Whilst some fans may label me fickle, I want to make it clear that this is not a knee-jerk response to what happened last Sunday at the Emirates. The less said on that matter, the better, but it’s not the first time I’ve noticed a certain defender disappoint on the big stage. The man I refer to is Benoit Assou-Ekotto, whose lapses in concentration and insistence on risky play has put Tottenham under undue pressure this season.
BAE is usually at his best when Spurs are in full-flow. He’s great bolting down the flanks and lending support to Tottenham’s attack. So long as Spurs spend most of the game in the opponent’s half, BAE looks like a star. It’s when an opponent puts Tottenham under the cosh that Assou-Ekotto looks woefully exposed.
If Tottenham aren’t playing well, you can bet your life that BAE isn’t playing well and I wonder how long it is until teams start targeting him. Part of the problem is that BAE doesn’t seem particularly well organised. He often gets caught out of position, goes for unnecessary strolls and confounds the rest of Tottenham’s backline.
There have been numerous occasions this season when BAE was responsible for Tottenham conceding goals. Consider his shoddy performance against Man City. It was well known that City were strong down the wings and that Tottenham’s full-backs would need to perform if they were to get anything from the game. Unfortunately BAE didn’t really turn up and City found plenty of purchase down his side of the pitch.
What about his clearance in the game against Wigan which ended up dropping to Mohamed Diame who hit it home? Or his failure to close down the Tom Cleverley cross that Danny Welbeck ended up scoring from in the game against Manchester United?
Then, of course is the game against Arsenal last weekend where he was torn apart by the Gunner’s front line.
The disappointing truth is that BAE doesn’t seem capable of fulfilling his defensive duties. However you look at it, it seems clear that Tottenham can do much better in this department. With summer fast approaching, perhaps it’s time for Harry Redknapp to start looking for reinforcements in this area.
Whether or not Tottenham can get their hands on the genuine article, the increased competition may spark BAE back into life. After all, if Spurs are to compete for the Premier League title next season they will need a solid back four.
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“and City found plenty of purchase down his side of the pitch.”
Would that be the side that Bale vacates and leaves Benny on his own?
Agreed. With Bale now floating inside Benny is left exposed. Spurs need to get back to basics. It is fine that Bale floats sometimes, but he has to also understand that he has a job to do helping out his fullback.
Could not agree more. 1 st Goal v Gooners. Marking the 6 yard line. Goal 2 – Over head clearance straight to Van Persie. Goal 3 – too far away from Walcott, gave him all the time in the world to feed the return to Rosicky. Goal 4 -He stopped chasing and left Parker to over take him to chase Walcott. Goal 5 – Not even in the same half of the pitch. When I played a fullback defended first and foremnost. I beleive he thinks he is Bale
…and it was his fault when Milan scored their first goal in last years Chumps League!! I have misgivings about BAE frequently!
Previously he was one of our most consistent players, making very few mistakes. But he is being exposed by the fact that Bale is being allowed to roam anywhere. We played our best football with Bale out wide and tracking back when needed. Now we are too open down the left and it has effected our general preformance over the past few games, particularly away against difficult opponents. I think we need to go back to the system we were playing, and Bale will have to sacrifice his free role for the sake of the whole team.
BAE often has more than one player to mark as Bale wanders and gives him no cover , he is also expected to attack and most of our offensive moves start with him!I think Bale playing the free role is sometimes .hurting us more than the opposition
BAE is a legend at White Hart Lane. What about the brilliant tackles he has made. The problem is when Bale goes wandering BAE has no cover. I think to isolate him and say he is the weak link is crap. He who never made a mistake never has done anything worthwhile. If we are found short in defence it is because the whole team are not doing their job not just one person. I suggest you find something worthwhile to write about instead of this garbage. I guess your one of those people that just sees the negative in someone.
Couldn’t disagree more. Along with Kaboul, one of the rocks of our team.
Lennon provides great cover, he’s one of the least selfish wingers. Bale, despite his obvious brilliance, needs to work on his tracking back. He makes the run, but he’s lazy at hassling wingers. Benny, despite the odd Cruyf-turn, does a job for two men pretty well. He wasn’t the one who allowed Sagna a free header in the box for Arsenal’s goal, he wasn’t the one who was too happy to let Van Persie shape a shot on his deadly left foot for their second, and he wasn’t the one who ignored Kaboul’s request to move the fcuk over for Arsenal’s 4th etc etc.
It’s easy to pick on him because he just keeps his head down and get’s on with it. We’d be lost without him. I think it’s a tragedy that he get’s blamed for every blip, and also that he’s only being noticed in some quarters as the decent player and pro that he is.
I watch alot of games and he is the best left back in the prem imo. Some only seem to comment on him when he makes a mistake but that is unfair. He is unbeleivably comfortable on the ball and has every attribute and more that a modern day left back needs.
To say he is a weaklink is pathetic.
I’m sorry but this is absolute BS, picking out isolated incidents to solidify your argument, we can make a case for pretty much any player in the world and nit pick weaknesses in their game just to prove a moot point.
The lapses in concentration is so played out it’s unreal, yep he’s made mistakes this season like many other players have however his good things he has done in the past few years easily outweigh the bad.
BaE is easily one of the best LB’s in the league. Can the author please tell me a player who Spurs could realistically purchase that without a shadow of a doubt will be able to do a better job than him?
I think it was Harry’s tactics that let us down. Should have played Lennon on the right and told Bale to stay on the left, BAE didn’t stand a chance with Saggy and Walmart bombing down his side. If I can see that as an issue I wonder why the manager and staff couldn’t see it?
And to top it off we have VDW running all over the place
WE need two sitting, Scotty and Sandro, if we are to allow the FB;s room to raom and then they can cover. I cannot think why harry only started with one against the quickest and technically best midfield and attack in the prem. He really is tactically nieave at times and sooner he leaves for England the better.
Agreed Benny is a terrible defender and a defensive weak link
love disco benny but he has been way too casual lately
It might help if he didn’t have to defend the whole left side on his own. It is about time Bale was told he isn’t Ronaldo and start to do his share of the defensive side of things to. He has never really tracked back and now he thinks he is entitled to a free role he is even worse. No defender is going to do well against 2 players for 90 mins. Look at it like this Bale decided he wasn’t up for being double marked but whoever plays behind him has to deal with the opposite and can’t just say I don’t feel like it so I’ll go inside.
More often than not Benny does a great job , Bale needs to help in defence not wander off when he feels like it . The real week link these days is Ledley (sad to say) he is TOO SLOW and gets exposed all the time .
Cant say that I agree, BAE is very good defender if you ask me. But he does have his bad moments though..
Like the RVP clearance. He takes his chances a bit, if he would have happened to hit the ball a bit further then maybe nothing would have come from this. But it went straight into an attackers feet in an area where it is absolutely not allowed. BAE could have probably cleared it for a throw in, but decided to give it a go.
This for me is the only criticism I can think of for BAE. The rest of his game is pretty solid. Really strong, composed and has enough skill to shake of most attackers without needing assistance. But his decision making can cost him though, that is true. I would not be to hard on him as he pretty much is Spurs only capable LB. Rose is not ready for the top level, Bale neither at LB. Which makes BAE the only viable option, maybe some decent competition would do him some good.
Rubbish article! True that he gets lost in some games. But in almost every game he has the do work rate of two people since Bale always roams freely. Considering that almost every build-up phase goes through him and that the other players always seems to think that Benny could handle the ball under any kind of pressure, he makes quite few mistakes.
Best LB in spurs i’ve ever seen.(Since 1989)
Rubbish, he had just come back (too early) from groin surgery, now that would weigh on anyone’s mind and hold them back from running, kicking, tackling …. At 100%
Are you kidding me. Open your eyes! The problem is Bale, the guy could not defend to save his life. He is playing this stupid free role to which he hasn’t got a clue How to play. VDV is the only player that should be allowed free role when playing in a central role. Bale get off your high horse and get back to basics, u are not Messi or Ronaldo and you will never be them so stick to the wing and support BAE!
BS…if you been watching him more than the highlight of his mistake you would had easily seen that most mistake started from others and having to do the work of 2 or 3 person AND cover the ass of others, its easy to say he screwed up when it isn’t his fault to start with
One game yes we were bad but sagna outjumped bale not bae we had a bad game how we bounce back will show character
Totally agree! I really have never understood this obsession on the message boards, benny this, benny that. He has always at of our whole team made the mistakes that lead to goals by the opp, reckless. An Afro and odd boots does not make u a defensive rock as described above! Buy van der wiel or Leighton baines please!