The curious case of Bentaleb

[dannythomas]

Bentaleb is no longer first name on the team sheet . We have gone to the other extreme . When Paulinho, Capoue, Dembele and Sandro were fit they were left out in favour of Bentaleb . Now that most of them are injured he is left out. We should play him against the weaker teams, but put him on the bench against the stronger ones to bring him through gradually. Sherwood did the reverse and after looking out of his depth against the top 5 he now doesn't feature against the lower teams in matches that to be honest don't mean a lot any more. I don't understand Tim's strategy. This would be an ideal time to play him. Can anyone explain it please ?

Note I have re-worded this because of complaints below that I worded my original post badly.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Tim 's love child is no longer first name on the team sheet . Make sense. With a young promising player put him in against the weaker teams, on the bench against the stronger ones , make sense , right ? Not to Tim obviously...

What exactly is the question?

 

[Gbspurs]

Isn't he 19? Maybe he has burnt out a bit? Been a huge break through season for him, he won't have been used to such demands week in week out.

 

[allatsea]

Talented player who was overplayed when he first broke through into the first team IMO. Conversely I think opportunities to play him have been missed recently.

 

[Bofbro]

Kane is the new kid on the block now, next week it will be Milos.

 

[Donki]

It's his turn to keep watch on Lamela in Tim's cellar, should be back in a 2 weeks. Tim likes to rotate the guards so that no one gets to close to the kid.

 

[double0]

Tim Sherwood has done a great job introducing Bentaleb and Kane, both have had break through seasons....hope they can go on to have successful careers at Tottenham.

 

[whitechina]

It's his turn to keep watch on Lamela in Tim's cellar, should be back in a 2 weeks. Tim likes to rotate the guards so that no one gets to close to the kid.

but how do you know this? have you been there ?

 

[marion52]

He did probably play him in too many consecutive games but good to see young players being given their chance

 

[MarkyP]

i think he is saying that he played him against the stronger teams, and benched him against the weaker ones.. in contrast to what most sensible "managers" would do...

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

hasn't this been done to death, alright Tim has a hard on for a kid he brought through the ranks, move on nothing to see

 

[Donki]

but how do you know this? have you been there ?

Ummmmmmm .

 

[Gassin's finest]

It's almost as if Bentaleb was initially earning his place more than others, but as the season goes on players form and fitness can go up and down and at the moment others are earning their place more...

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

He did probably play him in too many consecutive games but good to see young players being given their chance

The main criticism is probably in regards to the games that Tim chose to play and rest him, there didnt/doesnt seem to be much logic there...

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Tim Sherwood has done a great job introducing Bentaleb and Kane, both have had break through seasons....hope they can go on to have successful careers at Tottenham.

I think he's done a great job of introducing Kane, but Bentaleb has been played in too many big games. Can't be good for his confidence when he's out of his depth against (currently) better players.

 

[dannythomas]

i think he is saying that he played him against the stronger teams, and benched him against the weaker ones.. in contrast to what most sensible "managers" would do...

Yes that's exactly what I was saying. A young player needs to gain experience and confidence gradually. Therefore it makes way more sense to play him against the weaker teams while he gains that experience than to pitch him in against the stronger ones where he is presently out of his depth. Tim did the reverse with Bentaleb. Now when the end of season matches are pretty meaningless he doesn't choose him at all. Especially when Sandro Capoue and Dembele have been injured. When they were all fit he played Bentaleb ahead of them.

 

[Nocando]

What exactly is the question?

Does posting nonsense on the internet make life more fulfilling?

 

[kungfugrip]

Isn't he 19? Maybe he has burnt out a bit? Been a huge break through season for him, he won't have been used to such demands week in week out.

Maybe if he'd been playing week in week out since August.......but it's only been a little over three months play!!

 

[Gbspurs]

Maybe if he'd been playing week in week out since August.......but it's only been a little over three months play!!

Still a massive step up from u21s, plus it came at the busiest time of our season. Not saying this is definitive but maybe a niggling injury.

 

[Blake Griffin]

should've started the last game.