MASON: OLD PALS TACTICS JUST A MYTH
FOR Ryan Mason, professionalism comes before his pals at Tottenham. Just ask Eric Dier.
The influential England defender was dropped for last weekend’s win over Crystal Palace.
But interim boss Mason (inset) continues to retain the respect of the Spurs squad as he bids to keep their faint top four hopes alive.
Social media whispers persist among some fans that he’s showing preferential treatment to his mates but Mason has dismissed it.
“That’s an absolute myth,” he said. “I’ve never heard that.
But if you’re saying that, it’s not true.
“My job is to pick a team that I feel is best capable of winning a football match.
“We’re professionals so every decision we make is in the best interests of the team and the football club.”
Spurs are on an eight-game winless away streak in all competitions, their worst run for 23 years, ahead of today’s trip to Aston Villa.
It remains to be seen whether Dier is restored to the side. But Mason maintains Dier buys into the values ■ by DARREN LEWIS with which he intends to go back to basics. “He is a professional and he’s responded the way I expected him to,” said Mason.
“The way I would expect any one of the squad players to respond in a professional manner.
“And understand that sometimes you have to make difficult decisions for the team.
“He came on as a late substitute and contributed to the three points. He had an important role in a couple of set pieces and was ready to help the team, as I expected.” Harry Kane is aiming to continue his stunning run of scoring in nine of his last 11 games for club and country. The England captain has spoken about Spurs needing to recapture the values of the period under Mauricio Pochettino and Mason, who reiterated his desire to take the job full time, agreed. “I think what he said is right,” he said.
“That’s one thing I think you can probably speak about in terms of the future – creating a culture, standards, an environment that’s right for the football club.”