Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

[Leroy]

I can not see that happening at all - I think Jose will line up with a 4-2-3-1 and utilise a front 3 of Dele, Son, Moura behind Kane. The likes of Lamela, Siss, Eriksen (possibly) and Sess will be options from the bench or rotated. The middle two, we now have viable options for are Lo Celso, N'Dombele, Winks & Dier.

Have a look at these analyses on both Lo Celso and N'Dombele - Imo, they are destined to be the fulcrum of our central midfield.

Tanguy Ndombele: France's next midfield star

Tactical analysis and statistics of Lyon star Tanguy Ndombele. In this tactical analysis with statistics, we profile Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. Using statistics, this tactical analysis explains why Lyon star Tanguy Ndombele is so special.

totalfootballanalysis.com

Giovanni Lo Celso 2018/19 - scout report

Tactical analysis scout report of Giovanni Lo Celso and Tottenham Hotspur’s tactics. This scout report uses tactical analysis to look at Tottenham Hotspur's new midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso.

totalfootballanalysis.com

Jose should use them as a double pivot midfield two. With instructions if one goes the other sits. They both capable of doing both the defensive and attacking side of the game. Both stats are impressive, can’t be wasting these two and using Dier, winks and sisi.

 

[DJS]

I personally think the need for a proper defensive midfielder is grossly underestimated and smacks or trying to squeeze Lo Celso and N’Dombele into team.

Has N’Dombele shown thus far he is able to sit and shield defence when needed?

I would think he’d benefit from having a proper defensive midfielder alongside him.

And agreed in a three (with a defensive midfielder) he and Lo Celso would probably thrive, but not in a two without a defensive midfielder.

Be great if it would work but the top teams have a proper defensive midfielder (who can also pass the ball about themselves and are quite mobile).

 

[Japhet]

Which means no Dele at 10. Can't see that happening anytime soon.

IMO Dele's main strength is ghosting into the box from deeper or wider positions. I've been saying for ages that once Eriksen goes we should move away from the traditional 10 role. Whether Jose sees it that way remains to be seen but I think we can get creative from deeper with Ndombele and LoCelso with Dele in a more free, roaming role than Eriksen ever was.

 

[mrlilywhite]

I personally think the need for a proper defensive midfielder is grossly underestimated and smacks or trying to squeeze Lo Celso and N’Dombele into team.

Has N’Dombele shown thus far he is able to sit and shield defence when needed?

I would think he’d benefit from having a proper defensive midfielder alongside him.

And agreed in a three (with a defensive midfielder) he and Lo Celso would probably thrive, but not in a two without a defensive midfielder.

Be great if it would work but the top teams have a proper defensive midfielder (who can also pass the ball about themselves and are quite mobile).

I guess we agree to disagree. N'Dombele might not have shown to be a defensive shield yet for us, but he is far better suited to the role than Dier, at least in the modern game anyway. Defensive midfielders in the modern game have to be an outlet as well as a shield - TN's stats before coming here back that up. If you look at Rodri, Fabinho, Jorghino, and even Kante, they are what I would call hybrid defensive midfielders. They are neither destroyers or deep-lying playmakers, they sit in between and have a skill set far beyond a typical Destroyer type player like Dier. Klopp, Pep, and Lampard to a lesser extent don't have a destroyer minded defensive midfielder, they have players that play in that position who can work on both sides of the coin. Being strong enough in the defensive phase, to intercept, tackle and then contribute to the attacking phase by being an outlet with their forward passing. Dier is thwarted in that role due to the fact that he doesn't have an attacking passing game, so he doesn't often release pressure.

There is no squeezing one player or the other into a role or position, it is clearly what their ability or attributes tell you one or the other can do. A central midfield pairing of Lo Celso and Tanguy is the way fwd in my opinion - with both of them you have two players who can push on or stay back and be more than comfortable in either situation. I think a lot of people see Lo Celso in a more wider role (such as Moura's role), but that is because of his versatility.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

IMO Dele's main strength is ghosting into the box from deeper or wider positions. I've been saying for ages that once Eriksen goes we should move away from the traditional 10 role. Whether Jose sees it that way remains to be seen but I think we can get creative from deeper with Ndombele and LoCelso with Dele in a more free, roaming role than Eriksen ever was.

That’s my view, too. Dele’s not a 10, and Kane works better without a 10, because he likes to drop in and out of the 10 space.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

It will be an absolute travesty if we don't utilise Lo Celso and end up not signing him. He will almost certainly go on to show us up and end up at a giant.

He is versatile, he can play CM, he can play CAM and he can play as that floating RAM (where Lucas is currently playing).

He is quick, he works hard, he's tenacious and he is silky on the ball with superb ball retention skills and vision for a pass.

We simply MUST keep him, he's the type of player who can help us win things.

I agree but we need to play him to see if he really is what we want. So far I haven't seen enough to make up my mind. He really needs to start a few games.

 

[Hercules]

Tottenhamuntilidie...what is the ‘wtf’ all about?

I have removed this comment, because it has become *********

 

[adamsky]

A specialist DM is essential. My worry is that Ndombele is a similar player to Pogba, he needs the freedom to attack to see the best of him. Mourinho struggled to find a system to accommodate Pogba. A Lo Celso and Ndombele pivot would scare the hell out of me, the PL is totally different to anywhere else and we have no evidence that they could do the defensive work needed in a Mourinho system

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

These first few weeks isn't the time for bedding in players, experimenting and developing. Right now who you need are players with at least a season's experience and preferably a good amount of game time this season. In other words guys who know what they are doing. There will be a time for handing out game time to the prospects for the future, but you will do that in a safe environment when the general squad feeling is high and in strong confidence. I wouldn't read very much so far into who isn't playing yet, because I don't think there is much info to be found in the team selections in terms of who, if any, Mourinho don't like.

 

[spurs9]

I personally think the need for a proper defensive midfielder is grossly underestimated and smacks or trying to squeeze Lo Celso and N’Dombele into team.

Has N’Dombele shown thus far he is able to sit and shield defence when needed?

I would think he’d benefit from having a proper defensive midfielder alongside him.

And agreed in a three (with a defensive midfielder) he and Lo Celso would probably thrive, but not in a two without a defensive midfielder.

Be great if it would work but the top teams have a proper defensive midfielder (who can also pass the ball about themselves and are quite mobile).

It's worth noting that most of Lo Celso's game time at PSG, he played as the deepest and most defensive CM (though it was in a CM3) and Most of Ndomebeles games were paired with the far more attack minded Aouar or box to box Papa Cheikh in a CM2 (though he did occasionally play with DM Tousart).

It's possible it could work if they improve their defensive positioning, tracking of markers and develop a good understanding of when one runs forward the other drops back, as both are decent tacklers and are tenacious competitors.

 

[spurs9]

A specialist DM is essential. My worry is that Ndombele is a similar player to Pogba, he needs the freedom to attack to see the best of him. Mourinho struggled to find a system to accommodate Pogba. A Lo Celso and Ndombele pivot would scare the hell out of me, the PL is totally different to anywhere else and we have no evidence that they could do the defensive work needed in a Mourinho system

Mourinho played Matic (and if he wasn't available Herrera) next to Pogba. NDombele doesn't have Pogba's ego, which is what I think stopped him from succeeding in a system that means you have to work hard as part of a team.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

A specialist DM is essential. My worry is that Ndombele is a similar player to Pogba, he needs the freedom to attack to see the best of him. Mourinho struggled to find a system to accommodate Pogba. A Lo Celso and Ndombele pivot would scare the hell out of me, the PL is totally different to anywhere else and we have no evidence that they could do the defensive work needed in a Mourinho system

I think Ndombele plays deeper than Pogba personally. Arguably both need a sitter alongside, but I'd say Ndombele could play as one of 2 in a 4-2-3-1, whereas I'm not sure Pogba could - he would more naturally sit in the 3

 

[MillerT]

Personally rate GLC over Ndombele if we had to pick between the two

 

[The Opinionated Lurker]

You love to see it

 

[Shadydan]

At this rate Mourinho is gonna have a starting 16

 

[hughy]

At this rate Mourinho is gonna have a starting 16

It's what we need. We've been a starting XI with fuck all else for so many years now, it's time we started acting like a big club and had a bit in reserve. No successful team has ever done it with only 11 players.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

It's worth noting that most of Lo Celso's game time at PSG, he played as the deepest and most defensive CM (though it was in a CM3) and Most of Ndomebeles games were paired with the far more attack minded Aouar or box to box Papa Cheikh in a CM2 (though he did occasionally play with DM Tousart).

It's possible it could work if they improve their defensive positioning, tracking of markers and develop a good understanding of when one runs forward the other drops back, as both are decent tacklers and are tenacious competitors.

Yep I think those two could be a great combination. Lo celso is a great ball carrier and dribbler and passer, can play n.o 10 as well but I’d say he’s a better n.o 8 than winks, winks is more of a 6 as he’s not particularly creative or a goal threat, lo celso definitely is.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

You love to see it

Jose literally saying all the things I wish poch had said. Poch so confusing in presses, Jose absolutely on point.

 

[thefierycamel]

Fairly sure lo Celso hated playing "DM" at PSG. He loves to get forward, as does Ndombele, and honestly, we need them both to do that given their quality. A proper DM makes us a far better team with those two flying forward from midfield

 

[Hakkz]

Fairly sure lo Celso hated playing "DM" at PSG. He loves to get forward, as does Ndombele, and honestly, we need them both to do that given their quality. A proper DM makes us a far better team with those to flying forward from midfield

I don't think either of them should be stifled by more defensive duties than necessary.