Player Watch: Ryan Mason

[Spurrific]

I didn't really get on board with the Mason thing last year. This year he's impressing me a lot more. Wouldn't go as far as to say he has a touch of the Modric about him as the only similarity is that they're both skinny. He's tenacious, can pass, makes good runs, has decent enough vision, and calm on the ball. If he continues as he's going he could be a valuable starting 11 player, rather than the squad player I thought he was destined to be.

It's sometimes hard to judge our midfield two, as the 3 in front are occasionally so static they have no way of moving the ball forward. If everyone pulls their weight in front of Mason and Dier - I think I'm happy enough with that as the starting pair. I don't think Bentaleb should be guaranteed starts by any means now. We have a good few options, just very little experienced ones.

 

[Flashspur]

He's on an impressively upward trajectory - my only concern is because of his slight frame (I'd guess) he seems to pick up knocks quite frequently, but I actually think the guy's got more talent than some above are giving him credit for.

This is a guy who was scoring for fun in the youth team, and who I think can really add goals to his game this year. With improved confidence has come some threatening runs into the box which is great to see.

I really like him as a player and I think we're all rooting for the kid which should be good for his confidence - he's definitely won the crowd

i saw him play as a 17 year old the first time and he definetly stood out amongst the other players. He was a lot more silky then with a fantastic short passing range. I remember saying to my mate, this kid looks great but he is skin and bone. They'll knock him for a six if he does not fill out. I dont know how he survived some of the loans because he would have had the s*it kicked out of him. Ryan's always been a bit hot headed and he had a tendency to give it back which isnt always smart when your built like him. Love the way he has come through into the first team. He is really stepping up a gear this season. With all the injury heart aches of the past I hope the knee holds up. If theres one player who has bad luck with injuries its Ryan and he deserves more from lady luck.

 

[Dharmabum]

Up until yesterday`s game Mason was, in the opinon of many, an average EPL player .... but now he`s suddenly the next Modric
Remember, he won`t play like he did yesterday in all his games but he will still be a valuable player and always was. He is still new to the EPL and to Spurs`1st team; and on top of that he has to adjust to a new MF again this season (Dier as DM, Alli etc) so give him even more time...

 

[danielneeds]

Up until yesterday`s game Mason was, in the opinon of many, an average EPL player .... but now he`s suddenly the next Modric
Remember, he won`t play like he did yesterday in all his games but he will still be a valuable player and always was. He is still new to the EPL and to Spurs`1st team; and on top of that he has to adjust to a new MF again this season (Dier as DM, Alli etc) so give him even more time...

Everyone on here veers between being the messiah or a very naughty boy at one time or another. Itz da rulez.

 

[Flashspur]

nice write up on Ryan's performance vs Sunderland

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-ryan-mason-cemented-his-undroppable-reputation-sunderland

 

[CAPO]

nice write up on Ryan's performance vs Sunderland

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-ryan-mason-cemented-his-undroppable-reputation-sunderland

Look at the one comment on that article, "supporters" like that make me smh

I was thinking today, we wasted £17M on Paulinho expecting a box to box no.8 who would contribute defensively and offensively and chip in with a few goals, when it seems we had that exact player at our Club the whole time!

 

[punkisback]

A lot of people think he is a Parker type player, he's completely different. The only thing they have in common is work rate. Mason can get stuck in, but he is an extremely intelligent player, and with Dier as a proper DM behind him, we can see him in a more attacking role and let him show his main attributes.

 

[danielneeds]

A lot of people think he is a Parker type player, he's completely different. The only thing they have in common is work rate. Mason can get stuck in, but he is an extremely intelligent player, and with Dier as a proper DM behind him, we can see him in a more attacking role and let him show his main attributes.

Also he doesn't pivot around in small circles with the ball constantly, like he's got one leg shorter than the other...

 

[CornerPinDreamer]

Also he doesn't pivot around in small circles with the ball constantly, like he's got one leg shorter than the other...

he was just making crop circles to repels Ade's juju

 

[wrd]

I really like how forward thinking Mason is, but in all honesty I think him as a cm is great vs the lower teams but I'd rather have bentaleb and dier and might even suggest putting mason at 10 and pushing eriksen wide and dropping chadli when we play the bigger teams.

 

[IGSpur]

Mason is the kind of player, where because he is so tenacious adn seems all action people neglect his technical ability. This is a player that was the star boy of a very good academy. He has a lot of technical ability and he proven a lot of pundits wrong with his creative ability. I think the route he has taken to get to where he is has helped him develop that really gritty part of his game which is a good combination to have.

It's similar to what I said about Oduwa, where people assume if you showboat it means you don't create and it's all style over substance. You can be both. I think people get pigeonholed into roles too easily and unless your're a silky small creative no.10 in the David Silva mould people will neglect your ability to be able to play it.

 

[Lufti]

Mason is the kind of player, where because he is so tenacious adn seems all action people neglect his technical ability. This is a player that was the star boy of a very good academy. He has a lot of technical ability and he proven a lot of pundits wrong with his creative ability. I think the route he has taken to get to where he is has helped him develop that really gritty part of his game which is a good combination to have.

It's similar to what I said about Oduwa, where people assume if you showboat it means you don't create and it's all style over substance. You can be both. I think people get pigeonholed into roles to easily and unless your're a silky small create no.10 in the David Silva mould people will neglect your ability to be able to play it.

His passing technique is superb imo. Especially the weight on a lot of the passing, and it's often in front of people for them run onto. Seems like a simple thing, but so many players pass into feet or behind (ehem Dembele) and it slows moves down a lot.

 

[IGSpur]

His passing technique is superb imo. Especially the weight on a lot of the passing, and it's often in front of people for them run onto. Seems like a simple thing, but so many players pass into feet or behind (ehem Dembele) and it slows moves down a lot.

While his passing technique is excellent I think it's more football intelligence. He knows what is needed to maintain momentum of a counter attack or speed play up. As he is the type of player to make runs from deep he will pass to players how he would like to receive the ball. He forces people into progressive play. His weight of pace is impressive.

Some of the passing in this match is impressive, I didn't realise it was him that set Kane up too

 

[Lufti]

While his passing technique is excellent I think it's more football intelligence. He knows what is needed to maintain momentum of a counter attack or speed play up. As he is the type of player to make runs from deep he will pass to players how he would like to receive the ball. He forces people into progressive play. His weight of pace is impressive.

Some of the passing in this match is impressive, I didn't realise it was him that set Kane up too

The pass at 1:11, although slightly overhit is superb. Great vision and technique

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

While his passing technique is excellent I think it's more football intelligence. He knows what is needed to maintain momentum of a counter attack or speed play up. As he is the type of player to make runs from deep he will pass to players how he would like to receive the ball. He forces people into progressive play. His weight of pace is impressive.

Some of the passing in this match is impressive, I didn't realise it was him that set Kane up too

Lovely compilation, thanks for posting. As has been said, he's always moving the ball forward and playing it in front of his teammate for them to run on to. Mason and Dier for England!

 

[mckenz]

@iluvsteffenfreund

seems to have slunk off somewhere?

 

[matthew.absurdum]

While his passing technique is excellent I think it's more football intelligence. He knows what is needed to maintain momentum of a counter attack or speed play up. As he is the type of player to make runs from deep he will pass to players how he would like to receive the ball. He forces people into progressive play. His weight of pace is impressive.

Some of the passing in this match is impressive, I didn't realise it was him that set Kane up too

I think Dier had a good match. But Mason is absolutely the MOTM with this performance

 

[Shadydan]

seems to have slunk off somewhere?

He'll be back the minute Mason has a bad game, that's generally the way it works.

 

[rocklink]

http://thenewlibero.tumblr.com/post/129021917810/verticality-or-why-ryan-mason-is-one-of

This is why, for all his faults, Mason has become one of Pochettino’s favorites. What Mason brings that others in the Tottenham midfield don’t is this idea of verticality. When he is on the ball, he is always looking for the forward option. There was a moment in the second half when he picked the ball up off of the center-backs, turned, looked upfield, and threw his hands up in the air in frustration at players not making themselves available for the forward pass. He eventually played it back, reluctantly, to the center-backs and threw his hands up again at his forward players not moving to make themselves available.

He understands the role Pochettino wants his midfielders to play. Yes, he can look like a chicken with its head cut off at times running around trying to press anything that breathes, but he has shown that he understands what Pochettino wants him to do in an attacking sense, which few other Spurs players seem to currently grasp. That alone makes him invaluable to Pochettino, who clearly trusts and believes in him to carry out his philosophy.

 

[teok]

I really hope he's ok.