He’ll never be perfect on the ball, and yes, his choices can make fans tear their hair out. To be fair though, you can see why the manager keeps picking him. His positioning and work-rate off the ball are obvious to anyone who watches the game closely.

Why managers persist

Managers pick players for a reason. Gassama gives you a reliable defensive shape, shows up for the press and covers the channels he’s asked to cover. That kind of discipline matters, especially when the plan is to control transitions and limit the opposition’s space. It’s not glamorous, but it’s effective. Calling him lazy or an empty shirt misses the point — there’s a role he’s fulfilling, and he does it well.

Decisions on the ball — the frustration

Now, don’t get me wrong: his decision-making in possession can be infuriating. Poor choices and sloppy passes cost momentum and invite pressure. That’s fair criticism. The hope is coaching and minutes will iron that out. You want a player who can be trusted with the ball in key moments; at present he’s inconsistent. Still, contrast that with a match where others aren’t pulling their weight and you’ll see how that one weakness becomes a glaring issue.

Weekend context and the shape conversation

At the weekend he actually did what was required of him. The problem was Meghoma and Miovski didn’t match that energy or positioning, which made it easier for Motherwell to play out and forced the substitutions. Little things like that change the whole balance of a game. There’s also been talk — from what I’ve heard — about rotating between a 4-3-3 and a 3-4-3. If that happens, you need players who will stick to their defensive tasks whether they’re a wide forward or a wing-back. Gassama’s off-ball discipline gives the manager that option, even if his final ball needs work.

So yes, he can be maddening. But there’s a reason he’s in the team. I hope whatever he’s dealing with off the pitch gets sorted, he takes whatever medicine he needs, and there’s a place for him next season. I rate him — faults and all — and I’d rather see patience and coaching than knee-jerk criticism from the stands.

Written by EHL2020: 27 June 2026

Tags: tactics spfl