Missing Mason...

[BringBack_leGin]

I think our best midfield 3 is Dier, Alli and Dembele, and when we're missing one of them we don't look as strong. For me Mason is the best outside those three though and is a useful replacement, whereas with Carroll and Bentaleb there is more of a drop in quality.

Our main issue in terms of creativity though is our creative players. Eriksen and Lamela still flatter to deceive more often than players of their quality should, and there's still part of me that thinks we should play one or the other and not both.

Agree with pretty much all of that. I'm happy with any 2 of Dembele, Alli and Mason (with Dier sitting). I'd question our quality there if Lamela and Eriksen were not seeing enough ball in dangerous areas, but they are. Those two are not creating enough for home much of the play goes through them and I'm beginning to think it should be one or the other with a more direct option like Son on the other side.

Dier Dembele
Lamela Alli Son

Just feels like it works better.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Agree with pretty much all of that. I'm happy with any 2 of Dembele, Alli and Mason (with Dier sitting). I'd question our quality there if Lamela and Eriksen were not seeing enough ball in dangerous areas, but they are. Those two are not creating enough for home much of the play goes through them and I'm beginning to think it should be one or the other with a more direct option like Son on the other side.

Dier Dembele
Lamela Alli Son

Just feels like it works better.

I'd have alli further back and dembele in am.

 

[Lemon]

At the moment I would be inclined to start something like this:

------Dier---Eriksen-----
Lamela--Alli----Son

Against Sunderland at home anyway, let's load up and attack, I'd even support Dembele or Mason in Dier's place.

Get some extra guile in central midfield, test if Eriksen can excel in a slightly different position (still the more attacking of the two, just a lower starting position and more cover responsibility).

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think our best midfield 3 is Dier, Alli and Dembele, and when we're missing one of them we don't look as strong. For me Mason is the best outside those three though and is a useful replacement, whereas with Carroll and Bentaleb there is more of a drop in quality.

Our main issue in terms of creativity though is our creative players. Eriksen and Lamela still flatter to deceive more often than players of their quality should, and there's still part of me that thinks we should play one or the other and not both.

Do you not think that players like Eriksen, Lamela and Son would benefit from having two CM's like Mason and Bentaleb who are more dynamic, show for the ball far more, move it quicker, far more pro-active and progressive passers than the likes of Dier, Alli and Dembele when they play as CM's. Dier's a solid soldier but there's nothing inventive about his game, Dembele is tenacious and is really hard to knock off the ball but often by the time he releases it the opposition are well set. We continually lose control of games with every combination we've played this season, the one combination we haven't played is Mason and Bentaleb.

Personally I can't wait to see these two back in tandem for a little run of games, I think results have been a bit flattering at times and we've sacrificed some "football" for some solidity, sacrificed some pro-activeness for reactiveness. I am really looking forward myself to seeing Mason and Bentaleb's partnership being renewed with the harder and more coherent front four we have now ahead of them, the more positionally disciplined way our full backs have been playing to the side of them and one of the best CB pairings behind them. It's the one combination we have yet to play, and it's no coincidence, IMO, that we haven't hit a performance this year as complete as the games against Arsenal and Liverpool last year, with those two in our CM2.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Do you not think that players like Eriksen, Lamela and Son would benefit from having two CM's like Mason and Bentaleb who are more dynamic, show for the ball far more, move it quicker, far more pro-active and progressive passers than the likes of Dier, Alli and Dembele when they play as CM's. Dier's a solid soldier but there's nothing inventive about his game, Dembele is tenacious and is really hard to knock off the ball but often by the time he releases it the opposition are well set. We continually lose control of games with every combination we've played this season, the one combination we haven't played is Mason and Bentaleb.

Personally I can't wait to see these two back in tandem for a little run of games, I think results have been a bit flattering at times and we've sacrificed some "football" for some solidity, sacrificed some pro-activeness for reactiveness. I am really looking forward myself to seeing Mason and Bentaleb's partnership being renewed with the harder and more coherent front four we have now ahead of them, the more positionally disciplined way our full backs have been playing to the side of them and one of the best CB pairings behind them. It's the one combination we have yet to play, and it's no coincidence, IMO, that we haven't hit a performance this year as complete as the games against Arsenal and Liverpool last year, with those two in our CM2.

Didn't you learn anything from championing the inclusion of Cristian Ceballos in our starting eleven?

 

[Jamturk]

This season for me Dembele is the 1st name on the team sheet.

 

[Bobbins]

We miss his forward runs, his positive passing, his creativity, his shooting and his ability to create space for others - but most of all we miss his aggression and determination to win.

Carroll is a tidy player and Dier is growing into his role and will be a top player in years to come - but right now we miss Mason in the heart of our team desperately.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Do you not think that players like Eriksen, Lamela and Son would benefit from having two CM's like Mason and Bentaleb who are more dynamic, show for the ball far more, move it quicker, far more pro-active and progressive passers than the likes of Dier, Alli and Dembele when they play as CM's. Dier's a solid soldier but there's nothing inventive about his game, Dembele is tenacious and is really hard to knock off the ball but often by the time he releases it the opposition are well set. We continually lose control of games with every combination we've played this season, the one combination we haven't played is Mason and Bentaleb.

Personally I can't wait to see these two back in tandem for a little run of games, I think results have been a bit flattering at times and we've sacrificed some "football" for some solidity, sacrificed some pro-activeness for reactiveness. I am really looking forward myself to seeing Mason and Bentaleb's partnership being renewed with the harder and more coherent front four we have now ahead of them, the more positionally disciplined way our full backs have been playing to the side of them and one of the best CB pairings behind them. It's the one combination we have yet to play, and it's no coincidence, IMO, that we haven't hit a performance this year as complete as the games against Arsenal and Liverpool last year, with those two in our CM2.

I'm a big fan of both mason and bentaleb, but they did leave us defensively exposed when playing in tandem last season. However, against teams such as Leicester and Sunderland, defensive solidity shouldn't be pursued above attacking intent.

It is perplexing how mason and bentaleb have been made into scapegoats by sections of our fans. Bentaleb's thread on this forum in particular has lamela levels of biased revisionism.

 

[mattyzb]

@mattyzb
Offer some debate dude it's what forums are for why and what do you dislike I am pretty certain I won't take offence mate.

Sorry would of just accidentally done it on my phone

 

[philip]

This season for me Dembele is the 1st name on the team sheet.

Dier first imo

 

[hughy]

This season for me Dembele is the 1st name on the team sheet.

I love him, but I think I'd have 3 or 4 on there before him.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Do you not think that players like Eriksen, Lamela and Son would benefit from having two CM's like Mason and Bentaleb who are more dynamic, show for the ball far more, move it quicker, far more pro-active and progressive passers than the likes of Dier, Alli and Dembele when they play as CM's. Dier's a solid soldier but there's nothing inventive about his game, Dembele is tenacious and is really hard to knock off the ball but often by the time he releases it the opposition are well set. We continually lose control of games with every combination we've played this season, the one combination we haven't played is Mason and Bentaleb.

Personally I can't wait to see these two back in tandem for a little run of games, I think results have been a bit flattering at times and we've sacrificed some "football" for some solidity, sacrificed some pro-activeness for reactiveness. I am really looking forward myself to seeing Mason and Bentaleb's partnership being renewed with the harder and more coherent front four we have now ahead of them, the more positionally disciplined way our full backs have been playing to the side of them and one of the best CB pairings behind them. It's the one combination we have yet to play, and it's no coincidence, IMO, that we haven't hit a performance this year as complete as the games against Arsenal and Liverpool last year, with those two in our CM2.

I think your comments are in hope rather than what's actually going to happen. I doubt we'll see the partnership again this season.

 

[richard_gleeson]

Dembele has to be the first name on the team sheet. He is the strongest centre midfielder. But agree that Mason is good at breaking from midfield and getting in the box. Not sure about Alli behind Kane, I also think Alli should play deeper. We need a creative attacking midfielder.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think you're comments are in hope rather than what's actually going to happen. I doubt we'll see the partnership again this season.

I fear you are probably right. I think for the games last week (Leicester & Sunderland) these two would have been much better though - given they were match sharp and anywhere near their best.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Dembele has to be the first name on the team sheet. He is the strongest centre midfielder. But agree that Mason is good at breaking from midfield and getting in the box. Not sure about Alli behind Kane, I also think Alli should play deeper. We need a creative attacking midfielder.

If you could name me three consecutive great games Dembele has had at CM I'd be more convinced.

Dembele is tenacious, diligent and almost impossible to knock off the ball, but think about the type of football we are trying to play and opposition we face and their tactics and way they play.

I can happily make a really good case for Dembele playing in the attacking midfield (either ACM or ARM) where his tenacity, work ethic, pressing, ability to hold the ball up and dribble at bamboozled defenders is invariably a huge positive. But I really don't think his qualities best serve a team that needs to win and transition the ball quickly before obdurate opponents get themselves entrenched. Especially next to Dier and especially especially with Alli centrally ahead of them.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

This season for me Dembele is the 1st name on the team sheet.

After Kane and Lloris, yes

 

[timdissy]

And Toby

 

[WiganSpur]

I think one of Mason or Bentaleb needs to come back into the team and personally I wouldn't play one of Dier or Alli against the bus parkers because we need more progressive passing and creativity in such games.

We are also missing forward runs in behind the defence. It was our problem at the start of the season and that's why we signed Son and Njie but now neither of them are featuring regularly so the problems are coming back again.

If there is one negative to Pochettino it's his occasional lack of adaptability personnel wise in games, but I do understand also that it can potentially upset the rhythm of a team.

But if we are playing Sunderland at home then there is no need for all three of Dier, Alli and Dembele to be starting.

When fit we should go for Mason and Dier with Dembele further forward for a good combination of skills. I like Alli but playing those 3 doesn't really work against packed defences, so someone has to miss out for Mason or Bentaleb so we can move the ball better against lesser sides.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

At the moment I would be inclined to start something like this:

------Dier---Eriksen-----
Lamela--Alli----Son

Against Sunderland at home anyway, let's load up and attack, I'd even support Dembele or Mason in Dier's place.

Get some extra guile in central midfield, test if Eriksen can excel in a slightly different position (still the more attacking of the two, just a lower starting position and more cover responsibility).

I agree that Dier isn't necessary for some home games, but I'd say Dembele has been our best midfielder, so needs to start...even if not at CM.

 

[philip]

Do you not think that players like Eriksen, Lamela and Son would benefit from having two CM's like Mason and Bentaleb who are more dynamic, show for the ball far more, move it quicker, far more pro-active and progressive passers than the likes of Dier, Alli and Dembele when they play as CM's. Dier's a solid soldier but there's nothing inventive about his game, Dembele is tenacious and is really hard to knock off the ball but often by the time he releases it the opposition are well set. We continually lose control of games with every combination we've played this season, the one combination we haven't played is Mason and Bentaleb.

Personally I can't wait to see these two back in tandem for a little run of games, I think results have been a bit flattering at times and we've sacrificed some "football" for some solidity, sacrificed some pro-activeness for reactiveness. I am really looking forward myself to seeing Mason and Bentaleb's partnership being renewed with the harder and more coherent front four we have now ahead of them, the more positionally disciplined way our full backs have been playing to the side of them and one of the best CB pairings behind them. It's the one combination we have yet to play, and it's no coincidence, IMO, that we haven't hit a performance this year as complete as the games against Arsenal and Liverpool last year, with those two in our CM2.

No I don't. I think the reason our FBs can help join the attack, which is vital when our wide-strikers cut inside, is because of Dier at DM who can and does drop back to make almost a back three at times.

Neither Mason nor Bentaleb can do that.