Tottenham open to Tanguy Ndombele transfer exit but player determined to bounce back from Morecambe episode

[WorcesterTHFC]

Probably how we ended up with Tanguy as he is the closest thing to Dembele from a technique perspective. Poch was probably seduced by his close control and eye for a pass and overlooked the fundamentals of stamina, hard work and grit required for the PL.

It seems to me that the scouts overlooked another fundamental requirement: due diligence.

 

[Smokinhotspur]

He was quite willing to run when he played for France in the World Youth Cup. The whole French group had speed and skills.

Not sure how relevant this is. The thing is question marks had been raised about his application from his early career at both Guingamp and Amiens so these should have rung alarm bells when we were looking to spend record transfer type of money

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Probably how we ended up with Tanguy as he is the closest thing to Dembele from a technique perspective. Poch was probably seduced by his close control and eye for a pass and overlooked the fundamentals of stamina, hard work and grit required for the PL.

No, all the issues about his attitude to fitness and hard work were discussed openly before we signed him. He dawdled his way through his early career, then had one stellar year after he was persuaded to do some hard work.

We took a risk that our inspiring manager could turn him into a star. Then we sacked that manager and had four more in two years. Of those, only Mourinho's brand of sarcastic tough love seems to have worked, even briefly.

Ndombele is a familiar character: drenched in talent and wanting to stroll through life trading on his facility, without doing the obsessive hard work required to be a Kane or a Ronaldo. He's also sensitive to slights and needs his ego reinforcing frequently with references to his ability and his quality.

But potential is not the same thing as ability. The latter requires focus and hard work.

It could only have turned out better if we had kept Pochettino and he had managed to forge a trusting relationship, a bond with Ndombele. We'll never know.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Not sure how relevant this is. The thing is question marks had been raised about his application from his early career at both Guingamp and Amiens so these should have rung alarm bells when we were looking to spend record transfer type of money

They did. See above. This was all right out in the open when we signed him. They decided to take a risk and then shit happened.

 

[Japhet]

They did. See above. This was all right out in the open when we signed him. They decided to take a risk and then shit happened.

I think we thought he'd turned a corner in a stellar year where his standout performance was bossing CM v Man City. Unfortunately, he decided he didn't like it here much as soon as he arrived and has been in a petulant sulk ever since.

 

[Smokinhotspur]

No, all the issues about his attitude to fitness and hard work were discussed openly before we signed him. He dawdled his way through his early career, then had one stellar year after he was persuaded to do some hard work.

We took a risk that our inspiring manager could turn him into a star. Then we sacked that manager and had four more in two years. Of those, only Mourinho's brand of sarcastic tough love seems to have worked, even briefly.

Ndombele is a familiar character: drenched in talent and wanting to stroll through life trading on his facility, without doing the obsessive hard work required to be a Kane or a Ronaldo. He's also sensitive to slights and needs his ego reinforcing frequently with references to his ability and his quality.

But potential is not the same thing as ability. The latter requires focus and hard work.

It could only have turned out better if we had kept Pochettino and he had managed to forge a trusting relationship, a bond with Ndombele. We'll never know.

If true, I am staggered that such a decision could be made based on one decent season in a league known to be far less demanding that the PL. If he was playing in the high tempo Bundesliga for example, I'd have understood.

On Poch, you are right in that we will never know how it could have turned out. However when Poch made the comment that it might take 2 years to see the best of him after some uninspiring performances in his first few weeks, I was really concerned and started to question the judgment of making him our record signing in a key position where we had an immediate gap. I can imagine Levy and the board were pretty alarmed too.

 

[Freddie]

Imagine if it were possible to combine Sissoko's work ethic with Ndombele's ability.

We'd only mess it up and end up with Sissoko's ability with Ndombele's effort on a crippling 7 year contract.

 

[Smokinhotspur]

They did. See above. This was all right out in the open when we signed him. They decided to take a risk and then shit happened.

I am OK with risk taking but it needs to be smart and measured. If we were talking about a £10 -15m risk like we did with Njie and Nkoudou then it would make some sense. For us to do our money like this at a time when funds were limited given the new stadium just seems crazy. Situations like this usually indicate some level of emotion involved around the decision. We were coming off a gutting CL final loss with a deflated manager that had also endured a period of significant under investment in the squad.

Somebody pushed tooth and nail to get him into our club otherwise none of this makes sense given what was publicly known about his history on work rate or lack thereof. I think it was Poch and this along with the team's poor form at the time probably cost him his job.