Player Watch Player Watch: James Maddison

[joey.leone]

Lovely stuff. Things are coming together nicely. Dare I start to dream?

 

[For the love of Spurs]

We've missed Sarr far more when he's not played than we've missed Bissouma, in my opinion. His energy is crucial to how we play.

Of course, Biss has the ability to take the ball from defenders like Dembele used to but we haven't seen that since the Luton game really. Bentancur can do that too.

Sarr and Bissouma don’t play in the same position. So really it’s a question of whether you play Bentancur deep in Bissouma’s position or Bentancur as a box to box in Sarr’s position.

 

[chas vs dave]

Sarr and Bissouma don’t play in the same position. So really it’s a question of whether you play Bentancur deep in Bissouma’s position or Bentancur as a box to box in Sarr’s.

I don't think there will be a prescribed 3. It will be more of a case of making a tweak to suit the way we want to be set up.

It's a great option to have.

 

[glospur]

We've missed Sarr far more when he's not played than we've missed Bissouma, in my opinion. His energy is crucial to how we play.

Of course, Biss has the ability to take the ball from defenders like Dembele used to but we haven't seen that since the Luton game really. Bentancur can do that too.

Yeah fair point.

I think youre right when it comes to games against the Citys and Liverpools and so on where the game is more end to end. I'd want Sarr in there for those, but i think he's far less effective against teams that sit in a low block and I'd rather Bentancur's and Biss's close control and their ability to pick a pass and beat a man respectively

 

[Styopa]

I don't think there will be a prescribed 3. It will be more of a case of making a tweak to suit the way we want to be set up.

It's a great option to have.

Yeah imo some fans (not necessarily the poster you are responding to) worry too much about having a “best” eleven or how so and so will get into the team when so and so is back.

I just don’t think the idea of a best or starting eleven reflects the reality of modern football. Ange will want to mix it up according to the opposition and for tactical reasons, and to keep things fresh, and to avoid tiredness, and to impact matches with substitutes, and to cover injuries and suspensions. It’s really important we have quality depth in the squad for those reasons.

 

[E17yid]

Yeah imo some fans (not necessarily the poster you are responding to) worry too much about having a “best” eleven or how so and so will get into the team when so and so is back.

I just don’t think the idea of a best or starting eleven reflects the reality of modern football. Ange will want to mix it up according to the opposition and for tactical reasons, and to keep things fresh, and to avoid tiredness, and to impact matches with substitutes, and to cover injuries and suspensions. It’s really important we have quality depth in the squad for those reasons.

I agree and disagree. It’s obviously a squad game and all that but you tend to have 8 or so starters and you don’t want to go rotating all the time. There’s a reason that even the players use terns like “the starting team” and stuff like that. Also I think it’s safe to assume that had we had no injuries this season we would be seeing the same 9 or 10 players starting week in week out. That number may decrease as our squad improves but not by to much imo.

 

[Styopa]

I agree and disagree. It’s obviously a squad game and all that but you tend to have 8 or so starters and you don’t want to go rotating all the time. There’s a reason that even the players use terns like “the starting team” and stuff like that. Also I think it’s safe to assume that had we had no injuries this season we would be seeing the same 9 or 10 players starting week in week out. That number may decrease as our squad improves but not by to much imo.

Oh yeah, I agree you have a “core”, and you don’t want to be making loads of changes every match, but across a season if you’re making 2 or 3 changes a match that builds up. So you might want to bring Dragusin sometimes to rotate with Romero or VdV for example, or rotate Werner/Johnson/Kulusevski and one of Sarr/Bissouma/Bentancur and even possibly Maddison with Lo Celso/ a replacement. Not all at once but two or three at a time.

 

[Japhet]

I agree and disagree. It’s obviously a squad game and all that but you tend to have 8 or so starters and you don’t want to go rotating all the time. There’s a reason that even the players use terns like “the starting team” and stuff like that. Also I think it’s safe to assume that had we had no injuries this season we would be seeing the same 9 or 10 players starting week in week out. That number may decrease as our squad improves but not by to much imo.

Part of Man City's strength is that they don't operate like that. They have huge strength in depth and use it all of the time.

 

[E17yid]

Part of Man City's strength is that they don't operate like that. They have huge strength in depth and use it all of the time.

City are a bit of an exception really but even then I’d say more than half their team are core starters but you’re right they do face an embarrassment of riches where there’s no drop off in quality on the bench.

 

[Japhet]

City are a bit of an exception really but even then I’d say more than half their team are core starters but you’re right they do face an embarrassment of riches where there’s no drop off in quality on the bench.

I think it's what we have to aspire to if we want to be competitive. We've already seen a huge drop off this season with just a couple of key players out.

 

[E17yid]

I think it's what we have to aspire to if we want to be competitive. We've already seen a huge drop off this season with just a couple of key players out.

If we can get some of their accountants and lawyers to cook the books then sure.

 

[Japhet]

If we can get some of their accountants and lawyers to cook the books then sure.

Levy has managed to put the infrastructure in place that dwarf's what City legitimately bring in. Sure, fans moan and whinge about ticket prices, but it's been a big part of putting us where we are when so many others are struggling with FFP.

 

[E17yid]

Levy has managed to put the infrastructure in place that dwarf's what City legitimately bring in. Sure, fans moan and whinge about ticket prices, but it's been a big part of putting us where we are when so many others are struggling with FFP.

Yeah true hopefully we see a bit of shift in the next few years that favours well run clubs but I won’t hold my breath. Its also annoying how city have this conveyer belt of academy/young talent come through, to such an extent that they can afford to let ballers like Palmer go and it’s no big deal.

 

[T-Bone]

Personally I disagree. I think it's Sarr that misses out if everyone's fit. Madders, Bentancur, Biss are the three best options atm imo

What a lovely problem it will be to have!

 

[easley91]

Sarr on current form would have to play over Bissouma IMO.

But this is the Maddison thread and I cannot wait for his return next Friday.

 

[Hotspur88]

Sarr on current form would have to play over Bissouma IMO.

But this is the Maddison thread and I cannot wait for his return next Friday.

Agreed, my three would be Bentancur, Sarr & Maddison based on what we've seen over the course of the season. However, if I based my selections on the best we've seen of all of them at points in their Spurs careers it would be Bissouma, Bentancur & Maddison.

 

[archiewasking]

Sarr on current form would have to play over Bissouma IMO.

But this is the Maddison thread and I cannot wait for his return next Friday.

Just wait. It'll be Skipp, PEH and Deki.

 

[stevespurs]

Madders and Deki both back real soon. I’m genuinely excited.

 

[stevespurs]

Skipp, Bents and Madders maybe v city

 

[Gassin's finest]

Part of Man City's strength is that they don't operate like that. They have huge strength in depth and use it all of the time.

They're still pretty much lost without De Bruyne.