Player Watch Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

[spursfan77]

Bang on. Last year, I felt he was our most important player until he got injured. It's not a coincidence how much our midfield got overturned in games after he was out, and the results reflected that. He is one of the very best midfielders in all of Europe. We are blessed to have him.

Imagine how good he could have been in a properly functioning team and midfield!

 

[N'Obody]

I believe ACL injury recovery process is more psychological and mental, rather than physical. Of course the physical side plays a part in terms of building back the muscles around the injury, but it comes down to an elite mentality of trusting your body enough to go out there and just play your game without worries.

I think this is why Gundogan was so good, he trusted his body and his ability and he just played his game without worries.

Lolo definitely has that same mentality, the guys just oozes mentality and work ethic, he's the type of guy who would run through bricks walls regardless of his body can take it or not. It's that mentality I feel will help him pick up form quicker than expected and get back to his best just like Gundogan did.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I think it’s really going to help him coming back into a team that is playing well. He is going to be a joy to watch in this team and I think he’ll bring additional creativity and class to a midfield that is already great. Will definitely still be a big role for Sarr and think we have to be sensible how much and when we use Bentancur when he comes back. But what a prospect when they are all fit and on form.

 

[npearl4spurs]

I mean obviously not, but we could win the league if he comes back to what he was before.

 

[soflapaul]

Bissouma is quite simply brilliant at not being caught on the ball. The way he receives a ball and then turns and beats his marker is absolutely elite.

spot on. and it's not only his turn. he often turns away from pressure, feels pressure, feints and moves in another direction with acceleration. absolutely elite. he is like a cat playing with a couple of mice.

Rodrigo has this skill and it will be fascinating to watch them play together. If they get develop a special understanding, then our ability to beat the press and to advance the ball foward even without the press will be as good as it has been in decades.

 

[Gb160]

I can’t believe so many of you forgot how good Lolo was

Have a watch, he is so aware, so good at intercepting and nicking not just turnovers but turnovers into counter attacks

And his pressing is world class - I thought he was motm against city in terms of how he covered passing lanes and stopped them from playing

And then his technique, awareness and calmness on the ball, his best moments aren’t dissimilar to Bissouma’s - both are amazing ball carriers and incredibly press resistant

And he is good in the air, winning most aerial duels and is a threat for attacking set pieces and a good defender for defensive set pieces

And he can spray them passes too (I’d say superior to Yves in this regard)

And and he gets in the box well and he can finish well too!

Sarr is good and ever improving, but there’s no way Bentacur won’t walk in right away

also, Deki n Royal both looked so much better with Bentacur playing

I’d forgotten how damn handsome he is.

 

[Hoopspur]

What an excellent player. I hope he can come back every bit as good as he was before the injury. I’d like Ange to give him full license to do what he can do.

 

[Thenewcat]

Apart from the couple of times he was against Arsenal. He's better than Bents at that, though, whatever people seem to remember. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess...

You realise finding a case or two of anything is a really bad way of assessing a player’s strengths or weaknesses don’t you? Is Harry Kane a shit striker because he misses chances sometimes?

 

[hughy]

I wonder if he'll be ready to play a few minutes after the international break. Our first game is Fulham at home, 8pm kick-off under the lights. Would love a little 5-10 minute cameo just to give him a feel for it again.

Of course if we don't think he's ready then we shouldn't rush him, but I just can't wait to see him in a free-flowing team. The thought makes me giddy!

 

[alexis]

Bentancur is probably our quickest CM. Eats up the ground both with and without the ball, probably not as press resistant as Bissouma but he’s not far off it. As you say he was an absolute machine for us before he got injured and probably our best player after Kane last season. Sarr has been excellent and still young but I’d prefer Bentancur in the bigger games as he edges it.

Could bentancur sit in for Maddison if and when he gets injured. Was a decent creator and scores goals.

 

[djhotspur]

Could bentancur sit in for Maddison if and when he gets injured. Was a decent creator and scores goals.

His best season at juve was playing as a 10 under sarri. Got a lot of a assists

 

[Dannyspur]

I loved the way last season that he always made himself available for a pass even when we were overloaded in midfield. He never ever hid, unlike some others. The defenders then had an option. When he got injured, that option was lost and that lead to the defence panicking on almost every occasion when we were pressed, leading to hurried misplaced passes, hoofs upfield or it ending up back with Hugo to mess up.

 

[djhotspur]

I loved the way last season that he always made himself available for a pass even when we were overloaded in midfield. He never ever hid, unlike some others. The defenders then had an option. When he got injured, that option was lost and that lead to the defence panicking on almost every occasion when we were pressed, leading to hurried misplaced passes, hoofs upfield or it ending up back with Hugo to mess up.

Yeah and the amount of times we were losing and he took it upon himself to drag us back into games

 

[mightyspur]

I wonder when he'll be back in the matchday squad and/or starting? I remember some people saying end of Sept/early Oct was a possibility, which obviously hasn't happened. Be good if it can tie in nicely with the Chelsea game, as we all know Biss will miss Fulham, then pick up his next yellow to get the suspension against Palace and miss the Chelsea game

 

[philll]

I wonder when he'll be back in the matchday squad and/or starting? I remember some people saying end of Sept/early Oct was a possibility, which obviously hasn't happened. Be good if it can tie in nicely with the Chelsea game, as we all know Biss will miss Fulham, then pick up his next yellow to get the suspension against Palace and miss the Chelsea game

Ange has been saying "not before November" for at least a month.

 

[Hoopspur]

I wonder when he'll be back in the matchday squad and/or starting? I remember some people saying end of Sept/early Oct was a possibility, which obviously hasn't happened. Be good if it can tie in nicely with the Chelsea game, as we all know Biss will miss Fulham, then pick up his next yellow to get the suspension against Palace and miss the Chelsea game

On the Standard site earlier it said still on course for November.

 

[Flashp]

It will be so so good to have him back.

IMO he's the only other player than Bissouma we have that can truly beat the oppositions press with the ball.

 

[Donki]

As others have said the recovery for an ACL injury is mostly in the mind. I only played schools level and armature rugby for my local town, I have broken a leg and done my ACL, the ACL was undoubtedly worse than the break.

The reason why is most ACL injuries aren’t impact, they just happen, usually due to yours studs sticking in the turf and your body rotating. I never played again after I done my ACL cause I always doubted my own body. I was scared to push that extra 10%, thinking I’d feel that pop again. Also the feeling of doing your ACL is actually horrendous, I still remember it 20 years on, It feels like your thigh has dropped 2-3 inches down the inside of your shin. A leg break is just pain. I’m sure he will have the best attention he can come back stronger.

No this isn’t me saying I was some sort of sporting wonder kid, I’m called Donki for a reason.

 

[mightyspur]

Ange has been saying "not before November" for at least a month.

On the Standard site earlier it said still on course for November.

6th Nov vs Chelsea it is then!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Forgot we had him we've been doing so well, he'll take our midfield up another level in place of Sarr once he's up to speed.