Third injury setback with Rodrigo Bentancur out until next season

[mawspurs]

Tottenham will reportedly have to cope without Rodrigo Bentancur until the start of next season after a third injury blow in a matter of days. The Uruguayan has been central to Antonio Conte's team this season, establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

It's reported that Bentancur has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury with Conte now growing short of options in midfield. Bentancur's injury setback comes just days after Yves Bissouma underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his left ankle.

Source: Daily Express

 

[Chedozie]

Bentancur and Bissouma out at the same time is terrible news.

 

[Japhet]

Bentancur and Bissouma out at the same time is terrible news.

What a dreadful week. Bentancur, Bissouma, Lloris and Sessegnon.

 

[waresy]

Massive loss, no other way to describe it.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

Here we are, up shit creek without a paddle

 

[ralvy]

I think that's our season over tbh. Will still be hoping for both of Skipp and Sarr to somehow manage to fill up the gap, but that's just because I'm an eternal optimist.

 

[GetKaned]

 

[Cinemattis]

With all those injuries we can forget about a top 4 position. We should concentrate our efforts to the cup tournaments - for one single match we still have enough quality to upset most teams around. And this could be a blessing in disguise as this will give plenty of game time for both Skipp and Sarr. In my opinion their ceiling is way higher than PEH´s, and they will hopefully learn plenty from getting more regular time on the pitch.

 

[Japhet]

With all those injuries we can forget about a top 4 position. We should concentrate our efforts to the cup tournaments - for one single match we still have enough quality to upset most teams around. And this could be a blessing in disguise as this will give plenty of game time for both Skipp and Sarr. In my opinion their ceiling is way higher than PEH´s, and they will hopefully learn plenty from getting more regular time on the pitch.

Could well be a blessing in disguise. I doubt Sarr or Skipp would have got much of a look in, even with Hojbjerg and Bentancur probably being run into the ground. Conte has no choice now and I think lots have forgotten quite how good Skipp was prior to his injury, and we've recently got a look at Sarr who could well be top quality. It's a shame they've not been given any notable time on the pitch though, which I'm sure they could have coped with, because they're now going to pitched straight into the deep end with no prep.

 

[ziggy]

Could well be a blessing in disguise. I doubt Sarr or Skipp would have got much of a look in, even with Hojbjerg and Bentancur probably being run into the ground. Conte has no choice now and I think lots have forgotten quite how good Skipp was prior to his injury, and we've recently got a look at Sarr who could well be top quality. It's a shame they've not been given any notable time on the pitch though, which I'm sure they could have coped with, because they're now going to pitched straight into the deep end with no prep.

Playing a lot of games, just hope one of them doesn't get injured too

 

[yiddopaul]

We're cursed. Even our manager missed a game through surgery.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Could well be a blessing in disguise. I doubt Sarr or Skipp would have got much of a look in, even with Hojbjerg and Bentancur probably being run into the ground. Conte has no choice now and I think lots have forgotten quite how good Skipp was prior to his injury, and we've recently got a look at Sarr who could well be top quality. It's a shame they've not been given any notable time on the pitch though, which I'm sure they could have coped with, because they're now going to pitched straight into the deep end with no prep.

Almost as much of a blessing in disguise as if Kane had picked up a season-ending injury in December, while Richarlison was already out. ?

For every match so far this season, I believe we've had at least two CMs on the bench and have brought on at least one of them. When we've had midweek games, one of Hojbjerg / Bentancur has often been rested. We now have only three available CMs, which means all three of them will be involved in every game - most likely even if one of them is carrying a knock that they need to rest. If any of them misses a match, we won't have a single CM on the bench.
You've commented that Hojbjerg and Bentancur have probably been run into the ground, during a season when our other three CMs have made 45 appearances between them. Do you not think there's going to be far more of an issue of our CMs being run into the ground now that two are injured? Rather than Bissouma occasionally being rotated in for either Bentancur or Hojbjerg (meaning they both get an occasional respite), Conte will almost certainly feel the need to start Hojbjerg in every single game, with Sarr & Skipp rotating in alongside him. Such a blessing!

 

[Japhet]

Almost as much of a blessing in disguise as if Kane had picked up a season-ending injury in December, while Richarlison was already out. ?

For every match so far this season, I believe we've had at least two CMs on the bench and have brought on at least one of them. When we've had midweek games, one of Hojbjerg / Bentancur has often been rested. We now have only three available CMs, which means all three of them will be involved in every game - most likely even if one of them is carrying a knock that they need to rest. If any of them misses a match, we won't have a single CM on the bench.
You've commented that Hojbjerg and Bentancur have probably been run into the ground, during a season when our other three CMs have made 45 appearances between them. Do you not think there's going to be far more of an issue of our CMs being run into the ground now that two are injured? Rather than Bissouma occasionally being rotated in for either Bentancur or Hojbjerg (meaning they both get an occasional respite), Conte will almost certainly feel the need to start Hojbjerg in every single game, with Sarr & Skipp rotating in alongside him. Such a blessing!

Easy Tiger!

 

[Cinemattis]

Could well be a blessing in disguise. I doubt Sarr or Skipp would have got much of a look in, even with Hojbjerg and Bentancur probably being run into the ground. Conte has no choice now and I think lots have forgotten quite how good Skipp was prior to his injury, and we've recently got a look at Sarr who could well be top quality. It's a shame they've not been given any notable time on the pitch though, which I'm sure they could have coped with, because they're now going to pitched straight into the deep end with no prep.

Exactly my point, mate; Skipp was class before his injury. Mourinho (IIRC) said he would be the future captain of Spurs. And Sarr has shown some very promising signs. Yes, obviously they will make mistakes - they´ve hardly been given minutes. If the club really believes in them and think they have the potential to become top class PL midfielders, they should really consider playing the two as the main midfielders for the rest of the season. With PEH as the substitute. Our danish friend and young Skipp are probably not a perfect match anyway, if earlier outings are anything to judge by.

But this is what Woolwich have done so right; given time and patience to younger players and talents, letting them mature - and this year they´ve come into full bloom. And they´ll probably only become better each year now. They´ve played the long game, while we always play the short game patching small holes (with the wrong materials) to try to keep the M/S Kane a float.

 

[Cinemattis]

Almost as much of a blessing in disguise as if Kane had picked up a season-ending injury in December, while Richarlison was already out. ?

For every match so far this season, I believe we've had at least two CMs on the bench and have brought on at least one of them. When we've had midweek games, one of Hojbjerg / Bentancur has often been rested. We now have only three available CMs, which means all three of them will be involved in every game - most likely even if one of them is carrying a knock that they need to rest. If any of them misses a match, we won't have a single CM on the bench.
You've commented that Hojbjerg and Bentancur have probably been run into the ground, during a season when our other three CMs have made 45 appearances between them. Do you not think there's going to be far more of an issue of our CMs being run into the ground now that two are injured? Rather than Bissouma occasionally being rotated in for either Bentancur or Hojbjerg (meaning they both get an occasional respite), Conte will almost certainly feel the need to start Hojbjerg in every single game, with Sarr & Skipp rotating in alongside him. Such a blessing!

If our goal is to reach top 4 and CL, yes of course this situation is a disaster. No one will argue that.

With this injury situation being what it is, there is most likely no chance we will be getting top 4 anyways. So why not try to make something good out of it?

The original point is that neither Sarr nor Skipp has really had a chance to get minutes constantly for any length of time. It might have looked differently if not for Skipp´s freak foot accident just before the PL kickoff last summer. But (again): it is what it is. These are their minutes in the Premier League this season:

Sarr: 4 matches, 134 minutes.
Skipp: 8 matches, 195 minutes (3 matches with 1 minute, 1 match with 2 minutes).

A grand total of just over 3.5 matches.

This is a great opportunity to test them, mature them, give them the PL minutes they need (that anyone need) to become "PL ready".

We won´t get CL next season (maybe not any European competition at all) - but look to Woolwhich and see what they have done over the last 2-3 seasons, and where they are now. They´ve built experience and maturity step by step, stone by stone.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Easy Tiger!

?

Hopefully there will be a silver lining, with Skipp and/or Sarr rising to the challenge. We might be only one injury away from seeing Dier back in CM though (or perhaps that's a blessing in disguise, as Romero at CCB and Emerson at RCB could be an improvement).

 

[Neon_Knight_]

If our goal is to reach top 4 and CL, yes of course this situation is a disaster. No one will argue that.

With this injury situation being what it is, there is most likely no chance we will be getting top 4 anyways. So why not try to make something good out of it?

The original point is that neither Sarr nor Skipp has really had a chance to get minutes constantly for any length of time. It might have looked differently if not for Skipp´s freak foot accident just before the PL kickoff last summer. But (again): it is what it is. These are their minutes in the Premier League this season:

Sarr: 4 matches, 134 minutes.
Skipp: 8 matches, 195 minutes (3 matches with 1 minute, 1 match with 2 minutes).

A grand total of just over 3.5 matches.

This is a great opportunity to test them, mature them, give them the PL minutes they need (that anyone need) to become "PL ready".

We won´t get CL next season (maybe not any European competition at all) - but look to Woolwhich and see what they have done over the last 2-3 seasons, and where they are now. They´ve built experience and maturity step by step, stone by stone.

Unlike some, I haven't written off our hopes of 4th place just yet. We've been here before, trailing behind the top 4 with a key player injured (e.g. Kane's ankle, Modric's broken leg), yet somehow managed to scrap out some good results and sneak 4th spot. While our chances of top 4 have taken a massive blow, I think it's unlikely Newcastle maintain there recent form until May and Man Utd have a CM crisis of their own (Eriksen, McTominay & van der Beek injured + Casemiro suspended).

 

[Cinemattis]

Unlike some, I haven't written off our hopes of 4th place just yet. We've been here before, trailing behind the top 4 with a key player injured (e.g. Kane's ankle, Modric's broken leg), yet somehow managed to scrap out some good results and sneak 4th spot. While our chances of top 4 have taken a massive blow, I think it's unlikely Newcastle maintain there recent form until May and Man Utd have a CM crisis of their own (Eriksen, McTominay & van der Beek injured + Casemiro suspended).

I hope you´re right! And I don´t disagree: Newcastle are already showing clear signs of slowing down with the string of draws. And Man Utd won´t win every match between now and the end of May. I do think they´ll win enough to get them into to the top four though. But there is an open race for the last spot, and I wouldn´t put it pass Conte to be able to do it again. The biggest obstacle is probably not the defence or the midfield, but rather Son´s constant lack of goals and assists, and the rest of the forwards not really producing neither points nor much magic - bar Kane.