It may seem strange to be discussing “Is Dembélé the Best Swap for Bentaleb?”, but in 2015, Nabil Bentaleb will be competing in the African Cup of Nations representing Algeria. As a constant member of the starting eleven, he’ll have to be replaced by someone else, where Spurs do have some options to choose between.
Mousa Dembélé has been out of favour recently, ashamedly so for a player of his calibre. Consistency has been his downfall, but with Bentaleb gone, a second chance presents itself. Alongside Ryan Mason, Dembélé will operate in a deeper role while Mason goes on the attack. The two could rotate at various points during the match, which would allow the Belgian to showcase his abilities in the final third. Frustrated fans would rather have him play as a more attacking player, due to his strength, skill and lethal shot.
Back in the day, Dembélé was a centre-forward for Fulham. During his time at Spurs, only glimpses of his former role have come to light; the last gasp winner against Lyon in the Europa League, or even his skilful first goal against Norwich come to mind. However, these seem to be rare gems, as he often plays too deep to make an impact. He often skips past one or two challenges, only to sideways or backwards. The spark has suddenly dampened: a spark unlikely to reignite without a consistent run of games. Bentaleb’s temporary departure may just put him out of a place if Dembélé can prove himself. Even if he doesn’t start, he will be the next best option on the bench. He’s quite likely to be overshadowed by the Frenchman Benjamin Stambouli.
Stambouli’s first Spurs goal was a tap-in, following Soldado’s shot off the post in the Europa League. Fortunate to find him, but in the right place at the right time. Similarly, Stambouli has been favoured by Pochettino since he joined Spurs. Per 90 minutes (Squawka) Stambouli has more average tackles than any other Spurs midfielder with 3.62, making him a perfect choice in defensive midfield and allowing Mason to advance further up the pitch.
Interestingly, he also has 2.41 aerial challenges per game; the second most for any midfielder, pipped at the post by none other than Paulinho. Statistics shows Stambouli is a solid choice for Bentaleb’s replacement. Already Pochettino has begun to introduce him more when possible, and he seems to be favourite to fill the void. However, is it the right choice? It depends on what team Spurs are playing. Any Top Four side will demand the presence of at least one defensive midfielder, with Stambouli statistically the best option. However, against smaller sides or less important games, would Dembélé be a better option? Possessing both qualities of attacking guile and defensive graft, he could form a cog in a very sleek Spurs midfield. Abolish last minute winners, put those matches to bed. Play Dembélé.
Etienne Capoue is another choice. His passing is a valuable asset, along with his strength and defensive work. However, as with Stambouli, Dembélé is better going forward. Moussa is an all-rounder. His tackling, 3.32 per game, puts him second for tackles overall and he has the highest number of take-ons, with 3.1 per game. This serves to illustrate how he is blessed with the talent to perform both attacking and defensive roles.
Pochettino will have a few choices to make before Bentaleb travels in 2015. At the moment, Stambouli seems at the top of the list, but that could easily change if Dembélé was given a chance.
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