Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[Johnny J]

I’m not sissoko’s biggest fan but ever since he joined us as our record signing (at the time) he’s been 100% professional despite his limitations. He’s meant to be close to Ndombele, maybe the player should be looking at moussa and his approach, despite not being as talented.

Yep, Sissoko has done his absolute best with the frankly minimal talent he has. He could have been consumed by the negativity, but his attitude had been exceptional.

I would rather not see him starting for us, but he's a good squad player.

 

[wrd]

I don’t have issue with what José said, He shoots straight and you have to accept that. However I do think we should cut Ndombele some slack. The guy if my memory serves didn’t suffer an injury or at the most missed very few games for Lyon then he joins us and suddenly he’s suffering a lot of injuries. Says to me that from pre-season to now that the club haven’t managed his fitness properly so I can understand why he feels he has to take it into his own hands.

Hopefully José can convince Ndombele that his coaching staff has his best interests and build the trust up.

 

[Guernman]

Not sure what Jose is supposed to do in this situation.

He and the rest of the world know we need options in midfield other than Sissoko, who he has publicly stated is not a central midfielder, Dier and Winks. The shit show that was the Chelsea match couldn't have been clearer. Ndombele is our record signing and is supposed to be the solution. If he says I can't play, then what is Mourinho supposed to do? Pretend he is injured, or take the stick for leaving the one player we really need out of the match day squad completely?

 

[scat1620]

Jesus, I just watched the post-match press conference in full (link here if anyone needs it), and seeing Mourinho's demeanour whilst delivering the quotes that I've read earlier in the thread (that Ndombele isn't injured, but is not in a condition to play, which is a different thing) and constrasting that to his demeanour when talking about Lamela's readiness to play is pretty stark.

Scarily seems that it is going to be a long, long road back if Ndombele is to end up in Mourinho's good books again, and as things look at the minute I'd be very surprised if he becomes a regular in the first team during the second half of the season, and that would be disastrous for us to have signed a player for a club record fee only for him to not come up to the required mark.

 

[guiltyparty]

Jesus, I just watched the post-match press conference in full (link here if anyone needs it), and seeing Mourinho's demeanour whilst delivering the quotes that I've read earlier in the thread (that Ndombele isn't injured, but is not in a condition to play, which is a different thing) and constrasting that to his demeanour when talking about Lamela's readiness to play is pretty stark.

Scarily seems that it is going to be a long, long road back if Ndombele is to end up in Mourinho's good books again, and as things look at the minute I'd be very surprised if he becomes a regular in the first team during the second half of the season, and that would be disastrous for us to have signed a player for a club record fee only for him to not come up to the required mark.

Mourinho hates players that won’t play through pain. Is always very vocal about it. Going to have to be a huge change of mindset from Ndombele for him to succeed now. Let’s hope he has it in him

 

[ShayLaB]

Record transfers don't always cover themselves in glory. Not many here are outright successes.

 

[pelayo59]

Exactly, this is who Liverpool would buy if they were us. If that makes sense. This is our top priority and this guy isn't potentially a DM or maybe a box to box. He is a DM and he looks to have the physical tools to handle our league.

If we were to buy one player, it should completely be this guy.

Benfica is closing deal for Julian Weigl but looks like isn't related with Gedson/Florentino Luis btw

I am no Mourinho fan child, however to my mind Ndombele is a lazy bastard and needs to get himself fit. As a club we can’t call him out on it as he is such a big investment for us. I did wonder why Lyon were happy to let him go early in the Summer window. There was rumours of him being poor in his prep at Amiens previously.
Such a waste as he is so talented.

They were reports they needed to sort FFP, and faster he left, faster they bought another players and know how squad would be

 

[heelspurs]

Not sure what Jose is supposed to do in this situation.

He and the rest of the world know we need options in midfield other than Sissoko, who he has publicly stated is not a central midfielder, Dier and Winks. The shit show that was the Chelsea match couldn't have been clearer. Ndombele is our record signing and is supposed to be the solution. If he says I can't play, then what is Mourinho supposed to do? Pretend he is injured, or take the stick for leaving the one player we really need out of the match day squad completely?

He could have just said "he's not fit" thereby protecting the player. He threw him under the bus. No real need for it. Had it happened elsewhere you'd be saying the same. It's a douche challenge that has played out many times in many places he has been manager. It's why things always end badly. Good think I was never fooled by the 'new Mou'.

 

[Zummerzet Spur]

He could have just said "he's not fit" thereby protecting the player. He threw him under the bus. No real need for it. Had it happened elsewhere you'd be saying the same. It's a douche challenge that has played out many times in many places he has been manager. It's why things always end badly. Good think I was never fooled by the 'new Mou'.

What like Poch did with Jan and the can of worms that opened up?

Nothing much wrong with what was said imho and maybe Jose feels he needs a bit of a rocket up his arse.

 

[Anurag Jo]

He could have just said "he's not fit" thereby protecting the player. He threw him under the bus. No real need for it. Had it happened elsewhere you'd be saying the same. It's a douche challenge that has played out many times in many places he has been manager. It's why things always end badly. Good think I was never fooled by the 'new Mou'.

Have you watched the press conference?
I have and there was no ill feeling towards Tanguy from Jose. He was just stating the facts. Ndombele has moved to a different country but unfortunately has been injured a lot and understandably now wants to take it easy.
His praising of Lamela was altogether different subject. It wasnt a dig at Ndombele but he was just boosting Lamela's confidence whom he'll be needing a lot now.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Trying to see what people are getting so stressed about, still can't.

 

[scat1620]

Have you watched the press conference?
I have and there was no ill feeling towards Tanguy from Jose. He was just stating the facts. Ndombele has moved to a different country but unfortunately has been injured a lot and understandably now wants to take it easy.
His praising of Lamela was altogether different subject. It wasnt a dig at Ndombele but he was just boosting Lamela's confidence whom he'll be needing a lot now.

I've watched the press conference and I think there was some undisguised irritation on display from Mourinho with Ndombele's situation, IMO. But I'm inclined to trust Mourinho on this, I can't believe he would overlook Ndombele's obvious footballing qualities if he thought that the player was physically/mentally up to being on the pitch, so I can only assume that Ndombele isn't showing the required physical/mental grit to earn a place in the team right now. I'm leaning more and more towards joining #TeamSpurs_Bear as things stand.

 

[jezz]

I'm sure we'll hear what really happened when Tanguy agent leaks it.
This looks like the Pogba situation.
Digging at players in press conferences doesn't end well for both parties.

 

[thebenjamin]

I'm sure we'll hear what really happened when Tanguy agent leaks it.
This looks like the Pogba situation.
Digging at players in press conferences doesn't end well for both parties.

What's he supposed to do? Leave out our record signing in the exact area we're desperate for players and look like he doesn't know what the fuck he's doing? Or just tell the truth

 

[Flashspur]

He could have just said "he's not fit" thereby protecting the player. He threw him under the bus. No real need for it. Had it happened elsewhere you'd be saying the same. It's a douche challenge that has played out many times in many places he has been manager. It's why things always end badly. Good think I was never fooled by the 'new Mou'.

This is such a ridiculous comment.

This guy cost us 60M quid and he's played for 5 minutes and keeps getting injured as soon as he puts on his boots. I'd be calling him out every time. Protect him from what? His pathetic attitude? So he tells the boss he doesnt want to play because of previous injuries? WTF? So is he afraid to ever get back on the pitch again? LOL.

 

[heelspurs]

This is such a ridiculous comment.

This guy cost us 60M quid and he's played for 5 minutes and keeps getting injured as soon as he puts on his boots. I'd be calling him out every time. Protect him from what? His pathetic attitude? So he tells the boss he doesnt want to play because of previous injuries? WTF? So is he afraid to ever get back on the pitch again? LOL.

Ridiculous?!?! Really? Keeping things in-house to avoid a media frenzy is ridiculous? And now you've made a decision on a player's character already?

Did Poch callout Lamela? And it feels accurate to suggest that he's been hurt/unavailable for more games than he's been available...and he was unavailable for almost the whole of his first season. Are you consistent here?

 

[Vincent30]

This is such a ridiculous comment.

This guy cost us 60M quid and he's played for 5 minutes and keeps getting injured as soon as he puts on his boots. I'd be calling him out every time. Protect him from what? His pathetic attitude? So he tells the boss he doesnt want to play because of previous injuries? WTF? So is he afraid to ever get back on the pitch again? LOL.

Although a little strong, i agree with the sentiment here. For a guy that's cost 50m plus with the Euro's in the summer and our midfield an absolute shit show, i did expect a little more from him and i'm a little worried that even when he runs on the pitch who looks half injured. Fair play to Jose for praising Lamela's attitude, Ndombele needs to show some fight and determination to be the main man in the middle of the pitch, having quality isn't enough in this league. You need desire and that real will to put your body on the line.... all the greats have that, if that what he aspires to be, Jose's comments will hopefully motivate him, if they don't then so be it and it's likely it will be a short career with us..... which isn't what any of us want.

 

[jezz]

What's he supposed to do? Leave out our record signing in the exact area we're desperate for players and look like he doesn't know what the fuck he's doing? Or just tell the truth

Truth according to Mourhino.
We don't know what the conversation was.
He could have just said not fit to play.

 

[scat1620]

Although a little strong, i agree with the sentiment here. For a guy that's cost 50m plus with the Euro's in the summer and our midfield an absolute shit show, i did expect a little more from him and i'm a little worried that even when he runs on the pitch who looks half injured. Fair play to Jose for praising Lamela's attitude, Ndombele needs to show some fight and determination to be the main man in the middle of the pitch, having quality isn't enough in this league. You need desire and that real will to put your body on the line.... all the greats have that, if that what he aspires to be, Jose's comments will hopefully motivate him, if they don't then so be it and it's likely it will be a short career with us..... which isn't what any of us want.

Yep, this post nails it, bolded section in particular.

 

[JayB]

What's he supposed to do? Leave out our record signing in the exact area we're desperate for players and look like he doesn't know what the fuck he's doing? Or just tell the truth

He doesn't have to publicly demean a player who's suffering from what is probably the single most difficult injury to recover from properly and who has already suffered one recurrence since the original onset of the injury. He could just as easily have said that Ndombele's fitness is being managed.

Having a blanket, context-free expectation that players will play through pain is both irrational and irresponsible. It would be one thing if it were merely a knock but a groin injury is in a completely different universe. I've defended Jose for his team selections but I don't think these comments are helpful in the least given the nature of Ndombele's injury.