Player Watch: Ryan Mason

[fatpiranha]

The only concern I have over Mason is his ability to stay healthy. If he does he's going to be a fantastic player for us for years to come.,

 

[prawnsandwich]

I think out of everyone on the pitch, Mason has shown the qualities we need to help get our attacking players into the game. I think it shows he came through our academy playing the push and run style passing play they used to such great effect last year.

He's always looking to go forward, and while we've always been looking to replace the passing of Modric, Mason in time may just be a viable alternative. Only rather by looking to run forward with the ball, laying it off and then looking to get the ball back again in a more forward position.

Yes his defensive game needs work, but all his starts have been in a cm2 against arsenal, Saints, and City. If you could ever ask for a tougher start I don't think you'd find it.

Don't forget his goal and game changing contribution against Forest.
Next game up is Newcastle and I am quietly confident he will be able to step up a notch in that game.

 

[Bobbins]

Mason did his job well enough in three very difficult matches against Arsenal, Saints and City. I think he will impress even more against bottom half teams as he has less work to do in defense and we have more possession.

This is where he'll start to really impress I think - his ability to get into dangerous positions a-la Lampard by making late runs into the box will really show up as the season goes on - he'll end up being like Paulinho was supposed to be I reckon. And as a consequence, he'll probably sign Paulinho's death warrent with regards to his time at Spurs as well.

Shame we didn't try him last summer instead of spending that £17m eh? Hindsight and all that.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

@Kendall

I'll revise my statement- the 3 is working to the extent where it would be stupid to drop any of them yet...

@prawnsandwich - why the disagree? All have had episodes of productiveness and we are seeing signs of them coming together as a unit opposed to individuals? Just as Poch is implementing his style and with the fact all 3 have shown positive this season why would chop and change now?

We always talk about partnerships in defence for understanding etc-these 3 will be no different.

 

[prawnsandwich]

If someone has a bad performance they should be dropped. I can't see why that is an issue.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

If someone has a bad performance they should be dropped. I can't see why that is an issue.

Then there would be no stability. You can't have it both ways. Should we drop Lloris if he has a bad game?

 

[ginola99]

Then there would be no stability. You can't have it both ways. Should we drop Lloris if he has a bad game?

Agreed.

I'd say when on form Paulinho/Dembele is better than Mason but for me Mason makes the team tick, at least more than it has since we lost Modric. What we've needed is just someone who can get the team moving not stand around passing or wondering to who the f*** to pass to, that's why despite his age I would've bitten your hand off if you offered me Andrea Pirlo, even if it was for just one year.

 

[carpediem1906]

@Kendall

I'll revise my statement- the 3 is working to the extent where it would be stupid to drop any of them yet...

the 3 is working - your earlier comment.
As a tactic, yes I'd agree.
In terms of starting 11 and first choice personnel - Chadli Eriksen Lamela are showing that they deserve to start. And given time, indeed, I see them gelling even better.

My point is not to drop them as in leave them out of the starting 11 per se, my point is what if at half time, one of them or somehow it isn't working.... then what?

All I'm saying is I'd much rather see Mason being pushed up to the 3 when 1 of them isn't performing / injured than see Townsend, for instance.

 

[DaSpurs]

the 3 is working - your earlier comment.
As a tactic, yes I'd agree.
In terms of starting 11 and first choice personnel - Chadli Eriksen Lamela are showing that they deserve to start. And given time, indeed, I see them gelling even better.

My point is not to drop them as in leave them out of the starting 11 per se, my point is what if at half time, one of them or somehow it isn't working.... then what?

All I'm saying is I'd much rather see Mason being pushed up to the 3 when 1 of them isn't performing / injured than see Townsend, for instance.

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I think Townsend will be one of the ones to benefit the most from bringing in a consistently dangerous striker or another attacker of genuine pace. Defenders know exactly how to defend against him, and in our recent setups of timid forward passing (until this thread's namesake was implemented) and an attacking corps consisting mainly of creative players without pace to drag defenders out of position or a dangerous striker that demands the attention of the CB's so they can't quickly assist the FB closing on a winger, how have we expected Townsend to somehow find his feet when he comes on late into games?

In a toothless setup, it's just all too easy for opponents to shut down a player like Townsend. Suffocate his supply and double team him ASAP so he can't break. Done. He loses confidence and his own fanbase continues the abuse.

The kid deserves more patience. He's one of our own, and the chance he's received has been minimal and he's struggled just as much as Soldado with weak service from the central midfield positions.

 

[Kendall]

@prawnsandwich - why the disagree? All have had episodes of productiveness and we are seeing signs of them coming together as a unit opposed to individuals? Just as Poch is implementing his style and with the fact all 3 have shown positive this season why would chop and change now?

We always talk about partnerships in defence for understanding etc-these 3 will be no different.

They've all shown good performances individually (which is a step up for Lamela and Chadli last year), but I've seen no evidence at all of a cohesive unit between the three, completely different wavelengths most of the time.

 

[fatpiranha]

Agreed.

I'd say when on form Paulinho/Dembele is better than Mason but for me Mason makes the team tick, at least more than it has since we lost Modric. What we've needed is just someone who can get the team moving not stand around passing or wondering to who the f*** to pass to, that's why despite his age I would've bitten your hand off if you offered me Andrea Pirlo, even if it was for just one year.

A lot of us who watched the pre-season games realised that Mason could be the cog that made the team tick. We have good passers of the ball but nobody who passed well quickly. Getting the ball to our attacking players before the opposition defence has a chance to organise itself was the missing link, and Mason has provided it.

 

[rambu]

The only concern I have over Mason is his ability to stay healthy. If he does he's going to be a fantastic player for us for years to come.,

What were his previous injuries, anyone recall? ACL/MCL?
Just want to know if he got any with serious long term effects, and how he look physically (apart from being thicker now) during the 1 score per game days.

Also his tackles, esp sliding tackles always scare me. Most of them seemed dangerous, late, or borderline yellow to me. An indication of him trying to make up for lost positions IMO, and can easily get someone, including himself, injured.

 

[spurs9]

A lot of us who watched the pre-season games realised that Mason could be the cog that made the team tick. We have good passers of the ball but nobody who passed well quickly. Getting the ball to our attacking players before the opposition defence has a chance to organise itself was the missing link, and Mason has provided it.

A big problem, IMO, is who does that job if Mason is injured and who does it for the Cup/EL games? I think Benaleb could be that player eventually but is too conservative and happy to slow play down at the moment. I think we could benefit from an experienced player with that skillset who also is very determined, never gives up and influential to replace Dembele. Both Mason and Bentaleb could learn a lot from such a player.Can't think of who is realistic though.

 

[Darrkespur]

A big problem, IMO, is who does that job if Mason is injured and who does it for the Cup/EL games? I think Benaleb could be that player eventually but is too conservative and happy to slow play down at the moment. I think we could benefit from an experienced player with that skillset who also is very determined, never gives up and influential to replace Dembele. Both Mason and Bentaleb could learn a lot from such a player.Can't think of who is realistic though.

It should have been Scheniderlein, but that time might have been and gone...

 

[SlickMongoose]

We could try Harry Winks.

 

[thinktank]

A big problem, IMO, is who does that job if Mason is injured and who does it for the Cup/EL games? I think Benaleb could be that player eventually but is too conservative and happy to slow play down at the moment. I think we could benefit from an experienced player with that skillset who also is very determined, never gives up and influential to replace Dembele. Both Mason and Bentaleb could learn a lot from such a player.Can't think of who is realistic though.

Stambouli looks like he could do a job but still needs time to adjust. I think this guy's got a lot to offer.

 

[1981yid]

would love to see Carrol alongside Mason as the 2 holding midfielders, think we would see some really slick, quick passing football start to develop. Maybe next season?

 

[spurs9]

Stambouli looks like he could do a job but still needs time to adjust. I think this guy's got a lot to offer.

I agree and think he will end up taking Capoue's place, but I just not sure Dembele fits long term and don't think Stambouli, Capoue, Mason and Bentaleb is enough.

Never though I would say this and I disagreed with posters who suggested it in the summer, but I wouldn't mind bringing in Milner in for Dembele. Another option, though he lacks experience and leadership skill is Rabiot, he will be a top player one day. Both players have contracts that expire in June too.

 

[spurs9]

We could try Harry Winks.

A bit too early for Winks I think.

 

[spurs9]

would love to see Carrol alongside Mason as the 2 holding midfielders, think we would see some really slick, quick passing football start to develop. Maybe next season?

That pairing would be too soft and would get bullied by most midfields. Maybe Carrol with Capoue or Stambouli and Mason pushed up a bit into the 2 would work.