Phil Thompson thinks Moussa Sissoko should replace Erik Lamela in the Tottenham first team.
Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko before the match against Stoke City
Pundit Phil Thompson told Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (10/09/2016) that he thinks Erik Lamela should be the player to drop out of the Tottenham side for new signing Moussa Sissoko.
Tottenham hammered Stoke City 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, with winger Heung-min Son grasping his opportunity in the team by scoring two goals.
The game also saw Moussa Sissoko make his debut for Spurs, as he came on as a substitute for Christian Eriksen after 78 minutes following his deadline day move from Newcastle United.
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson
Sissoko, 27, was Tottenham’s biggest signing of the summer and will be looking to nail down a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s first team over the course of the season.
A powerful and pacy midfielder, Sissoko’s versatility means that Pochettino could use him in a number of areas; either as an alternative to Mousa Dembele in the centre of midfield, out wide where he played for France at the European Championships, or in attacking midfield where Rafael Benitez sometimes used him at Newcastle.
Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring for Newcastle United
That versatility and the huge fee – £30m according to Sky Sports – has prompted questions over who should be dropped to make room for Sissoko in the Tottenham midfield – and Phil Thompson has had his say.
Thompson told Saturday’s edition of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday that he thinks winger Erik Lamela should be the player to drop out, handing Sissoko a role out on the right hand side of midfield.
“Lamela for me springs to mind,” said Thompson. “I’ve not been a big fan of Erik Lamela. I think he’s been better, but I think that would be, probably, the one position where I see Sissoko fit. I see him in that position instead of Lamela,” he added.
Tottenham’s Erik Lamela celebrates scoring against Everton
Many expect Sissoko to start given the huge fee involved in his move, but dropping Lamela would not only be a huge surprise, but also harsh.
The Argentinian has improved year-on-year since his 2013 move from Roma, and has already made a great start to the new season, involving himself in goals, either with the final finish or in the build-up.
Lamela certainly doesn’t deserve to lose his place in the Spurs side based on his performances so far, and Sissoko may have to begin life at Tottenham on the bench – just as he did against Stoke on Saturday.
Would you drop Lamela for Sissoko?
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