Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

[spursfan77]

He’s playing with the breaks on

 

[Japhet]

Fair but we need another attacking player alongside kane and Son. Obviously not at their level but can cause problems to opposition

We've got Gareth Bale for that but he can't get on the pitch because we're getting the results as things stand.

 

[Dzejkob]

I think he was poor yesterday. Of course with how much possesion we had it's hard for him, but in compare with Ndombele, who he replaced, he didn't really offer much in attack or transition. He couldn't deal with the press, what Ndombele does excellent. In current form I prefer Tanguy.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I think he was poor yesterday. Of course with how much possesion we had it's hard for him, but in compare with Ndombele, who he replaced, he didn't really offer much in attack or transition. He couldn't deal with the press, what Ndombele does excellent. In current form I prefer Tanguy.

I think it’s fair to say that Ndombele is on better form, but in Lo Celso last three league matches he did well v City and scored a good goal, and yesterday Harry Kane’s goal doesn’t happen without him bursting forward at pace from deep and picking the right pass to Son (he had Kane there too). Personally, I think when one of them earns the right to partner Højbjerg by offering Sissoko discipline but also being able to get the ball forward quicker, then they will both look better. However, as it stands it’s one or the other and for good reason.

 

[C0YS]

I'm slightly worried in Lo Celso we have another Lamela i.e we believed we were signing a creative, attacking player to break down defenses but instead he is hard working and combative with the occasional bit of flair but limited end product.

Time will tell i suppose, I think he has more to him than Lamela and the style may be a byproduct of playing in this current Mourinho team.

He's always played deeper than Lamela. This idea that is a number 10 is something that is in fans heads rather than anything based in reality. He's young still, and even another Lamela would be useful.

I think he was signed to play in a three-man midfield, or on one of the flanks of the diamond, which was the direction that Poch was pushing. He has played many more games at CM than at AM in his career. He is a number 8 that can be pushed up that likes to burst into the box. He isn't a silky-smooth passer. In fact, for PSG he played a fundamentally defensive role. At Betis he scored a lot of goals, but like lampard did, late runs into the box, largely from deeper positions. In that team he was phenomenal, not for his passing, but his running, hustling and harrying and dynamism. Normally from a deeper position (29 games in CM vs 16 as AM).

Right now, we don't really play with a number ten, we play with an 8 1/2 which plays in a slightly pushed up position, but has responsibility in the midfield. I don't think you can expect Eriksen like figures by anybody who plays that position for Jose, because it's not the same role as the one Eriksen had.

Now he is meant to be a player that can contribute offensively, and is good at breaking into the box. But he never was going to be a number 10, in fact, if Eriksen left that summer we would have bought in another player to play that role. Right now Kane is our playmaker. So, a playmaking AM doesn't really fit in with what we are trying to do.

This bizarre doubt about his that has come up is so strange, because last season a lot of people thought he was our best player. Playing in central midfield no less. He missed preseason, he's had injuries, and is now on the fringes of a team which is top of the league, incredibly well balanced and he has his work cut out into trying to break into that team. That isn't a slight on him, just how well we are playing.

 

[C0YS]

I think it’s fair to say that Ndombele is on better form, but in Lo Celso last three league matches he did well v City and shared a good goal, and yesterday Harry Kane’s goal doesn’t happen with him bursting forward at pace from deep and picking the right pass to Son (her has Kane there too). Personally, I think when one of them earns the right to partner Højbjerg by offering Sissoko discipline but also being able to get the ball forward quicker, then they will both look better. However, as it stands it’s one or the other and fit good reason.

I think Sissoko is playing very well, and in big games, I think he will start. Ultimately, football teams are like a puzzle, you can't really remove one thing without losing another thing. I think we will see Ndombele and Lo Celso start. But not in the really big matches, but say, against Palace, games where we need a bit more dynamism. But it's a team game, this season more than any other. He has a role to play, and is playing a role.

We have a tendency, as fans, to see it that if you aren't starting the big games it must be because you aren't playing well enough when it's not really about that. It's what is the right team for each game. Particularly when you have a pragmatic manager in charge. Baggio wasn't left on the bench in 98 because Del Piero and Vieri were better players, he was left on the bench because the team was more balanced with him not in it. The same could be said about Cassano's whole international career as well as Di Natale. Against teams which set out to defend we probably will need to change things.

The balance is perfect at the moment, and all that Lo Celso can do is try and put pressure on Ndombele who is playing very well, and accept that his role might well be to play in certain games. The same with Bale, it's unlikely that a player of his age and persistent injuries is going to be able to do what SB or Lucas can do in the bigger games, and right now he is probably competing with Son, not Bergjwijn for a starting spot in the system we have played the last three games. But he might have to push Son and accept his role as someone who comes on when looking for a goal or someone who plays when we need a more offensively minded player.

But both Son and Bale have a role to play and we are a better team for players like that in it. My point is, rather than instantly wondering what's wrong with certain players, why aren't they starting blablabla. Maybe we should be focusing on just how well the team is working and appreciate the role that players like Lo Celso, like Ben Davies for example and like Doherty have on the team even though they aren't starting too often. Not because of their lack of ability because we are a great team.

 

[C0YS]

He was ok, more good than bad. I wish he would use his right foot for passing, he is too predictable sometimes and scouting reports will show he relies on his left at all times. Needs to stay healthy to get into proper form.

People never say this about right footers. But I agree. I think Argentinian players have this tendency, I mean Maradona and Messi are also very one-footed, I think it's connected with the 'Gambetta' dribbling style, the body turns and ball sticking to ones foot like glue to get past people.

I think more than being one-footed, the issue with his passing is it can be a bit rushed, it's often a good idea, but it's like he sees the pass, but hasn't really set up his body for it. He could benefit a little by being a bit more patient and conservative with his passing at times.

 

[GLC10]

He will be a very valuable player in the future. He had injury problems at the start of the season, and the team is doing very well. For what it is difficult for Gio to enter the 11th holder, even so, I think it is a luxury to have him as a substitute.
And I also think that Gio is better suited to the role of CM, he has a lot of intensity in the brand and is tactically ordered.
Ndombele is a spectacular dribbler and has a spectacular last pass, he is the ideal player to play as an offensive midfielder.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

It wasn’t Gio’s best performance but it was far from bad. He put in a shift which is a good sign considering his injury issues. Gio was probably our best player when healthy last year but is best when he gets a lot of ball and keep passing and moving. He’s a vital piece of this Tottenham squad and the only midfielder we have that can plug in to multiple midfield roles.

 

[Flobadob]

I'm slightly worried in Lo Celso we have another Lamela i.e we believed we were signing a creative, attacking player to break down defenses but instead he is hard working and combative with the occasional bit of flair but limited end product.

Time will tell i suppose, I think he has more to him than Lamela and the style may be a byproduct of playing in this current Mourinho team.

When he’s been fit for an extended period and had a run of games he’s been quality for us regardless of his poor numbers. Much like Lamela though tbh. If he was fit all season I’d have him in the starting 11 every week once he was fully fit, such a shame he never is/will be

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Always a big focus on whether Bale can do enough to break into the PL than in Europa matches but I think tonight is big for Lo Celso as he’s clearly behind Ndombele right now and his best chance of getting into the side is if he can show he can run the midfield as a potential Højbjerg partner, and that means dominating a side like Antwerp even if Winks is your partner (that’s not so much to disparage Winks, more to point out that Winks doesn’t do what Højbjerg does).

Then again, could say equally the onus is on Winks to prove he can dominate the midfield even if Lo Celso is his partner too.

This is predicated on the assumption that Dele will play in the 10 with Bale and Lucas either side.

 

[Hotspur88]

Brilliant tonight! Looks like he's coming back into some sort of form.

How we get him in a midfield three with Sissoko, Ndombele and Hojbjerg is beyond me as they've all been brilliant this season. Sissoko does such an underrated job.

I guess the only other option would be to play him in a more advanced role on the right of the front three but not sure that's where we would see him to best effect.

 

[Duck]

Lo Celso the RW.

Forget about playing him in the middle, playing him wide right is the truth.

 

[TheTanguy]

He can play the Bernardo Silva role on the right in certain matches; Sissoko, Hojbjerg and Ndombele in midfield.

 

[PrettyColors]

Lo Celso the RW.

Forget about playing him in the middle, playing him wide right is the truth.

If he commits to the position I’d play him there vs Leicester (assuming Bergwijn plays to provide some pace vs Robertson or TAA). He can basically be a rich man’s Lamela with some added potential for real brilliance.

 

[Timberwolf]

Lo Celso the RW.

Forget about playing him in the middle, playing him wide right is the truth.

I think it could be the answer, especially against weaker teams.

Often in those matches we lack a bit of creativity and combination play in midfield to maintain possession.

If we play Lo Celso wide right you can trust him to do a defensive job, but he'll also provide creativity, a goal threat and really help us to keep that control and possession.

Would also mean we can actually get him and Ndombele into the same team.

 

[Shadydan]

It's almost as if having more than 30% possession bring the best out of him.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Doesn’t score doesn’t assist

Must say, if he continues linking with Kane like that I might have to reconsider my stance on him being a CM v AM

 

[Gassin's finest]

Gio is one of the best players at this club right now, no question.

 

[jonnyrotten]

Gio is one of the best players at this club right now, no question.

Hang on, he was shit according to most people a week ago, its hard to keep up on here...