A question of the CM2

[muppetman]

Not to put a dampner on things but almost everyone wants Dier + 1, what happens when we play Chelsea away and Dier is injured? I think we could really use a fit and able Bentaleb making a fairly swift return.

 

[HildoSpur]

I reckon our first choice centre pairing in midfield will end up being Dier/Mason personally but with great backup from Alli and Bentaleb - pretty good options there now. Bentaleb will likely be Dier's understudy and Alli will be Mason's.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

I don't really see us playing a rigid 2 man CM - we have one players holding (Dier) and one roaming (Mason/Alli) but the 10 seems to drop much deeper than last season making us more of a 4-3-3. I would like to see us play Dier, Mason & Alli in some games tbh. I think Mason, Winks and Carroll are much more suited to our style than Dembele which is why, when he played, Moussa was used more advanced.

I do sometimes wonder if Mason might be even better suited further forward. Although I doubt there will be too much experimentation now, the team seems to be settling. Hadn't thought of the 10 being played deeper. On reflection, you are quite right! Works better.

 

[$hoguN]

When all are fit again I think it will be Dier/Bentaleb Alli/Mason.

Dembele shouldn't get a look in

 

[Mullers]

Dembele is out of the equation for me, he's had plenty of chances to improve himself, if he did then no question he would have that spot tied down, he's not going to do it now at age 28. Time to look to the future, Alli has obviously done enough to keep his place, but he is young, so we should be careful not to burn him out.

Carroll, Mason and Bentaleb in contention for playing alongside Dier in the next match. I would probably go with Mason.

 

[Larryjanta]

I do sometimes wonder if Mason might be even better suited further forward. Although I doubt there will be too much experimentation now, the team seems to be settling. Hadn't thought of the 10 being played deeper. On reflection, you are quite right! Works better.

I think that's why we looked so much better second half, Eriksen was taking it turns with Alli coming deep. We're so much kore fluid than last season which was a rigid 4-2-3-1 - no it's much more 4-4-2/4-3-3 - I love it

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

I think that's why we looked so much better second half, Eriksen was taking it turns with Alli coming deep. We're so much kore fluid than last season which was a rigid 4-2-3-1 - no it's much more 4-4-2/4-3-3 - I love it

It is a much more dynamic way of playing in the middle. Makes Poch' look much less rigid, which has always been my main problem with his implementation of the system. I hope the players continue to implement it this way.

 

[dondo]

Dembele is out of the equation for me, he's had plenty of chances to improve himself, if he did then no question he would have that spot tied down, he's not going to do it now at age 28. Time to look to the future, Alli has obviously done enough to keep his place, but he is young, so we should be careful not to burn him out.

Carroll, Mason and Bentaleb in contention for playing alongside Dier in the next match. I would probably go with Mason.

If dembele plays it's further forward in the 10 role for me or not at all

 

[Mullers]

If dembele plays it's further forward in the 10 role for me or not at all

He's done nothing to earn a chance in that role.

 

[dondo]

He's done nothing to earn a chance in that role.

He was very good in that role vs arsenal and Liverpool last season

 

[Larryjanta]

It is a much more dynamic way of playing in the middle. Makes Poch' look much less rigid, which has always been my main problem with his implementation of the system. I hope the players continue to implement it this way.

Definitely - I wonder how much of it was a personal thing, the players he's played in midfield seem much more dynamic, and intelligent, than those we sold

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Definitely - I wonder how much of it was a personal thing, the players he's played in midfield seem much more dynamic, and intelligent, than those we sold

Agree. Previous players were clearly incapable of understanding the requirements . Certainly a bit more footballing grey matter in the middle. I really hope it continues.

 

[$hoguN]

He was very good in that role vs arsenal and Liverpool last season

He has been here for years and hasn't made himself a starter in all that time, he doesn't deserve another opportunity. He has no place in this talented young squad as he is a square peg for us

 

[Mullers]

He was very good in that role vs arsenal and Liverpool last season

We are in a different season now if he wants that role, he will have to fight for it.

 

[Spursidol]

If dembele plays it's further forward in the 10 role for me or not at all

Currently it looks like our :

- CM choices (excluding Dembele) are : Dier, Mason, Bentaleb, Alli, Carroll (total 5 plus Onomah & Winks)
- AM choices (excluding Dembele) are : Eriksen, Son, Lamela, Chadli, Pritchard, Townsend, N'Jie (total 7 although you could argue Son will be played as a striker).

So to me it looks like we may have one senior player more than we need at both CM and AM without Dembele being included.

And if you say he's best as a no 10, Lamela and Eriksen (with Pritchard likely to also compete there) would seem to be the preferred choices.

So I'm not sure how much Dembele will play (and where) except as a rotation player - and he's too good for that surely ?

 

[Spursidol]

Going back to OP,

ATM Dier is playing as a DM with another (Mason/Alli probably) beside him, but I'm not sure we always need to play a pure DM in all games (eg where teams park the bus against us) , so I can see games that we decide to go back to playing Mason/Bentaleb or other combination not including Dier as a CM2

 

[dondo]

He has been here for years and hasn't made himself a starter in all that time, he doesn't deserve another opportunity. He has no place in this talented young squad as he is a square peg for us

Yes he has he was one of first names on the team sheet under AVB, he's never been the same since he injured his hip

 

[spursgirls]

I'm glad I don't have to make the decisions! I love the fact that we have so many good players vying for places now.
I'm a big fan of Bentaleb but not sure I'd put him back in the team when fit. The Dier/Alli combo is working so well at the moment. I wouldn't want to change it. I just hope Dier is happy not playing in his favourite CB position. Exciting times!

 

[eddiebailey]

Going back to OP,

ATM Dier is playing as a DM with another (Mason/Alli probably) beside him, but I'm not sure we always need to play a pure DM in all games (eg where teams park the bus against us) , so I can see games that we decide to go back to playing Mason/Bentaleb or other combination not including Dier as a CM2

This is a crucial point: we should not be playing Dier in games where we expect to pin back the opposition. We saw that against Qarabag.

 

[dondo]

We are in a different season now if he wants that role, he will have to fight for it.

Agreed he's not my first pick for that role either but he is a useful squad player who could add some physicality high up the pitch