Upon his unveiling at Tottenham Hotspur, Yves Bissouma admitted: “If I don’t play football, I’m not happy.”
The Mali international’s mood is set to plunge over the coming weeks after receiving his second red card of the season against Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham had already scored both goals in a 2-0 victory when Bissouma caught Ryan Yates high on his shin in the second half. After the match, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou lamented: “Unfortunately we pay the price now as, not just for this game, he obviously misses a huge chunk of football between now and when he comes back. It’s disappointing, but it is what it is.”
Here’s a look at quite how much football Bissouma will miss for Spurs.
Recent history suggests that Tottenham may not greatly miss their defensive linchpin for the visit of Everton. The Toffees have won just one of their previous 15 away games against Spurs, losing heavily at three different venues during this bleak sequence.
However, Sean Dyche’s side have been at their best on the road this season, harnessing a direct brand of football diametrically opposed to Postecoglou’s preferred possession-based approach. Without Bissouma, Tottenham’s rearguard has one less layer of protection.
Brighton owner Tony Bloom isn’t often lured into the spotlight but the former professional gambler admitted that Bissouma’s sale to Spurs was “a big loss” in a rare interview last year.
On his first return to the Amex, Bissouma was part of a Tottenham team that won 1-0 but this iteration of Spurs will have to travel to the south coast without the former Seagull.
Unlike Postecoglou, who made a record-breaking start to his Premier League managerial career, Andoni Iraola has taken longer to implement not wildly dissimilar playing principles at Bournemouth.
After a sticky spell, the team has “just started clicking” according to in-form forward Dominic Solanke. While Spurs lead the Premier League for high turnovers, Bournemouth have scored more goals from these situations than any other club this season.
Bissouma has been guilty of some high-profile blunders in possession – notably against Manchester City – but whoever fills in for him at the base of Tottenham’s midfield will have to…
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