Despite claiming third in the Premier League and earning a return to the Champions League, the mood around White Hart Lane was not terribly cheerful come the end of the season.
Great progress had been made over the course of the campaign, especially since a top four finish did not seem likely 12 months ago, but a late collapse spoiled Tottenham’s party. The fact that it was bitter rivals Arsenal who jumped above them on the final day of the season just compounded the pain.
One thing the club must have learned over the course of the season is that there seemed to be one man missing when it all went wrong. Not just towards the end but every blip in Spurs’ season seemed to carry the same theme. There was no Mousa Dembélé.
Every time he was unavailable, his absence was felt. Tottenham lost just 7% of their games in which the Belgian played. They lost 44% of the fixtures he did not feature in. His influence on the team was massive.
After a mediocre few seasons since his switch from Fulham in 2012, the midfielder looked set to leave the club in the summer. His ability was never in doubt, he could just never put it together. But this season it just all seemed to click for the Belgian.
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Not many players in world football can compare to Dembélé’s unique blend of strength and grace. It is hard to replicate the way he glides his powerful frame across the pitch and absorb any opposition contact as if it were a light breeze. This season he seemed more aware of his role in Mauricio Pochettino’s system and thrived under his guidance. He went to a level that we had to yet to see, but one which was always there.
Any club in the world would find it be hard to replace a player of his quality if he was injured or rested but Tottenham’s backup options just were not good enough. Ryan Mason and Tom Carroll tried to fill the void unsuccessfully. Both look set to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window.
Victor Wanyama has been heavily linked to the club in the past few weeks and seems likely to challenge Eric Dier for his more defensive midfield spot if he arrives. But Spurs could already have a player on their books capable of deputising for Dembélé on the other side of the pivot.
Nabil Bentaleb had a season to forget through a combination of injury and doubts about his attitude. He only played 684 minutes (just under eight games worth of playing time) the entire season. All signs pointed to an early exit this summer but reports now suggest his future will remain at White Hart Lane. If he is brought in from the cold, he has the ability to not just challenge Dembélé next season but the potential to take his crown in the next few years.
In the 2014-15 campaign, Bentaleb quickly earned a starting role under new boss Pochettino. While his intelligence, passing ability and tenacity quickly earned him plaudits, his partnership with fellow academy graduate Mason did not do him many favours.
He was forced to take a more defensive role out of the pair and that did not always play to his strengths. He was forced to sit back and put a lid on his more offensive capabilities. The equally adventurous Mason was not much help on the defensive side of things.
While his commitment and tackling are strong parts of his game, his positioning is not and that led many to believe he could not cut it as a holding midfielder as the goals flowed into the Spurs net at a steady rate.
He just needs to be put in a more suitable role. We could see him at his best if paired with a proper defensive midfielder like Dier. In many ways, the Algerian is very similar to Dembélé. The attributes the Belgian possesses and which allowed him to thrive this past season are ones he shares with his potential protégé. Both are capable passers in tight spaces, strong dribblers and defensively sound.
The statistics from Bentaleb’s first season under Pochettino in comparison to Dembélé’s latest show his ability to step up and replicate if needed. His passing accuracy (87%) is close to the Belgian’s (90%) as is his ability take a man on and beat him with the dribble (85% to 90%). His successful tackles are similar as well (46% to 60%).
There is plenty of room for him to grow. The Algerian needs to improve on dealing with pressure when building the play out from the back and sharpen his decision making. That is something that often builds with age. Yet he also offers something a little different. He can provide a better passing platform from deep, with his long range passing and penetration via clever through balls giving him an edge over Dembélé.
Tottenham suffered badly when Mousa Dembélé was missing and will need to commit to finding the right person to back him up next season. It is looking likely more competition will be brought in from outside to bulk up Spurs’ lightweight midfield. But they should seriously consider someone already at the club to push their Belgian star.
One poor season does not wipe away the potential Nabil Bentaleb possesses, even if his fight, intelligence and ability seems to have been forgotten in a write-off season. At just 21, there is so much time for him to grow. He is capable of great things for Tottenham and may just have the perfect role to begin to show that next season.
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