Player Watch Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

[Rout-Ledge]

It’s been said before but he really is like having a midfield Berbatov. Pure class.

 

[Athenspur]

Armband or no armband, Bentancur is the real captain of this team.

 

[4shambles]

A very hard task to pick a favourite Spurs player these days with this squad. My son and I tried to come up with a top 3 and narrowed it down to a top 8 .

But if really pushed, Lolo is top for me because of everything he brings to the team as whole. He’s the oil in the engine. He makes it purr. And yet on top of that brings many moments of greatness.

Yes all of this and don't forget he has a gritty determination second to none - something silky players often lack. Definitely my favourite current player.

 

[EQP]

Yeah, Ange alluded to this in a presser after Rodrigo was injured in the Villa game, that he was looking forward to seeing Bissouma and Bentancur start and had "all the plans" tied to playing having them feature.

It was Ally Gold who asked the question in that presser and even brings it up back during his most recent video.

 

[Yantino]

Last two performances have been pretty poor by his standards.

Hope he is ok and he is just building up fitness.

 

[Wick3d]

He came back from a pretty serious injury and then immediately got injured again. I really don't expect him to hit his previous heights until next season.

 

[Hotspur88]

One of my favourite players but he's playing well within himself currently which I completely appreciate after such a long time out. But he needs to start rediscovering his pre-injury form because with Bissouma coming back and Sarr now back, he will find himself on the bench very quickly. Lovely to finally have options in the CM position though

 

[Danny1]

One of my favourite players but he's playing well within himself currently which I completely appreciate after such a long time out. But he needs to start rediscovering his pre-injury form because with Bissouma coming back and Sarr now back, he will find himself on the bench very quickly. Lovely to finally have options in the CM position though

Agreed, think it’s safe to say that Bissouma, Sarr and Maddison (if all fit) should start against Brighton and Bentancur can come on when needed. He clearly isn’t up to full speed yet and is getting run rings round at the minute.

Everton had a midfield 3 of Garner, Gueye and Harrison and they dominated us. That’s pretty embarrassing.

 

[FinnYid]

Pre-injury Bentancur is better than Bissouma. Doesn't lose the ball and highly consistent. He was CL-worthy.
Unsure if he would go back to that level.

Pre-injury Bentancur played in a team that played very different football. Hopefully he will adjust into Ange's style of football given time

 

[bubble07]

That 30 min spell v villa was the best I've seen from anyone. Think we are comparing him to that game well I am anyway and he is well off it

 

[ultimateloner]

Pre-injury Bentancur played in a team that played very different football. Hopefully he will adjust into Ange's style of football given time

Thats what appealed to me about him. We were alot worse on the ball back then and still he consistently stood out.

 

[mil1lion]

Agreed, think it’s safe to say that Bissouma, Sarr and Maddison (if all fit) should start against Brighton and Bentancur can come on when needed. He clearly isn’t up to full speed yet and is getting run rings round at the minute.

Everton had a midfield 3 of Garner, Gueye and Harrison and they dominated us. That’s pretty embarrassing.

I don't see how Bissouma can start given he's not played for us in a while and not been playing much at AFCON. Issue is neither Bissouma or Bentancur are fully up to speed at the moment. Although I think Bentancur having played the last few games will be more likely to play back into form. I think a week before the next game and no travel he's in the better place to start.

So expect Hojbjerg to start instead

 

[Danny1]

I don't see how Bissouma can start given he's not played for us in a while and not been playing much at AFCON. Issue is neither Bissouma or Bentancur are fully up to speed at the moment. Although I think Bentancur having played the last few games will be more likely to play back into form. I think a week before the next game and no travel he's in the better place to start.

So expect Hojbjerg to start instead

Yeah I don’t disagree. Thing is we can’t play the way we want to with PEH, he just doesn’t have the skill set needed for us to play our game successfully.

 

[cjsimba]

Yeah I don’t disagree. Thing is we can’t play the way we want to with PEH, he just doesn’t have the skill set needed for us to play our game successfully.

I sang that bit in my head as I read it.

....with Big Ange Postecogluuuu

 

[Tucker]

He’s been pretty anonymous since coming back from the ankle injury, that half an hour against Villa was pretty good until he got crocked by that thug Cash.

But he’s now playing more like I expected him to after 9-10 months out. I think the Villa cameo just got all our hope up too high. We need to remember he’s had no preseason, he’s coming back from one of the most difficult injuries to recover from and he’s been playing in what’s a makeshift midfield.

Once Bissouma, and Sarr are up to speed I’d expect him to be only coming off the bench for a few games and building his fitness up again. He‘s a quality player, he’s just not 100% is he.

 

[spursville]

I wonder if he's carrying an injury or hasn't fully recovered from the previous two. I hope he's not struggling through until an operation at the end of the season.

 

[Tucker]

I wonder if he's carrying an injury or hasn't fully recovered from the previous two. I hope he's not struggling through until an operation at the end of the season.

I think he’s still not properly recovered the ankle injury. He doesn’t seem anywhere near as mobile as he did against Villa. I don’t think it’s anything else, he just needs a rest once we get other players back.

 

[CookieYiddo]

He is clearly lacking the fitness he needs to bounce back to 100%

 

[Hazelton]

Everyone is off it at the moment, which is understandable considering the disruption to the team that we've faced all season. Between suspensions, injuries and international tournaments we've rarely had our midfielders playing and training together at all. Takes a while to gel, can't just stick talented players alongside eachother and expect instant chemistry. Ask Chelsea.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Yeah I don’t disagree. Thing is we can’t play the way we want to with PEH, he just doesn’t have the skill set needed for us to play our game successfully.

So possibly we could try playing a slightly different way, a way that best suits the players we do have available? Contentious, I know…