, having immediately created a positive atmosphere around a team that has been severely lacking in optimism lately.
Football is fast-paced and action-packed while still being methodical and thrilling. It’s unclear how high this season’s potential might be with no European games to weigh them down either.
Even though the former Celtic manager entered the market, he hardly revamped the entire roster, which makes the strong start to the season all the more impressive. The majority of his first team is still made up of stars from past administrations due to his savvy trimming down of the roster by removing the dead wood while operating shrewdly to bolster in crucial places.
Four of the starting XI players from the team that defeated Sheffield United last weekend were acquired during the previous transfer window, while all but one of the remaining players were purchases made by Antonio Conte. The gap in play style and outcomes is pronounced given their performances over the course of the previous season.
From those last seven starters, there has undoubtedly been one player who has stood out and who, after just five Premier League games, has experienced the most unexpected comeback. Despite the fact that James Maddison is dominating the headlines and Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are still outstanding at the back, Yves Bissouma has been unquestionably in charge in the backroom.
How good is Yves Bissouma?
This signing, which cost merely £25 million and was made in the summer of 2022 after the 27-year-old had excelled for Brighton and Hove Albion, attracted attention for the fantastic deal they seemed to have gotten.
It was anticipated that the Mali international would support Conte’s midfield with strength and poise as a combative midfield general who could pick a ball or execute a piledriver from a distance.
However, for some reason the Italian appeared to lose all confidence in the talent of his new acquisition, and he would only make ten league starts the entire season. He did say in September that Bissouma was the lone player who was having some difficulty with the tactical aspect, but he was also making significant progress in all areas.
Despite undoubtedly improving tactical expertise, the £55k per week star would see no improvement in game time, and his 6.68 average Sofascore rating was a genuinely disappointing result for someone who had made so many promises.
The 6-foot enforcer has been able to recapture, and even outdo, the form that earned him praise on the South Coast thanks to Postecoglou’s fresh start, as is frequently the case with new management appointments.
In fact, according to Sofascore, his 7.56 average rating places him as the fourth-highest player for Spurs in this season’s league, helped by a 90% pass accuracy, one crucial pass, 2.4 interceptions, 3.4 tackles, and 7.2 ball recoveries per game.
After their opening-day tie with Brentford, Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville led the accolades, declaring: “Bissouma is my player of the match. He showed courage by avoiding obstacles and upsetting the play. A complete performance.
Bissouma is essential to the kind of play that Postecoglou wants to employ because he provides the defensive foundation and a metronome in one while sitting at the base of the midfield and screening the back four with an inventiveness and composure last seen in Mousa Dembele.
In contrast, there is a former star named Luka Modric who, if he were to theoretically return in his peak, may be better suited to fill this position given that during that time, the star in question was recognized as the best player in the world.
Why did Luka Modric leave Spurs?
Despite not even approaching the levels he would achieve elsewhere during his time in north London, Modric was still a stylish figure with the potential to achieve great things under Harry Redknapp.
After all, the Croatian international made enough contributions during his final season in England to justify the £30 million sum that was paid to obtain his services; this amount appeared even better after the now-38-year-old was chosen as the worst signing of the season in Spain.
His departure from Lilywhites also has an intriguing backstory because he initially tried to join Chelsea in 2011 after Daniel Levy turned down many offers from the Blues. Unsurprisingly, he was loath to sell to a rival; nonetheless, his prayers were rewarded when the Santiago Bernabeu came knocking.
Despite this, the 5-foot-8 trickster was still filled with remorse at how he was let go: “My one regret is that I didn’t win a title with Tottenham, despite us being a strong club that played fantastic, appealing football. I apologize for how I left. I wished we had broken up more amicably. I hope my supporters get that I went for my dreams.
The silken master, whose performances have consistently been of the highest caliber despite his years of experience, would immediately put such silliness behind him.
It would be difficult to refute the idea that Modric hit his top during the 2017–18 campaign, as his outstanding domestic performances led to an incredible World Cup run, which resulted in the creative hero breaking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or stranglehold by winning the trophy in 2018.
The Los Blancos star received accolades from journalist Liam Canning in favor of his secondary World Cup victory as Player of the Tournament: “Luka Modri is the rightful player of the tournament.” makes football appear so simple. World-class.”
The former Dinamo Zagreb star’s performances in La Liga that season help to illustrate why it was such a memorable year for him. According to Sofascore, his 7.34 average rating was boosted by a 90% pass accuracy, six assists, 1.5 key passes, 1.2 interceptions, and 1.3 tackles per game.
Being the finest in his field during these peak years, it would seem that Bissouma would never be able to match the talent of the player who could control the tempo of any game. It’s true that very few people throughout history have even gotten close.
Spurs should be honored for providing Modric with the foundation for his initial success since he will always be remembered as a magnificent player.
While their existing team will work diligently to retain their excellent form, it must be highlighted that replacing Bissouma with the 168-cap magician will certainly transform them from a tenacious, overachieving team into serious contenders for the top honors. They would do anything for that.
