Player Watch: Nabil Bentaleb

[Everlasting Seconds]

Maybe go missing is the wrong verbiage, but he has a game every 3 or so where you question his decision making. Think it was against Liverpool where he had at least 3 back passes that sent Sturridge through on goal.

Bentaleb has poor games, that's just natural. A part of using youngsters is that their performance will fluctuate. That's not something I'm blaming Bentaleb for per se.

 

[chinaman]

The sky's the limit. I hate to go overboard, but images of Toure and Xabi Alonso come to mind.

The passing of our all-time great MacKay just made me think and wish Nabil could develop into a similar player and leader. It's now all in his own hands and I'm sure with some guidance from Poch, he has the character to do it.

 

[Cravenspurs]

Bentaleb has poor games, that's just natural. A part of using youngsters is that their performance will fluctuate. That's not something I'm blaming Bentaleb for per se.

Exactly my original point. Bleed them until those mistakes become once every 10, 15, 20 games. Too many anointing him the savior of our midfield. He is very promising and OURS! We should be proud, but realists in our assessments.

 

[idontgetit]

My criticism of our academy midfielders used to be that despite looking technically superb, they appeared content to play their technical roles without every grabbing the game by the balls and running the show. No doubt Bentaleb has stepped right up.

 

[IGSpur]

I feel his vision is underrated and a few times he has put balls over the top for Chadli and I remember Adebayor but they either didn't finish or mis controlled.

Could someone make a compilation n video of him

 

[JollyHappy]

It's been said a few times here but bearing in mind his age and his current rate of development, he could become a true world class star. I've not seen anyone who compares to his style of play at his age coming through our ranks.

 

[philip]

The issue isn't Mason or Bentaleb, it's playing both of them together. Both are BtB players but neither are strong enough to act as a proper shield and neither are yet accomplished enough to drive through the middle in the manner that Gerrard did and Henderson is now doing.
Neither are they accomplished enough as passers to create from deep.

I would much prefer to see Capoue, a proper deep lying Defensive Midfielder sit in front of our defence, protecting the CDs especially when the FBs bomb on, while either Mason or Bentaleb play the BtB role.

 

[Japhet]

Do you think Alli would give him license to do this? From what I have seen from Alli his is a box to box player that like to get forward, so I would have thought the opposite and a more defensive partner would allow Bentaleb to do this.

I think Alli is potentially an upgrade on the role Mason plays. He is more box to box than Bentaleb. As you say, this would tend to suggest Bentaleb playing in front of the back 4 which IMO is the worst role for him, especially if we are under pressure. Bentaleb is at his best when we are not defending and we have possession of the ball.

 

[SandroClegane]

Cut up of his performance vs Chelsea

 

[Cravenspurs]

Cut up of his performance vs Chelsea

Played a great game.

 

[allatsea]

Exactly my original point. Bleed them until those mistakes become once every 10, 15, 20 games. Too many anointing him the savior of our midfield. He is very promising and OURS! We should be proud, but realists in our assessments.

I believe he is being praised because of how he compares to other CMs at roughly the same age and also for the progress he has made since getting his first start last season. Remarkable IMO how he stood out against a Chelsea midfield full of world class players and him being only 20. With the progress he has already made since his debut there is no reason to expect him not to become world class himself. He is a very special talent in the making.

 

[double0]

I think Alli is potentially an upgrade on the role Mason plays. He is more box to box than Bentaleb. As you say, this would tend to suggest Bentaleb playing in front of the back 4 which IMO is the worst role for him, especially if we are under pressure. Bentaleb is at his best when we are not defending and we have possession of the ball.

Could Alli not play in the 10 position

Example

Bentaleb
Mason

Prichard
Alli
Eriksen

Kane

 

[Japhet]

Could Alli not play in the 10 position

Example

Bentaleb
Mason

Prichard
Alli
Eriksen

Kane

I see Alli as very much of a box to box midfielder. If Pritchard comes back I see him pushing Eriksen for the same spot. I think Mason will be the one under most pressure because I personally think Bentaleb needs a defensive player alongside him to allow him to do his thing.

 

[allpaths]

Do you think Alli would give him license to do this? From what I have seen from Alli his is a box to box player that like to get forward, so I would have thought the opposite and a more defensive partner would allow Bentaleb to do this.

You could be right but my thinking was that they both could make forays forward depending on the way that they read the game and the assurance that the other will be in position to cover for them. If it's a thing it would be a long-term project as it probably takes a long time to develop the amount of trust that would be required from the four of them because I see Onomah being part of the group with ryan mason acting as a super sub.

 

[Bofbro]

Not the greatest quality.

 

[Shadydan]

Superb player, has the potential to reach the very top.

If he was playing for Bayern Munich people would be raving about him.

The only downside is that throughout the rest of his career we're gonna have to put up with the constant Tim'isms and soundbites.

 

[Sevens]

Did you watch the Cup final? I would be very surprised if anyone who watched that game would say that they didn't see what the fuss was about in regards to Bentaleb. For a 20 year old, he was fantastic, he had the upper hand on Chelsea's midfield for most of the game and his mentality is great, he never gets fazed, he doesn't take any shit from anyone yet doesn't get into petty squabbles and go after vendettas.

I agree with you on our wing backs and their crossing ability and also think our two attacking players leave a lot to be desired.

I watched the final. What I saw was Chelsea intentionally conceding midfield possession in the first half and allowing us to have the ball and pass it around in front of their defence or take 25 yard pop shots. Then they scored. In the second half Chelsea came out with a bit more purpose and controlled the game and scored again.

In my opinion he did OK in the final but nothing more than OK. He made a couple of good passes, gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times, was partly to blame for one of their goals and generally did OK.

If he was our best player in the final it was more down to the fact that we never played well and played into Chelsea's hands than anything else.

 

[Timberwolf]

I watched the final. What I saw was Chelsea intentionally conceding midfield possession in the first half and allowing us to have the ball and pass it around in front of their defence or take 25 yard pop shots. Then they scored. In the second half Chelsea came out with a bit more purpose and controlled the game and scored again.

In my opinion he did OK in the final but nothing more than OK. He made a couple of good passes, gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times, was partly to blame for one of their goals and generally did OK.

If he was our best player in the final it was more down to the fact that we never played well and played into Chelsea's hands than anything else.

I disagree. There have been plenty of games where Bentaleb has played okay - he has a tendency to drift in and out at times- but in the cup final I thought he was outstanding. Tenacious, committed, composed, technically superb. His passing accuracy was 91%, he skilfully maintained possession under pressure, he harried Chelsea constantly and displayed the kind of leadership you'd expect of a much older player. I haven't seen him play better in a Spurs shirt and, tbh, I don't know what you're expecting of the lad if you don't think he was better than 'okay' in that game.

 

[Larryjanta]

I watched the final. What I saw was Chelsea intentionally conceding midfield possession in the first half and allowing us to have the ball and pass it around in front of their defence or take 25 yard pop shots. Then they scored. In the second half Chelsea came out with a bit more purpose and controlled the game and scored again.

In my opinion he did OK in the final but nothing more than OK. He made a couple of good passes, gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times, was partly to blame for one of their goals and generally did OK.

If he was our best player in the final it was more down to the fact that we never played well and played into Chelsea's hands than anything else.

We must be watching different sports

 

[yojambo]

Can't believe I've just read someone wants Capoue in the team over Mason.