Tottenham’s FA Cup match versus Leicester is a huge opportunity for Nabil Bentaleb
Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has had a season to forget so far. He’s followed up on his excellent 2014-15 with an absolute clunker that’s been marred by injury. If he wants to get back into the mix for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, he needs to show up in today’s match versus Leicester.
Last year it seemed that the Algerian midfielder would be a fixture in Pochettino’s defensive midfield for years to come. This year he’s only managed to make two starts and has posted a horrific Whoscored.com player rating of 6.28. He’s been Tottenham’s biggest disappointment on the season by a wide margin.
Today he gets the start alongside Tom Carroll in a weakened Tottenham lineup versus Leicester in the FA Cup. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Bentaleb’s performance today will set the tone for the rest of his season.
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If he’s able to step into the lineup and control the action against the Foxes I think he has a chance to win a great deal of favor with Pochettino. He’s starting alongside Tom Carroll so he’s going to have plenty of opportunity to prop up the back four. I think that’s Bentaleb’s best role for Spurs. He likes to go forward but his real skill is being able to break up play and recycle possession.
You know that playing alongside Carroll means that Bentaleb will have to play as the more defensive midfielder. He needs to embrace this role and shield the defense. He’s got the ability to do it. We saw it over and over again last year. Today he needs to prove that it isn’t gone for good.
If he can’t put in a really good performance today versus Leicester, I think he’s going to find himself on the periphery of the squad for the remainder of the season. The midfield is already a crowded spot with Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Carroll, Ryan Mason and Mouse Dembele as potential alternatives to Bentaleb. He’s not going to get a myriad of chances to prove he’s regained last year’s form.
If he can’t step up and distinguish himself today against Leicester I just can’t see Pochettino trusting him in any other important matches. It would take a serious injury crisis to put him back into the lineup.
The remaining games in the Premier League slate will be too important to risk an ineffective Bentaleb in such an important position. Pochettino will continue to go with the players he trusts. The defensive midfielders who’ve gotten Tottenham to fourth place in the Premier League table. It would take a miraculous run of form from Bentaleb in training to overtake a player who has put in solid performances all year.
As you watch Tottenham versus Leicester today, pay special attention to how Nabil Bentaleb performs in the middle of the pitch. He needs a truly commanding performance to force his way back into Pochettino’s good graces.