Player Watch Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

[wrd]

I thought that was a world class performance today, they couldn't get near him

 

[sundanceyid10]

Justs hows you can get quality players for reasonable fees, it's not all about spending loads of money like some people keep going on about.

We clearly had some knowledge about the two Juventus lads both have been unbelievably good signings at a time when we really needed some good ones, we struck gold. Makes we want the Roma guy as well as Conte clearly rates him.

 

[spurs mental]

Made such a difference in the middle for us today. Such a key player. We'd have won on Wednesday night if he was playing I reckon.

 

[Tucker]

Great performance.

 

[whitesocks]

Even though Bentancur was out and Skipp was not yet fit enough to start, we still managed to play Bissouma and PEH. That's depth right there. If you take two decent CMs out of any team, they will not have 2 replacements AND options of similar quality on the bench. Unless you're Real Madrid...

It will be interesting to see if bassouma starts in the CL or if conte takes the line he only rotates if he is absolutely forced or the quality is similar.

It could be a very busy period for bentancur and hojbjerg leading up to the wc.

 

[chrisd2k]

So good. First touch usually spot on, has skills, technique, happy to have his back to the press.

He gets around the pitch so well too. Really covers ground well

 

[chrisd2k]

Oh and another thing his one touch passing. Completely changes our play

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Makes the game look so easy. Best CM we’ve had since modric imo.

 

[punkisback]

I always thought he had a reputation as a nasty chap before he came for us. But he is silky in CM very underrated.

 

[N'Obody]

He really is the glue that makes the team tick right now. He is everywhere and he is so elegant at the same time. He sets the tempo for our play almost everytime. He's as influential as Dembele was in the sense that he controls that midfield and sets up attacks very quickly but in his own way. I would say he is probably our most important midfielder right now.

 

[SUIYHA]

Wasn't too long ago we were watching Winks and Sissoko in central midfield every week. What a difference it makes having someone who controls the middle or the park.

Honestly feels like at the moment he's our most important player behind Kane, everyone just looks better when he's in the side

 

[Dakes]

We really need another player in the mould of this guy. He makes us tick and is sorely missed when he’s not playing.

We’re a totally different team with him and Cuti playing.

 

[Col_M]

He’s like a midfield Berbatov. Everything is so easy for him.

 

[mark87]

Makes the game look so easy. Best CM we’ve had since modric imo.

Better than Dembele?

 

[Russ1201]

Better than Dembele?

Brilliant player but not at Dembele level. Be fun if he does get to that level.

 

[sundanceyid10]

Oh and another thing his one touch passing. Completely changes our play

Yeah I love the way he has a little glance around him before he receives the ball and moves it on straight away. It’s uncanny how much he looks like a midfield Berbatov.

 

[spids]

Bentancur reminded me of Berbatov on day one with his body shape and mannerisms. The partnership him and Højbjerg have built is fantastic. Some fans do not realise that Conte is happy to have 4 grafters in the squad (in CM) as he is happy for our 2 to go up against 3 opposition CMs, as this lets us overload on the flanks. And Højbjerg and Bentancur do a great job shielding our back 4 and help transpose the patterns of play from defensive to offensive. Whilst Højbjerg nearly always plays the way he is facing (his main limitation as he does not scan effectively, and can be frustrating when an attack is on and he goes backwards), Bentancur is brilliant at knowing what is around him and changing angles of play, and helps get Højbjerg facing forwards.

 

[dace]

An outstanding display against Fulham, what a player.

 

[cliff jones]

He's here, he's there, he's every fkin where

Great balance, economical, doesn't try the Hollywood stuff. Defensively capable, can nick it, put a foot in when needed, and impressive stamina- he'll certainly need that if we're going to get anything at City

 

[skiba]

Love him. The kind of player I look forward to watching every week. His first touch and the way he manipulates the ball is so effortless and smooth.

A calming presence when on the ball and an animal off it. He gets through a huge amount of work covering ground, making tackles and can handle himself in the air too. CM is an unforgiving place in the PL and we’ve seen many from abroad needing time to settle and adjust. This guy has pretty much hit the ground running from day one and at only 25 and so early into his PL career has scope to get even better.

King, Modric, Berbatov, Carrick and Dembele have been probably my favourite players to watch over the last 20 years or so as they just carry that air of superiority in how they play and see the game. They make difficult things look easy and I just get the same impression when I watch this guy do his thing.

He’s got more work to do stand equally alongside some of those names mentioned above but if he keeps delivering performances like yesterday he won’t be far off.