Player Watch Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

[spids]

Some flopy errors when he lost ball when immediately pressed. Looked surprised that they attack him so quickly. Maybe he just needs to adopt to the league. It's definitely much faster than in Serie A. Other than that he was great. So calm on the ball, great technic. He don't need to think how to handle the ball, he can just focus on what to do with it next. In that aspect he is 7 levels above all our center midfields. Great tackler as well. Looks like exactly what we needed.

I think he got dispossessed a few times as he was not aware of players behind him and just how little time he had. When he knows he's being pressed he is coolness personified and can turn out of trouble as he has great technique, control and composure. Once he gets used to the speed of the PL he will be even more awesome than he has been so far. Massive upgrade on Winks. Who will be 4th choice again once Skipp is fit.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

He looks a decent player - City rushed him on Saturday especially in his own half which is not surprising they press brilliantly and he still needs to completely pick up the pace of English football and often there wasn't an out ball - but overall he has started well

 

[spids]

The passage of play where Kane had a great chance saved by the City keeper - Bentancur was fantastic in that passage. Showed everything we have been missing in CM.

Also, he is 6'2. He won a lot of headers yesterday. Another area where he is an upgrade on Skipp and Winks (who are both vertically challenged).

 

[topper]

But surely you can see the difference in quality and what he was trying to do when he was caught in posession.

The lad is just what this team was crying out for.

Agreed he looks a good player and yes I understand what he was trying to do but you cannot afford to lose possession in that position on the pitch as you will get punished for it in the EPL. Hopefully he will get up to speed fairly quickly with the Premiership

 

[14/04/91]

City are much better than anyone else in trying to win the ball back high up the pitch so I’m not surprised nor worried that he was caught out a few times. This was only his second (or third?) PL start after all.
He still looks very comfortable in possession and importantly passes forward. No other midfielder in our squad does that enough.

 

[Lappi]

In terms of losing the balllin our half, one of the main changes in the Conte era has been that our midfielders have been much more willing to take risks when playing out from the back. A mix of being told to take more risks and having more confidence in the system.

In combination with playing a formation that's light in central midfield and set up for quick, vertical play forward, it's inevitable that anyone that's not Modric / Xavi levels will lose the ball a bit and sometimes look a bit stupid as they often don't have an easy out ball. But it's necessary for us to counter attack well so I'm fine with it and it'll get better when the players are more used to the system (and the wing backs are better)

 

[mil1lion]

Him and Romero are excellent signings but sadly the only excellent signings under Don Paratici

Sadly? 2 top signings in a part summer window and a Jan window is good going. We haven't made 2 top signings in years prior. Kulu could make it 3 too. His hit rate is already better than under Hitchen.

 

[14/04/91]

In terms of losing the balllin our half, one of the main changes in the Conte era has been that our midfielders have been much more willing to take risks when playing out from the back. A mix of being told to take more risks and having more confidence in the system.

In combination with playing a formation that's light in central midfield and set up for quick, vertical play forward, it's inevitable that anyone that's not Modric / Xavi levels will lose the ball a bit and sometimes look a bit stupid as they often don't have an easy out ball. But it's necessary for us to counter attack well so I'm fine with it and it'll get better when the players are more used to the system (and the wing backs are better)

Spot on. I thought the angles made by the midfielders to receive off the back 3 were very impressive - certainly not seen that kind of movement for a long time.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

His touch is sublime. Like a Berbatov in the middle of the park. As he adjusts to the league he will only get better.

 

[pablo73]

He had a good game but if that was Winks losing the ball on several occasions in the positions Bentancur did he would have got absolutely slaughtered on here

You're right but that's because we've seen Winks do it game after game, year after year. People are rightly giving Bentancur more leeway as he's adapting to a new club, league and country and you can clearly see his talent. Plus he doesn't go into hiding after giving the ball away.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

You're right but that's because we've seen Winks do it game after game, year after year. People are rightly giving Bentancur more leeway as he's adapting to a new club, league and country and you can clearly see his talent. Plus he doesn't go into hiding after giving the ball away.

Playing devils advocate here but one of the main criticisms of him from Juve fans was the fact that he lost the ball in dangerous positions too regularly. Unfortunately has previous. Still brings so much more to the game and I am sure Conte will work on that with him.

 

[theShiznit]

What i liked about the performance is AFTER he lost possession a couple of times when robbed, the next few times he received the ball in similar areas, he never once panicked and backed his ability to get out of tight spots and progress play forward. He didn't just turn into a scared bunny and boot the ball as he had been caught previously.

That's how you know you have a player of quality, and lets face it, very few teams flood that central area like City do with all the number 10's/AM's they play flitting around and the CM's high up.

 

[Delboy75]

Please tell me it’s not bad. Looked horrible when he did it. But played 40 minutes after so can’t be that bad you’d hope.

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

Anything on his injury?

 

[EQP]

That slip/injury really impacted his ability to be effective in the Burnley game. He tried his best but was obviously in more discomfort. Hope he's okay for the Everton game at least.

 

[Delboy75]

Seen some say he’s out for 3 weeks but struggling to see how after watching that. He looks a bit awkward in first few touches after the slip. But then looks completely fine is sprinting going in for challenges. Only right at end last kick he looked a bit off. But I’m struggling to see how he could play 40 minutes after the slip if was serious enough to keep him out for 3 weeks. Anyway find out tomorrow I guess.

 

[spursfan77]

Seen some say he’s out for 3 weeks but struggling to see how after watching that. He looks a bit awkward in first few touches after the slip. But then looks completely fine is sprinting going in for challenges. Only right at end last kick he looked a bit off. But I’m struggling to see how he could play 40 minutes after the slip if was serious enough to keep him out for 3 weeks. Anyway find out tomorrow I guess.

Let’s be honest. Any time out for him is a disaster especially with Skipp still injured and with no sign of returning.

I swear we are cursed.

 

[eViL]

Let’s be honest. Any time out for him is a disaster especially with Skipp still injured and with no sign of returning.

I swear we are cursed.

Every. Single. Team. In the History of Football. Have injuries.

STOP OVERREACTING.

 

[wadewill]

Every. Single. Team. In the History of Football. Have injuries.

STOP OVERREACTING.

They do

But they also probably have adequate players to fill in

If Skipp isn’t available…. We don’t

 

[THE SPURSBOY]

Every. Single. Team. In the History of Football. Have injuries.

STOP OVERREACTING.

It’s not an overreaction when the players that have to come in are not good enough