Yves Bissouma suspension would be great news for Spurs this week – opinion

Tottenham’s schedule is packed until January. With several tough fixtures on the horizon, Yves Bissouma is someone Tottenham cannot afford to lose.

Defensive midfielder depth is an issue for Tottenham

The role of the deepest-lying midfielder in Ange Postecoglou’s system is unique and instrumental to the way Tottenham Hotspur play. The defensive midfielder helps in the build-up and requires bravery to turn through opposition pressure as well as being technically secure in possession.

Responsibility for this role is shared by Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. Archie Gray has been touted as a long-term successor in that position but has not yet made a senior appearance in midfield, let alone as a single-pivot defensive midfielder.

With Bentancur serving his seven-match ban, Yves Bissouma’s availability is essential to keeping Spurs’ system working.

Yves Bissouma is one yellow card away from a suspension

Going into the match against Chelsea, Yves Bissouma has accumulated 4 yellow cards. This leaves him one away from having to serve a one-match suspension.

The suspension would only be relevant for FA competitions so Bissouma would still be eligible to play in the Europa League. However, with Bentancur’s ban not extending to that tournament, Bissouma will likely be rested from that fixture’s starting line-up regardless.

The FA fixtures that come after the Chelsea match are Southampton (A), Manchester United (H) in the Carabao Cup and Liverpool (H). After the Liverpool match, Bentancur’s ban will have been served.

There is an argument to be made that Southampton is the least challenging fixture of the next three and if it is unlikely that Bissouma makes it until then without receiving a booking, he should take a yellow against Chelsea, to miss Southampton and be available for Tottenham’s Carabao QF.

Ideally, Bissouma avoids a suspension entirely, but there is a best-case scenario to utilise as well

Considering that Tottenham have dropped points to Ipswich and Crystal Palace this season, underestimating Southampton is not done lightly. They would likely be able to present a challenge for potentially Pape Matar Sarr or Archie Gray if they were chosen to fill in for that match.

However, the reality is with Spurs’ Premier League season floundering, they will have their sights fixed on the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals. Additionally, whatever challenge Southampton may be able to present, Liverpool in their current form would pose a lethal threat to a poorly balanced Spurs midfield.

While it makes sense to hope that Bissouma can avoid a suspension entirely, a yellow card vs Chelsea works out as the best option in an unideal scenario.

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