I genuinely believe your obsession with stats distorts your opinion of certain players. Sissoko isn't in the team for his goals, assists or crossing ability and everyone knows that, including the manager that has consistently started him for the past year. The positive attributes he brings to the team are not measured by any chart and there's a reason why many thought he was our player of the season last season. Simply put, fans using their eyes saw not only a standout performer in games but consistency throughout the season when others were out injured or struggled for form.
In terms of what he brings, it's that brute strength, the ability to make those marauding runs that other players cannot make where the ball is picked up deep and ploughed through to the other end of the pitch. It's the defensive contributions where he's constantly tracking back to offer support, it's the clearing up deep covering for full backs that have been caught out of position or with another player. His passing was massively improved last season compared with before that and I believe that a confident Sissoko has a lot to offer in a unique way.
I think if you look at most teams they have one of these types of players - the worker, the guy that is not going to leave that field with you questioning whether he wanted to be out there. He's the sort of player that makes lung busting runs in stoppage time at the end of the match and gets criticised for not scoring as opposed to recognition for even being there in the first place. It's not always pretty on the eye or spectacular but it often compliments the more naturally gifted players well.
I genuinely believe your inability to understand football or actually reconcile what your eyes see, distorts your opinion of certain players. hence we get you constantly telling us Eriksen is shit, and Sissoko is great. If I were you, I'd start leaning a little more on data, because your eyes are bullshitting you big time and letting you down badly.
You literally ignored everything I wrote - and I backed up with cold hard evidence, and waffled on about goals and assists. Neither of which I was talking about. I responded directly to another poster claiming Sissoko transitioned the ball better than Winks from midfield. I specifically spoke about exactly the things you are talking about. Transitioning the ball. Which can be seen and it can be measured. My eyes tell me Sissoko doesn't do this often and he doesn't do it with any intelligence or verve, and the evidence gathered and measured correlates. Sissoko neither transitions the ball often or very well.
"Brute Strength" ?
That's a quality now is it? What's the point of brute strength if you don't tackle, intercept or press very much or very well?
Most teams do have a worker, Sissoko isn't that though. He doesn't tackle any more than Eriksen (even less this season). Doesn't press more than Eriksen or Winks, and they are hardly Kante's are they?
Did you actually watch our first four games? Sissoko's laziness in the press directly cost us a goal against Newcastle. No stats or data needed, just good old eyes? Did your eyes see him saunter over to Atsu half arsed?
"Sissoko has a lot to offer in a unique way"
Agree, as I said, for a player at this level, he is pretty unique, uniquely inept. Doesn't transition the ball much at all, which is his fundamental job, doesn't transition it with any wit, his 1.6 (which again is nothing exceptional) dribbles a game invariably end up with a misplaced pass or a a shot that exits the stadium, he doesn't press much, he doesn't win the ball much and he doesn't press effectively (as we saw for the Newcastle goal).
I think anyone that thinks Sissoko has a lot to offer, but that Eriksen's shit should probably take up a new hobby.