Topic: Djibril Cissé – Le Grand Enigma

[penfold102]

I have no intention of debating my pieces anymore - just not worth the time, and this misunderstanding is another perfect reason why; I'll make this one exception before bowing out of this thread, and simply say that I was not comparing the players, as surely anyone who is concentrating (rather than eating their breakfast) can see, just that Rushie had a shit time in Italy, and that a player failing at a club doesn't necessarily make him a bad player.

If a finisher as assured as Rushie can struggle in another country, then anyone can struggle. Of course Cissé isn't in Rushie's class, and that was never inferred.

Shurely "implied"?

[Spanish Armada]

Shurely "implied"?

Shurely surely?

[Fitzyboy]

God, what a bitch-session this thread is!! It's like everybody is using the debate over Cisse as a vehicle to settle personal scores. 

I think the only factor that truely matters here is that Benitez is clearly not keen, regardless of what Cisse does from now till May. More than any manager I can think of, Rafa buys types of players who fit into his specific system.

Baros is the first high-profile victim of this managerial strategy. It was evident, even when Milan was banging them in before xmas '04, that the boss wasn't keen. He did try to change him - as was seen after his hat-trick against Palace on the half-way line when Benitez put his arm round him and told about mistakes he's made/runs he could have made, etc (this, by the way, being another example, other than Kewell, when Rafa has made a personal and concerted effort to improve a player). But Rafa is a man in control of the situation and Cisse lovers better get their tissues out because he's outta' here! A shame, but true.

[Buster 'Hook Hand' Bluth]

(this, by the way, being another example, other than Kewell, when Rafa has made a personal and concerted effort to improve a player).

I think Rafa tries to improve all his players. There's no point in not trying to improve them. He's told of how he's worked in training on Cisse's runs/movement, but it's not quite taken yet.

[Alf]

I just think things are destined not to work out for Djibril Cisse at Anfield because

Gerard Houllier being replaced by Rafa Benitez.
The injury last season.
The signings of Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch.
The ongoing speculation that Michael Owen will return to Anfield and Cisse being sold to finance the transfer.
He's lazy and unwilling to change the way he plays.

We'll probably lose a fortune when we sell him in the summer and he'll go onto score loads of goals elsewhere.

[XPeriment626]

I was dead excited when I heard Cisse had signed for Liverpool. Now, a couple of seasons down, I think he has proven to be rather a flop. The most glaring problem with him, as pointed out by a lot of people, is his unwillingness to dig in and do the dirty work. As much as Morientes and Crouch are criticised for their goal returns and their lack of pace, they work very hard and cause all sorts of problems in the opponents' defence. Both of them consistently take the ball off defenders who take too long deciding where to pass it. Cisse, on the other hand, prances around with his prima-donna attitude, making cursory jogs in the vicinity of defenders and when they pass the ball off, just continues with his leisurely little stroll. Basically, he WAITS for the ball to be passed to him, rather than going out and winning it back. On top of it, he doesn't chase lost causes (Stevie G ended up in the stands of OT twice I think chasing the ball going out) and most of all gives attitude when a pass is less than PERFECT to his feet. All this not only weakens the team on the pitch, it creates dressing room damage and erodes morale. Personally, I see no place for Cisse in this current team because of his need to be the most important player around. He was the centre of attention at Auxerre, he is just a part of a team here. If he can't deal with it, he should pack his bags and go. NOBODY should be coddled here, unlike what some people are suggesting. If our captain, the best central midfielder in the WORLD can accept playing on the right, who is Cisse to bitch about it?

Ability is only half the equation (and even there Cisse fares poorly, speed is his only asset). Attitude is at least as important. We don't need any self-absorbed showboats at this club.

[mercury]

I just think things are destined not to work out for Djibril Cisse at Anfield because

Gerard Houllier being replaced by Rafa Benitez.
The injury last season.
The signings of Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch.
The ongoing speculation that Michael Owen will return to Anfield and Cisse being sold to finance the transfer.
He's lazy and unwilling to change the way he plays.

We'll probably lose a fortune when we sell him in the summer and he'll go onto score loads of goals elsewhere.

all true except for that bit, i'll say he's trying, just does not know how to change the way he plays.

The way the Club handled him on the Owen saga is not the best piece of management.  If there's any weakness in Rafa then it's his management of players, particularly emotionally.  Hence he gets the players who suit him (all mature, emotionally stable type), not players he has to play up to (e.g. Fergusson with Keane).  Fair enough. 

Ability is only half the equation (and even there Cisse fares poorly, speed is his only asset). Attitude is at least as important. We don't need any self-absorbed showboats at this club.

Actually the Spice Boys are as self-absorbed showboats as they can.  Yet we worship the likes of Fowler, Mamanaman (before he jumped ship anyway).  The key has always been the perceived effectiveness on the pitch, and if the player is perceived as not, any stick is fair game.

[WOOLTONIAN]

10 Years ago.....

I was sitting in an ale house with one of my match going mates, and looking at your piece I cant help feel, we were saying "exactly" the same things about Stan Collymore.
We all knew we would see a flash of brilliance shortly followed by a game where it appeared his mind was elsewhere.
It takes a very special manager to turn a "five minute wonder" into a consistant striker. And only an extended run of games will highlight if the player has what it takes.
Cisse is in and out quicker than a hamster in the throws of passion.

If Rafa does not believe he can make Cisse into a great talent, perhaps he should replace him with someone who he feels will improve through his guidance.
We didn't lose that much money on Stan the Man, what worries me is, we will be biting a huge bullet if we sell Cisse based on his current form.
Whether we want to keep him of not, we should give him a big enough run to either prove himself or be seen in the shop window.

[Buster 'Hook Hand' Bluth]

I think we can get a decent fee if he goes back to France, if we decide to sell. There's not as much money in France, but he's still seen as a £10m striker over there, given his amazing record for Auxerre - he's probably the most potent striker their league has seen in the last decade - and for the national side.

The trouble is, does Rafa give him a run of games if he doesn't feel he's suited to particular fixtures, especially at home where there's less space to run into behind defences?

[XPeriment626]

Actually the Spice Boys are as self-absorbed showboats as they can.  Yet we worship the likes of Fowler, Mamanaman (before he jumped ship anyway).  The key has always been the perceived effectiveness on the pitch, and if the player is perceived as not, any stick is fair game.

Ummm, I disagree with this statement. Perhaps the Spice Boys could have (though I doubt it) won a few titles had the team been just that little bit stronger. However, in today's game, with well-drilled teams (with or without stars, see Chelsea and Wigan respectively) that are defensively extremely tough to crack, players like Fowler and McManaman will not be as much of an asset. Yes, they'll still score great goals and burst past defenders (assuming they are in their prime today), but their overall contribution to the TEAM'S effectiveness is not going to be as great as the hardworking Crouches and Sissokos.

I think Fowler and Macca were wonderful in their heyday, but I don't for a single moment think they should ever come back because today's Pool is a totally different creature and will not benefit from self-indulgence of the Cisse type.