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Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
We might just see the best of him tonight. Outstanding last season against Barca and City. Lyon press said he was more of a big game player and sometimes couldn’t be bothered with run of the mill games.

Someone must have told him Southampton are our deadly rivals then.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
We might just see the best of him tonight. Outstanding last season against Barca and City. Lyon press said he was more of a big game player and sometimes couldn’t be bothered with run of the mill games.

Sounds awful tbh.
 

Primativ

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
3,229
12,486
When Dembele was at his best he looked absolutely unplayable - strength, dribbling, ball retention, interceptions, tackling - he was great to have. There is a risk of remembering his spell a little too fondly, as he did not completely dominate every single game he was in. No player ever does. He had his issues obviously with injuries, but there were also dips in form and some games that passed him by. He was a late bloomer, too. If he'd worked with different coaches and had been moulded as the midfield general he became from the start of his career I've no doubt he would have been even better and considered one of the true greats in the role.

With Ndombele we're still looking at a player in the early stages of his career, but the early signs, to me at least, are very, very good. He too can dribble, retain, intercept and tackle, plus he has it in him to hit a killer pass and it seems he may be adding goals to his game too. He can develop his stamina and strength and build on the foundations and natural ability in his game. I really think he's going to turn out great.

Agreed. It was Pochs second and third season where he stepped up into top class level. The rest of the time he was quite frustrating. It’s fair to say he was only a big player for about two and a half seasons or so. Injuries curtailed him too. Totally different players though. Dembele was quite limited technically when it same to shooting and passing.
 

Ronwol196061

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2018
3,925
3,646
They are two totally different players. Dembele controlled the ball and protected the back 4. His display away at Juve a couple of years ago was one of the outstanding CM performances. Dembele's achilles heel (pardon the pun) was that he was not a dynamic passer in the last third. But him and Wanyama were total beasts the season we came second to Chelsea, and we sorely miss that today in CM. Ndombele gives us something different adding dynamism into the final third. Shame we never saw them together with both in their peak years i.e. Demebele of three years ago with the future Ndomebele of three years time


This is why the comparison. In midfield you have the DM or DMs and you have the CM. The CM is the player closest to the AM. Yes Dembele played there and Dembele protected the ball (one of the best in the league) but Dembele never DIRECTLY created anything.
That was the only problem I had with Dembele.I felt his position warranted some direct assistance to the AM and forwards. That wasn't what Dembele did (Its possible Poch had him playing that way,I don't know) He usually layed the ball off.
NDombele occupies the SAME position. His style is totally different. Less of the defensive end and more assisting the attack.
We were top heavy of defence and some dynamic players up from but the link was weaker and what it did create was a great counter as the field opened up usually from the AMs or the wing backs.
That's the difference. With NDombele we can flow earlier and quicker forward. Dembele with us was a possession guy and a tough tackler,NDombele is totally different and can move the ball in a direct manner. They occupied the same position
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,763
12,519
Dembele was great at drawing players out of position with his dribbling and making space for the others to work in. In that respect N'Dombele is similar as there were countless times against Southampton where he was surrounded by 2-3 players and still found a way out with the ball or through a pass.

What N'Dombele does that Dembele never did is see and make those final third passes. He's played a handful of games for us, but he can thread the needle as well as anyone in this team.
 
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wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
Im back for more, I genuinely feel for me he's closed any notion of our reliance on Eriksen going forward as our creative outlet, we still need to add Lo Celso but we need to reduce defensive responsibility, he just doesnt close down the same way dembele does. Which is fine giving he offers so much more forward but we have to accept the need for the shield to accomodate that.
 
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DiamondLites

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
4,630
13,062
Best player on the pitch for the first half an hour, then he was blowing out of his arse and he was lucky not to get sent off - there were a couple of tired challenges that didn’t quite connect and I think that’s as much a reason he got subbed. He was not helped by the wretched diamond formation, of the brains trust in the commentary booth can see it then why Poch can’t is beyond me
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
He was super int he first half hour, then got shit i.e. when his defensive duties were called upon... well... he is poor defensively.

He is a high risk player - i.e. when it comes off its great and reap great rewards but because its high risk, when he loses the ball well... it puts us in a fair bit of trouble.

I love his attacking play and his incisive passing, doesnt take on th eobvious pass which makes us unpredictable and does unlock doors.
 

Ronwol196061

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2018
3,925
3,646
Dembele was great at drawing players out of position with his dribbling and making space for the others to work in. In that respect N'Dombele is similar as there were countless times against Southampton where he was surrounded by 2-3 players and still found a way out with the ball or through a pass.

What N'Dombele does that Dembele never did is see and make those final third passes. He's platyed a handful of games for us, but he can thread the needle as well as anyone in this team.
That's what I love about him
Eriksen came on for him tonite and all he did was prance about recycling the ball
Ndombele hit 3 or 4 wonderful passes in the first
Oh for the Eriksen enthusiasts he did hit a nice shot early
 

LeParisien

Wrong about everything
Mar 5, 2018
3,212
8,169
Should have scored but looked world class in first half.

How good would he be with a proper ball winner behind him.

Kanté, Ndombele, Pogba for France is ? Guendouzi coming through is becoming top class too.
Griezmann, Mbappe and Dembele/ Coman up front.
And defence is actually our strongest area - ridiculous depth.

These players could dominate if they don’t kill each other.

Anyway, Ndombele ... nice one.
 

TheRevolution

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2018
873
2,304
Get him a good DM and build the team around him. Modric-esque passing, hopefully Lo Celso can add something to our midfield aswell.
 
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