Benji Stambouli

[Strikeb4ck]

He is class. Can't believe Poch has frozen him and Fazio out, one of the most disappointing things he has done this season.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Not if we get more money than we paid for him. Thfc player trading co. At its best!

No, because we pay him wages too.

 

[Blackcanary]

He's been with us since August! Now that's what you call a super fitness regime, Poch style!

He did miss pre-season though - he joined us on deadline day.

 

[dude573]

I actually think he is quite good and was surprised at how cheap the fee was when we signed him at what was reported at £4.4 million. I think now it is likely that Levy saw him as a quick buck, the Pienaar or Holtby type of buy. A cheap player who could either do well or cover the bench, with a likelihood of selling for more than we paid if it doesn't work out.

I slightly want to keep him because I think he does match Poch's style, but if we get offered anything over £7-8 million we should accept.

 

[HildoSpur]

You can see he is a good footballer but from the little I have seen of him he just doesnt have the mobility required to play his position in Poch's system so I fear he will be gone this summer. Shame really.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

As stated before, I believe Stambouli has had a major fitness issue this season (which is being dealt with), and may very well become important next season. I doubt that he is frozen out.

 

[whitechina]

This season we have reported very few injuries- has this been the full truth? I wonder with a few players if it's smoke and mirrors? Benni may have had an illness of some type that has affected him- who knows. I was very happy he was added to the squad as it kinda came outta nowhere. Time will tell- it he's in the clubs plans great, if not get shot.

 

[Ribble]

This season we have reported very few injuries- has this been the full truth? I wonder with a few players if it's smoke and mirrors? Benni may have had an illness of some type that has affected him- who knows. I was very happy he was added to the squad as it kinda came outta nowhere. Time will tell- it he's in the clubs plans great, if not get shot.

That's what I was thinking, especially given the fitness training he's been seen doing.

 

[DCSPUR]

As stated before, I believe Stambouli has had a major fitness issue this season (which is being dealt with), and may very well become important next season. I doubt that he is frozen out.

hope u are right. anything to back it up? itk?

 

[longtimespur]

I thought I read somewhere that it was felt he wasn't fit enough for the Prem and that he was on some sort of super fitness regime which was stopping him playing. Might of course be a load of old cobblers but that would at least make more sense than the usual player trading nonsense.

I like him as a defensive midfielder although he can be a box to box but he's no where near fit enough or up to speed. I remember him in an EL game and he looked like he was walking when he was running at full pace. The opponents were racing past him so I' not surprised he's in for intensive training of some type.

 

[jakuba]

He was pretty good when he got that run of games during Christmas with Mason injured. But after the penalty against Palace he practically disappeared only finding game time in a few more games.

 

[Snuzzy]

I don't know what it is that he does.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

I don't know what it is that he does.

Muscles people off the ball and his passing is pretty good, decent range too. Dont think he's going to ever be a firs teamer but you could argue that hew should get a few more chances to show what he can do, like I dont see why he couldnt or shouldnt play today as Bentaleb and Mason have not been pulling up any tree's lately.

 

[eddiebailey]

I thought I read somewhere that it was felt he wasn't fit enough for the Prem and that he was on some sort of super fitness regime which was stopping him playing. Might of course be a load of old cobblers but that would at least make more sense than the usual player trading nonsense.

Perhaps, but if so it does not say much for the scouting reports that convinced us he was the man for the job or the assessment of his fitness at the medical we must have conducted before we signed him. We would have done better keeping Carroll for the season.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

hope u are right. anything to back it up? itk?

No ITK. Before the home match vs. Leicester, 60 min before when the stadium was fairly empty, he was doing laps across WHL at a very controlled speed & under supervision from the fitness guy. I've since been told that the did the same thing at Old Trafford. That sort of exercise only serves a purpose when your body is tired. It is not for warming up purposes (he wasn't even on the bench for that match). It is purely about fixing a tired body, I know, I myself and friends of mine have used the exact same exercise in the exact same manner to sooth tired muscles.

Thus; Stambouli was travelling w/ the squad to Old Trafford, and he was very much present at WHL -> not frozen out. (He is also on the bench today...)
He needed specialised training to rest and repair the body -> fitness problem
He has showed adequate abilities on the pitch when he has been playing this season IMO, and he is a Spurs fan -> might become important next season.

 

[muppetman]

Perhaps, but if so it does not say much for the scouting reports that convinced us he was the man for the job or the assessment of his fitness at the medical we must have conducted before we signed him. We would have done better keeping Carroll for the season.

Or perhaps we are trying a slightly more long term approach?

 

[Monkey boy]

Just what was the point of this signing? Poor fucker must wonder what he has done to deserve this shit. It's not like Mason or Bentaleb are tearing it up, fucking it up yes.

 

[Japhet]

You can see he is a good footballer but from the little I have seen of him he just doesnt have the mobility required to play his position in Poch's system so I fear he will be gone this summer. Shame really.

He's no less mobile than Scott Parker and has a far, far better passing game IMO. We have zero bite when Mason and Bentaleb play in the MF 2. I'd prefer 3 in MF but then IMO Mason and Bentaleb aren't productive enough in that system. If we are going to persist with 2 in there I'd like someone like Cabaye with a dedicated defensive partner. That might be Stambouli but it definitely isn't Mason or Bentaleb.

 

[Blackcanary]

Just what was the point of this signing? Poor fucker must wonder what he has done to deserve this shit. It's not like Mason or Bentaleb are tearing it up, fucking it up yes.

We snatched him right as he was about to transfer to Fiorentina. Poor sod could have been playing for them right now instead of sat on our bench wondering what he's done so wrong.