Benjamin Stambouli signs for PSG

[Danners9]

I think it's likely he'll go..

Pochettino: "Always you need to analyse last season and nobody is sure to stay. This is my job, to analyse, assess and take decision. It is not [the case that we] we bring in player and now he is sure [to stay], and he was poor during season, now he stays. If you bring in a player and performance was not good, it is not good. You take a decision. The thing you bring, you try to sell."

It doesn't matter if he was only bought last summer. 2 +2 = ... So I think he could well be off - the link was before the press conference.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't know what games people have been watching of him, I appreciate he was finding his feet but in no games could I say that he made any real positive impression on me, apart from his debut I saw live at Sunderland and he came off the bench and closed down well.

I don't think he showed anything fantastic technically, we did see some great bits of skill but that was often to get himself out of trouble after a heavy first touch, and he noticeably tired in the second half of games. His passing would get very sloppy and he'd be left hopelessly chasing back. Definitely had a fitness issue of some sort.

I'm also not sure of his role, he seems to be a bit of a terrier and wants to chase the ball and break up play and doesn't really seem to have great positional sense. Rather than being a midfield anchor which is the role a lot have been calling for him to play.

 

[Spursidol]

Not really sure I agree over the last few games. Mason looks like he needs a rest. I don't understand why we signed him as wasn't Capoue in favour at the time? If you aren't going to give him a chance when one of the first team is looking tired you might as well save your money imo.

Capoue looked good in pre-season (alonmgside Mason mainly) and started the season and played well for a few games, then had a run of maybe 6 games when he was very poor, and within a short time we all had the shock of seeing Mason/Bentaleb become first choice (almost from nowhere)

I am as surprised as anyone as to Stambouli's lack of games - I certainly think Bentaleb and Mason have both played more than they should (which has resulted in a drop off in performance) but although Stambouli has looked OK in his few appearances he didn't seem to be playing with as much energy/intensity as Poch seems to like - and maybe that's the issue (just a guess)

 

[Blackcanary]

I don't know what games people have been watching of him, I appreciate he was finding his feet but in no games could I say that he made any real positive impression on me, apart from his debut I saw live at Sunderland and he came off the bench and closed down well.

I don't think he showed anything fantastic technically, we did see some great bits of skill but that was often to get himself out of trouble after a heavy first touch, and he noticeably tired in the second half of games. His passing would get very sloppy and he'd be left hopelessly chasing back. Definitely had a fitness issue of some sort.

I'm also not sure of his role, he seems to be a bit of a terrier and wants to chase the ball and break up play and doesn't really seem to have great positional sense. Rather than being a midfield anchor which is the role a lot have been calling for him to play.

He played as a proper DM at Montpellier - suspect he was playing the role Poch asked of him here.

 

[Spursidol]

He played as a proper DM at Montpellier - suspect he was playing the role Poch asked of him here.

Agreed, which is why its a little strange as to why he's not been played as a rotation option more. I'd agree with @mpickard2087 on his seeming to tire in the scond half of games though, which means he doesn't suit Poch's game unless he can gain the required intensity of play in training

 

[yankspurs]

I don't know what games people have been watching of him, I appreciate he was finding his feet but in no games could I say that he made any real positive impression on me, apart from his debut I saw live at Sunderland and he came off the bench and closed down well.

I don't think he showed anything fantastic technically, we did see some great bits of skill but that was often to get himself out of trouble after a heavy first touch, and he noticeably tired in the second half of games. His passing would get very sloppy and he'd be left hopelessly chasing back. Definitely had a fitness issue of some sort.

I'm also not sure of his role, he seems to be a bit of a terrier and wants to chase the ball and break up play and doesn't really seem to have great positional sense. Rather than being a midfield anchor which is the role a lot have been calling for him to play.

Dude, he's rarely even stepped foot on the pitch this season! How in the world can you make this judgement on him?

 

[mpickard2087]

Dude, he's rarely even stepped foot on the pitch this season! How in the world can you make this judgement on him?

Which bit? I can only go on the limited evidence I saw... Almost every game he started he was completely gassed around the hour mark. His moments of skill were too often to bail himself out of trouble. I don't think I've been unfair, that's just the limited evidence I have available.

 

[yido_number1]

Always seemed to have lacked fitness and burns out very quickly. Would be interesting to hear if he is permanently carrying an injury or just woefully fit.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I still don't feel like the guy got a shot. I'd rather we sell Dembele and Capoue and keep him. I still think he's a good player to have that really seems to have the right type of personality in this team that seems to lack it at times.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

He'll end up being a decent signing if we can use him as leverage to get Thauvin.

 

[Blackcanary]

He'll end up being a decent signing if we can use him as leverage to get Thauvin.

You know my feelings on Thauvin so I can't agree with that at all!

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

You know my feelings on Thauvin so I can't agree with that at all!

You saw what he can do first hand the other day so I'm suprised you still feel that way tbh.

 

[Blackcanary]

You saw what he can do first hand the other day so I'm suprised you still feel that way tbh.

That was the first good performance in months though. His attitude absolutely stinks - and it's not just a personality clash with Bielsa, he also went completely on strike to get his move from Lille to Marseille - and I just don't think he'd offer the consistent upgrade we need.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

That was the first good performance in months though. His attitude absolutely stinks - and it's not just a personality clash with Bielsa, he also went completely on strike to get his move from Lille to Marseille - and I just don't think he'd offer the consistent upgrade we need.

I just want someone that can do what he can do on the football pitch, in all honestly we'd be very, very lucky to actually get him.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I remember that 4-0 versus Newcastle in the COC. He played alongside Bentaleb and they did a very good job. Mason needs a break, give Stambou the last two games.

I like him. He was really quite dodgy in his first few appearances, but after a bit he started looking better each time he played. Dare I say it, but he had a hint of Scotty parker, in respect that he was a dogged little bastard, here there & everywhere, making tackles & spoiling attacks, he was doing it all & even finding the time to push forward and support attacks.

That said, whilst doing all of that, he was doing it as though he'd got hold of whatever Maradona was on during the 1994 World Cup. The boy seemed 'charged' !.. I think he's a red card waiting to happen, I honestly can't remember a game in which he never got booked, he's walking a tightrope every time he steps onto the pitch. There's surely no doubt Poch also sees that, which perhaps makes it difficult to include him in games?

It can't be easy for Poch. He must think to himself "Hmm, I could start Stambouli, but what if he gets sent off?"...

Or if we're playing, and he's on the bench, Poch needs to change something, he turns and looks at his bench & sees Stambouli sitting there, but thinks to himself, "We need to change something here, I could put Stambouli on, but what if he's sent off in 10 minutes time?"...

What a ridiculously long-winded way to say Poch may not use him because he's a liability . It all makes sense in my head

 

[ilikeost]

Arent poch a "student" of bielsa? Very wierd how bielsa seems desperate for stambo, yet poch dont give him half a chance :/

He might be a student of Bielsa but that doesn't make him identical. Brendan Rodgers was a student of Mourinho, they are very different in style.

And you know, diffrent league, diffrent requierments and demands.

 

[Japhet]

I like him. He was really quite dodgy in his first few appearances, but after a bit he started looking better each time he played. Dare I say it, but he had a hint of Scotty parker, in respect that he was a dogged little bastard, here there & everywhere, making tackles & spoiling attacks, he was doing it all & even finding the time to push forward and support attacks.

That said, whilst doing all of that, he was doing it as though he'd got hold of whatever Maradona was on during the 1994 World Cup. The boy seemed 'charged' !.. I think he's a red card waiting to happen, I honestly can't remember a game in which he never got booked, he's walking a tightrope every time he steps onto the pitch. There's surely no doubt Poch also sees that, which perhaps makes it difficult to include him in games?

It can't be easy for Poch. He must think to himself "Hmm, I could start Stambouli, but what if he gets sent off?"...

Or if we're playing, and he's on the bench, Poch needs to change something, he turns and looks at his bench & sees Stambouli sitting there, but thinks to himself, "We need to change something here, I could put Stambouli on, but what if he's sent off in 10 minutes time?"...

What a ridiculously long-winded way to say Poch may not use him because he's a liability . It all makes sense in my head

If that was the thought process I doubt he'd be on the bench in the first place. I would much sooner have a player on the pitch who is not afraid to mix it than a lot of the current crop who look like they don't give a toss. I suppose my biggest hope for Stambouli is that he has some sort of virus which is holding him back and that he will stay with us and get up to full fitness. There were never any concerns about his 'engine' when he was in France, and I think he comes across as a strong character and a bit of a leader.

 

[bat-chain]

Stambouli seems a cool guy, on that alone I feel sad we have not been able to give him a real run of games.

Think he could easily end up at another PL club and look more than capable.

Just collateral damage in our transfer policy, what would be really interesting would be to know who scouted him and who authorised his signing. Clearly he was the cheap option to Morgan Schneiderlin but beyond that we know nothing. Pochettino doesn't exactly treat him like one of his own but then we have the Bielsa link.

Who the hell knows. It looks to me as though whoever signed him and Fazio did so thinking they were signing players Pochettino would really like, there is logic behind both. Clearly they were mistaken.

 

[Hazelton]

The problem Stambouli and Fazio had, and have, is that they were little more than backup options for Scheiderlin and Musacchio. That fact alone put them at a disadvantage, in my opinion.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we sell both on in the summer, for roughly the same price that we paid for them. Nor would I be surprised if that was the goal all along, in the hope of waiting a season and driving down the price of Schneiderlin in particular. Unfortunately for us, I doubt Spurs expected Southampton to do as well as they did.

 

[Ledleys Knee]

The problem Stambouli and Fazio had, and have, is that they were little more than backup options for Scheiderlin and Musacchio. That fact alone put them at a disadvantage, in my opinion.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we sell both on in the summer, for roughly the same price that we paid for them. Nor would I be surprised if that was the goal all along, in the hope of waiting a season and driving down the price of Schneiderlin in particular. Unfortunately for us, I doubt Spurs expected Southampton to do as well as they did.

I don't think Fazio was a back-up for Musacchio. Fazio has constantly been ahead of him in the Argentine national team pecking order.