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Player Watch: Ryan Mason

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,732
14,440
It's funny how the tempo of the game changed once Mason and Kane came up. The players all seemed to loosen up. This includes Townsend. Now some posters have also mentioned them all playing together in the Youth Team and it makes a lot of sense. There was a familiarity to the way they were playing. So much more relaxed and fluid. I guess that comes from knowing each other really well.

Agree with much of what has been said on here about the comparisons with Paulie. Such a shame. What's going on with him? Is he really that limited and bad? Did we misjudge a player who was wanted by so many big clubs around the world? A guy who started multiple times during the world cup? it has to be a confidence thing for him. I don't give a shit about position, formations, tactics, etc... the good players can adapt, and no matter what, always show a willingness to commit to the team and give it their all. he was a piece of turd last night. just prancing around without ever getting out of second gear. why is that? does he not care? why is he not motivated? you compare that attitude to Mason, and it's insane. Mason looked sooooo up for it. Well done that young lad.
 

TheHoddleWaddle

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2013
11,289
20,289
The guy's full of confidence and seemingly fearless. Don't think that game would faze him, in fact he knows exactly what it's all about and what's required. Much more than others who would usually get a start in front of him.

Usually, i'd really urge on the side of caution with a game against the top teams, which would mean I really would't want to see someone of Mason's stature introduced at this stage. However, with the lacklustre performances I have seen in the opening games of the season, I think his enthusiasm, which is coupled with ability (you don;t score goals like that without ability, even if it is against lesser opposition) would be a positive thing. Of course, I am not touting him as the saviour of THFC, that would be daft, but I don't see how the senior players offer anything better?

Although it was only a brief glimpse of what he has to offer with Lamela, I really thought Lamela was unleashed with that sort of positive forward play that Mason offered.
 

spurs9

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
11,840
34,012
Chuck him in on Saturday. Our younger players have done well over the years against the scum, lack of fear or whatever, Rose, Lennon and bale were all great when they first played arsenal
I think he has also been in sides that have beaten the Arsenal Youth side which can't hurt his mentality.
 

spurs9

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
11,840
34,012
The Majority of Spurs fans think Arsenal will stuff us no matter what team we put out. The majority of Spurs fans also think Mason shouldn't start against Arsenal because he will get slaughtered.

Lets play him and see what he can do. He has been at Spurs since he was 8 and played Arsenal many times at youth level so one thing he will not lack is heart. Also he will be up against Ozil, Ramsey and Arteta, so it's not like he will be physically dominated. A intelligent, technically gifted player with heart could be exactly what we need against them.

Also, it would send a message yo the other squad and Youth players that you impress, you will get a chance in the first team.

From an individual player point of view, I would go for Stambouli & Mason in the center but as their partnership looked good in pre-season, Capoue & Mason would probably be the better choice. That said, with Eriksen's lack of form, I would be tempted to switch to 4-3-3 and have a mid 3 of Stambouli, Mason and Capoue.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
The Majority of Spurs fans think Arsenal will stuff us no matter what team we put out. The majority of Spurs fans also think Mason shouldn't start against Arsenal because he will get slaughtered.

Lets play him and see what he can do. He has been at Spurs since he was 8 and played Arsenal many times at youth level so one thing he will not lack is heart. Also he will be up against Ozil, Ramsey and Arteta, so it's not like he will be physically dominated. A intelligent, technically gifted player with heart could be exactly what we need against them.

Also, it would send a message yo the other squad and Youth players that you impress, you will get a chance in the first team.

From an individual player point of view, I would go for Stambouli & Mason in the center but as their partnership looked good in pre-season, Capoue & Mason would probably be the better choice. That said, with Eriksen's lack of form, I would be tempted to switch to 4-3-3 and have a mid 3 of Stambouli, Mason and Capoue.

It's all well and good starting him but I just hope if he's unable to influence the game that he's given more opportunities as Arsenal away's a tough game for anyone
 

spurs9

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
11,840
34,012
It's all well and good starting him but I just hope if he's unable to influence the game that he's given more opportunities as Arsenal away's a tough game for anyone
I agree but if Poch dropped a player on 1 bad game, we would be playing the U21's now.
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
Of course, I am not touting him as the saviour of THFC, that would be daft...

Well, that depends on how you define "saviour."

Is he going to be able to offer you redemption from your sins? Nah.

Is going to single-handedly drag us back into serious CL places contention? Nah.

Is he going to save us from the mire that is our incredibly lethargic and predictable central midfield? He very well could.

But as for the rest of your post, yeah totally agree ;)
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Im not sure if I want him to start against Arseanal, but I know Im getting bored of seeing the likes of Capoue, Bentaleb and Dembele now knowing how to properly transitioning from retaining/gaining possession to full attack mode.

Can either of Mason or Stambouli be the solution to this oh so crucial problem we've been having since we decided we wanted to be a possession based team (so crucial that its the main reason AVB got sacked IMO)? I sure hope so because right now I don't see any other options.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
Might be a touch much to ask him to play against Woolwich from the start, but should defo be in the matchday squad.

For me, the most important attribute he brought to the team on Wednesday was his positioning. His starting point was 10-15 yards further up the field than Bentaleb?Stambouli/Capoue/Dembele. Having one player deep to offer a quick option to the centre backs is fine, but we have had two there - no triangle, just a rigid square which doesn't let us get anywhere.

Mason pushed further up so Bentaleb had to show for both centre backs, and was a clear pivot point for the attack (everyone knew Bentale was covering the central midfield position). This allowed Townsend to push further forward, the full backs to get right forward because the centre backs spread wider as NB could go as a third centre back if we got into trouble, Kane and Lamela could really roam forward, and because Mason was offering a threat 20-30 yards out, Kane was pushing up as a proper second striker, Soldado could roam from a centre spot without leaving no one upfront.


All because Mason had the courage and presence of mind to take a good starting position. To be honest, this shouldn't be something any other of our box to box midfielders (Dembele mainly, but add in Bentaleb and probably Stambouli from what I've seen) can't replicate but because of a variety of factors (Dembele - courage, Bentaleb - confidence, Stambouli - influence in a new side) they cant.
 

thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
Might be a touch much to ask him to play against Woolwich from the start, but should defo be in the matchday squad.

For me, the most important attribute he brought to the team on Wednesday was his positioning. His starting point was 10-15 yards further up the field than Bentaleb?Stambouli/Capoue/Dembele. Having one player deep to offer a quick option to the centre backs is fine, but we have had two there - no triangle, just a rigid square which doesn't let us get anywhere.

Mason pushed further up so Bentaleb had to show for both centre backs, and was a clear pivot point for the attack (everyone knew Bentale was covering the central midfield position). This allowed Townsend to push further forward, the full backs to get right forward because the centre backs spread wider as NB could go as a third centre back if we got into trouble, Kane and Lamela could really roam forward, and because Mason was offering a threat 20-30 yards out, Kane was pushing up as a proper second striker, Soldado could roam from a centre spot without leaving no one upfront.


All because Mason had the courage and presence of mind to take a good starting position. To be honest, this shouldn't be something any other of our box to box midfielders (Dembele mainly, but add in Bentaleb and probably Stambouli from what I've seen) can't replicate but because of a variety of factors (Dembele - courage, Bentaleb - confidence, Stambouli - influence in a new side) they cant.

It's not dude, funnily enough he's probably the most composed player we've got at the moment and has been since pre-season. He just gets on with it. Fearless.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,645
16,810
I hope Mason can reproduce that over 90 minutes and regularly because if he can we could have that missing link. I do think its important not to get carried away after one cameo though...
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
Excuse my laziness for not checking back through this thread for the answer but.....


How do we know 100% Mason is registered to play in the EPL and more so my question is why did Sky think he was not if he in fact is?
 

jezz

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2013
5,650
8,650
I agree it could work if we fit the whole team round his style but we shouldn't have to. A top class striker can create his own chances and adapt.
That's worked well with Ade so far.
Soldado deserves a run.
If he doesn't come good with Eriksen and Lamela then we can look in the Jan window.
Saying Baldini should go. Seriously?
Eriksen, Lamela?
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
Excuse my laziness for not checking back through this thread for the answer but.....


How do we know 100% Mason is registered to play in the EPL and more so my question is why did Sky think he was not if he in fact is?
First question has been covered. Second question can be answered with the words: "Alan Smith is a complete fraud".
 

Time for Heroes

Well-Known Member
Sep 5, 2012
780
1,250
Get him in the team.

I might get pelters for saying this but i want the team to have an English core tomorrow. I want Rose, i want Naughton, Townsend, Mason, Kane, i want players who above all are going to fight for the shirt tomorrow and know what this match means to the club fans etc. I know Naughton and Rose didnt come through the youth setup like the other 3 guys but they are the players in form in full back positions and deserve to play. Them being English and understanding the derby is another positive.

If we play all the out of form Carlos Kickaballs we are going to get turned over and comfortably too. However if we get turned over while playing our hearts out and battle with them until the end then i will be content. Because when i saw Mason, Townsend and Kanes celebrations against Notts Forest on Wednesday i saw how much wearing the Spurs shirt means to them all and lets face it, could it be any worse than seeing Adebayor and Capoue sauntering around like its a stroll in the park tomorrow while losing 5-2 again?
 

C-oops

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2008
4,037
3,373
I'd pock him in a midfield 3 ( wont happen) with capoue & Stamboulli. Would be nice just to have a player on the pitch that gives a shit
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
Get him in the team.

I might get pelters for saying this but i want the team to have an English core tomorrow. I want Rose, i want Naughton, Townsend, Mason, Kane, i want players who above all are going to fight for the shirt tomorrow and know what this match means to the club fans etc. I know Naughton and Rose didnt come through the youth setup like the other 3 guys but they are the players in form in full back positions and deserve to play. Them being English and understanding the derby is another positive.

If we play all the out of form Carlos Kickaballs we are going to get turned over and comfortably too. However if we get turned over while playing our hearts out and battle with them until the end then i will be content. Because when i saw Mason, Townsend and Kanes celebrations against Notts Forest on Wednesday i saw how much wearing the Spurs shirt means to them all and lets face it, could it be any worse than seeing Adebayor and Capoue sauntering around like its a stroll in the park tomorrow while losing 5-2 again?

I'm not English, but I completely agree with you here. I'm sick of the listless displays from guys who rather clearly seem to view Spurs as a stepping stone. We've chased the foreign quality bit I think possibly past a threshold, and there's just too many guys who don't really care about how the team fares.

There are some positions we still have needs in which those skillsets we lack may not be available on English soil, but otherwise I do think we've gotten a bit too far away from the British core that originally attracted me to this club. I hate that it sounds somewhat racist, but when it extends to the point of affecting passion and effort on the pitch, I believe it is the problem that is encroaching out of line instead of someone standing up to point out the problem.
 
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