Player Watch: Nabil Bentaleb

[IGSpur]

It says he's an attacking mid on there. Is he, because he didn't play like one? I don't know enough about the kid to say.

Yes, he can play 'in the hole' as an AMC or holding role. Think he also may be able to play as a winger but never seen him there and I don't think it's his forte. When Carroll was around for u21s IIRC he would play no 10 while Veljkovic and Carroll sat.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

looked a carbon copy Jake Livermore to me - good or bad thing, you decide.

 

[dudu]

looked a carbon copy Jake Livermore to me - good or bad thing, you decide.

In what ways?

 

[Francis Gibbs]

In what ways?

The way he plays - tidys up play, short sideways passing, sits in the middle without being spectacular/creative

 

[dudu]

The way he plays - tidys up play, short sideways passing, sits in the middle without being spectacular/creative

Im pretty sure, playing in the DM position, thats the exact job he was brought on to do on Sunday.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

Im pretty sure, playing in the DM position, thats the exact job he was brought on to do on Sunday.

I am sure it was, my point was we already have a player who does exactly that and he was loaned out after being widely vilified as offering nothing. Apart from being young, which seems to default people to a wow position, just don't get awe

 

[dudu]

I am sure it was, my point was we already have a player who does exactly that and he was loaned out after being widely vilified as offering nothing. Apart from being young, which seems to default people to a wow position, just don't get awe

Im pretty sure the awe is down to the fact that at 19 he came on to the pitch and looked utterly at home. Not a moment of panic or fear. He was representing you and me and every spurs fan for what 30 mins on Sunday and absolutely played in a way beyond what i think we all were expecting.

This is the exact thing to be in awe of in football.

 

[Syn_13]

I am sure it was, my point was we already have a player who does exactly that and he was loaned out after being widely vilified as offering nothing. Apart from being young, which seems to default people to a wow position, just don't get awe

You can't deny that it was an impressive debut, he did really well against a very tough team and showed maturity. It wasn't like we were 2 goals up and ahead of the game either so it was always going to be tough for him. However, I was also reminded of Livermore and I said words to this effect in my summary of him earlier.

Livermore is a good player and doing well at Hull, and I'm sure he can be a good Premiership player in the future. I think our midfield is too congested and competitive for young Jake but he's good enough to play at a smaller Premiership club and, unless he improves drastically in the next year, he may have to find pastures new. It's too early to write off Livermore's potential but you never know who is going to have a growth spurt in terms of ability. We're all going to keep a close eye on Nabil, as we do on Carroll, in the hope that he can develop into a cracking player.

 

[Khilari]

he's actually a little different to livermore if you go by his u21 record. he plays more as an attacking midfielder, whereas JL was made to sit deep under AVB and HR when he played senior football

but it was his first 35mins of senior football and he was brought on to keep it simple, which he did very well

 

[mpickard2087]

looked a carbon copy Jake Livermore to me - good or bad thing, you decide.

Much better with the ball at his feet than Livermore. His whole game with the ball is much sharper.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Tim Sherwood risked his whole Managerial career on this kid.

He must think he's very special.

Exciting.

 

[Spursidol]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ail-gives-lowdown-Spurs-talented-starlet.html

Hmm, a few factual errors which undermine much of the rest of it which is the Mail reporter's opinion :

1. Bentaleb not having a wiki page before his debut - but Wiki rules are that a wiki page cannot be set up before the player makes his first professional appearance ie professional debut (try setting up a wiki page for Milos Veljkovic, another excellent Spurs prospect who has made no professional appearances - it will be removed within days).

2. Bentaleb not appearing in Europa squads - As he only joined Spurs in January 2012, under UEFA rules he is not eligible to be listed as a List B under 21, and was not listed as a List A (ie generally over 21) player at the start of the season.

However he is an exceptional talent that Spurs are lucky to have in their youth set up, good on the ball not afraid to get stuck in, good at passing and shooting, he sems to have it pretty much all.

I hope Sherwood finds that he's able to use him a few more times this season - but with the number of centre midfield players we have, it maybe that a suitable loan in the Championship might give him more playing time - I'd prefer not a loan to League 1 Swindon although he'd certainly find lots of freinds there and get playing time, simply because the opposition is less good, but others might not agree onn that.

 

[yanno]

I'm amused that Bentaleb was on trial at Birmingham City before us, and Brum didn't do the deal. Our gain, and hopefully our coaches have developed his footballing talents better than than the Brummies would have done....

I'm also pleased that Sherwood trusted him.

Old Red Nose lost a couple of top midfield talents in Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison by not giving them any first team action. Bentaleb seems more sorted than Morrison, who by most accounts is a head case.

If we bring Carroll back from QPR, it'll be interesting to see if Sherwood keeps Bentaleb in and around the match day squad, or whether he loans him to 'Arry for half a season of Championship experience in a passing team.

 

[BorisTM]

I just saw his highlights form the Southampton game. His style is very similar to Dembelle's.

 

[BorisTM]

I'm surprised there hasn't already been a thread on the kid. He looked calm and composed when he came on and did very well. Very impressive. Credit to Sherwood for giving him some game time.

He didn't look very calm and composed when he got a foul called against him. He needs to watch his temper.

 

[tiger666]

He didn't look very calm and composed when he got a foul called against him. He needs to watch his temper.

That was his professional debut. He'll have been building up to and dreaming about that day for years. He'll have been full of adrenaline and nerves. I wouldn't judge his character on that.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Not sure what Carroll brings that is any better than what we already have. He's tidy but lacks power and pace.p

 

[BorisTM]

That was his professional debut. He'll have been building up to and dreaming about that day for years. He'll have been full of adrenaline and nerves. I wouldn't judge his character on that.

I would. I haven't seen a player of ours react so aggressively towards a referee call, wrong or right. And he is not the first player to have such debut.

If we follow your logic we shouldn't judge how good he is based on one performance against a team like Southampton, as it might be the result of being "full of adrenaline and nerves" as you put it. I'm sure he is being told many times about how important is to keep a good composure when getting a bad call against him, and there are plenty of good examples how costly during a game that could be, so how come he remembered all he was thought by his coaches about how to pass, dribble and move without the ball, but forgot about the possible consequences of his own behavior?

I'll tell you why, he conceded a foul in a dangerous area, so having a little drama go at the ref was a way to switch the blame.

 

[yankspurs]

he's actually a little different to livermore if you go by his u21 record. he plays more as an attacking midfielder, whereas JL was made to sit deep under AVB and HR when he played senior football

but it was his first 35mins of senior football and he was brought on to keep it simple, which he did very well

He played 45 minutes. Came on in the 50th minute and there was 5 minutes stoppage time

 

[dagraham]

I just saw his highlights form the Southampton game. His style is very similar to Dembelle's.

Similar in some ways. In less than 90 minutes of football though he showed his passing is superior to that of Dembele's imo.