"Great technical abilities" - Plymouth Argyle praised for summer pick-up | OneFootball

Ibrahim Cissoko has made a positive start to life at Plymouth Argyle, FLW's Pilgrims fan pundit claims...

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ibrahim Cissoko has been name-checked as Plymouth Argyle's finest signing of the summer transfer window, with the young winger having made a significant impression thus far.

Plymouth have endured a challenging start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign under Wayne Rooney and are one of just five sides yet to win any of their four games, which has seen them situated third from bottom heading into the international break.

Rooney's side have claimed two draws from their opening encounters but only have two goals to their name, meaning there are understandable concerns surrounding the attacking options at Home Park. However, a rare spark of early-season positivity has came in the form of Cissoko, who arrived on loan from Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse this summer with a burgeoning reputation.

Plymouth Argyle transfer verdict offered on Ibrahim Cissoko

It already appears as though the tricky left-sided winger is going to be a crucial cog under Rooney this term. He has been seriously impressive for Plymouth so far and opened his account in their 1-1 home draw against Hull City on August 17, emerging as the club's most impressive signing of the window according to Football League World's resident Pilgrims fan pundit, Chris.

"Although we've had a lot of players come to the club this season on various loans and permanent deals, one player has stood out as one of the finer signings we've made and that would be Ibrahim Cissokho, the Dutch winger from Toulouse on loan," Chris explained to Football League World.

"So far, he's scored one of the two goals we have scored during this season, as well as showing he has great technical abilities. He's able to dance past other defenders and is a prolific crosser of the ball, scoring the first goal of our season at home to Hull was also a proud moment for him as he lifted off his shirt and received a yellow card for his efforts.

"I believe that he's only going to get better and better with more confidence and with Wayne Rooney guiding him all the way."

Plymouth Argyle need Ibrahim Cissoko and Morgan Whittaker to be on form this season

The initial indication is very much that Plymouth could well find themselves in yet another Championship relegation battle this season and, in order to stave off a return to the third-tier of English football, they will need to rely on star quality in Morgan Whittaker and Cissoko.

Whittaker scored 19 times in the Championship last season and Plymouth must be commended for keeping hold of him this summer.

The former Swansea City and Derby County attacker will provide the firepower in this side, but Cissoko still offers plenty of invention, trickery and X-Factor if he can continue his positive start to life in Devon.

He is a joy to watch and can really stretch defences with his direct running and skill, which could prove a real outlet for Rooney to optimise this term.

As a minimum, Argyle must be structured, organised, hard to play against and even more difficult to break down. However, real mercurial quality in the final third from Whittaker and Cissoko could make all the difference and there is every chance that they will both provide that in abundance.