Tottenham 4-0 Everton (Bissouma 14′, Son 25′, 77′, Romero 71′)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — Ange Postecoglou said recently “some trust-building needs to happen” between Yves Bissouma and his Tottenham peers. How much trust does a thunderbastard and near-perfect performance as a lone No 6 earn?
In his first match since his one-game suspension after being filmed inhaling laughing gas, Bissouma proved exactly why he’s worth trusting: 73 of his 79 passes completed – a match high when he was substituted – five long balls, two tackles and his first Spurs goal.
Everton had just one shot on target and less than 30 per cent possession while he was on the pitch, both an indictment of their increasingly obvious flaws and proof of Bissouma’s consummate midfield showing.
Given James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski functioned as twin attacking midfielders in a Pep Guardiola-esque 4-1-4-1, Bissouma was effectively left to handle Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gueye alone.
A starting lineup including four wingers could have indicated Postecoglou had decided to do away with a midfield altogether, but really Bissouma just played the roles of three men. His goal, struck with searing force from the edge of the area, was a cathartic release of recent frustrations and a shining example of why he’s worth fighting for.
Now, redemption is a long and complex process, but Postecoglou and his wayward charge have a rare opportunity to work together towards a mutually beneficial goal.
Bissouma’s celebration said as much as his performance. Flanked by Heung-min Son, he sprinted to the corner flag and put his index fingers to both temples, signalling his supposed renewed mental toughness and togetherness.
He then apologised to the fans, bowing with his palms joined in a prayer for forgiveness, before displaying a heart and running over to embrace his boss.
Perennially late and forgetful, once caught speeding five times in six weeks by the same camera and recipient of two red cards last season alone, the reasons not to believe Bissouma is capable of tangible change are obvious.
“You know what it’s like when you punish your child and they do everything right for the next two days,” Postecoglou said earlier in the week. Maybe this performance is just the behaviour of someone keen to get off the naughty list.
Or maybe it’s the first showing of the new Yves, the first day of a future in which Spurs eventually find a way to fashion stability out of their individual brand of footballing chaos.
His willingness to interact with the fanbase and take responsibility for his actions suggests the desire to focus on football is there. The challenge is now maintaining that desire, not letting old habits and temptations seep back through.
If he continues at the level he demonstrated against Everton, there’s a fair argument Bissouma could be the perfect Postecoglou No 6.
Signing a true defensive midfielder is always unlikely to suit Angeball, which has no real place for a simple ball recycler. Bissouma’s flaws align with the concessions his manager is willing to make defensively in exchange for rapid ball progression and scintillating attacking play.
Far better at progressing the ball than he is recovering it, Bissouma is dynamic and tenacious enough to provide a hard edge Spurs often lack and his experience should be vital in a young yet prodigious dressing room.
“Biss was good – we know Biss is a good footballer – it’s about him being the best version of himself,” Postecoglou said after the game. “Discipline is a big thing for him and I thought it was a disciplined performance.
“There’s no doubt he has that ability to do something special. But he needs to make sure he endeavours to do everything right on and off the field to give himself the platform to show who he can be as a footballer.
“We certainly believe in him and we’re certainly giving him an opportunity, but that’s not a never-ending thread. It’s really up to him to keep going on.”
Perhaps it has taken Bissouma’s lowest moment to discover the necessary clarity, to comprehend the talent and opportunity he could spurn and and grand possibilities ahead of him.
Step-by-step, day-by-day, 20-yard-screamer by 20-yard screamer, he can construct the foundations of both the career he should have and the success Postecoglou’s innovation and principle increasingly deserves.
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