Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[Japhet]

I never really subscribe to the 'not suited to other leagues' mantra, football is a global game played under the same rules on the same pitches etc...

You can not be suited to a team which could happen to any player, even players that move to teams in the same league but I think it's just lazy to suggest that he wasn't suited to this league IMO.

It's up to managers to identify players strengths and play to them. I don't think we do particularly well at that - Fernando Llorente being a prime example. However, in Ndombele's case (and Lo Celso), I think they'll link up very well with Son, Dele, Moura and probably Kane as well.

 

[skaz04nik]

I remember watching the Youtube vids of him at Valencia when he signed and trying to ignore the fact that practically ALL of his goals were first time shots inside the box.

Great point - 100% what a friend of mine (Valencia fan) told me when we signed RS. At that point I though he's just jealous

 

[Snarfalicious]

Warming to the boy.
head up,
forward facing
nice touch.
keeping it low key
in case I jinx the boy.

It’s............... Arsene Wenger.

 

[Timberwolf]

Great point - 100% what a friend of mine (Valencia fan) told me when we signed RS. At that point I though he's just jealous

I was exactly the same! I lived in denial for a while because he was such an exciting signing and I so wanted him to succeed, but deep down the fears were there from the start.

 

[nicdic]

The big problem with Soldado was that he was the least suited striker imaginable for an AVB team. I remember watching the Youtube vids of him at Valencia when he signed and trying to ignore the fact that practically ALL of his goals were first time shots inside the box. Under AVB we had incredibly slow build up and played the percentages, relying on long range strikes and moments of individual brilliance - despite our league position we barely created any clear cut chances inside the box around that time. Someone like Negredo would've been a much wiser signing but instead Soldado was left chasing shadows and asked to do things he wasn't good at. Before long his confidence was completely shot.

By the time AVB left old Bobby Soldier was already a bit of a joke figure and we never really made an effort to implement a system that suited him - Sherwood was an old school 4-4-2 man and that didn't really work for Soldado either.

But yeah...he was also just a bit shit.

he and his wife also suffered a miscarriage just after arriving, I think that combined with the loss of confidence really affected his game.

 

[nailsy]

What us all that palaver about Poch and his five year plan. What did expect in 5 years?
What did he expect in another 5 years?
What did Levy expect?

We know what we expected

What did you expect after five years Ron?

I love how people just conveniently ignore this. NDombele looks a quality player but he has been blowing after 30 minutes in most matches he played. With how relentless Liverpool are I could see the sense starting Winks who plays with more intensity and sharpness currently. It was a different game when NDombele came on as fatigue would have meant more space for him - this wouldn't have been the case if he had started. There was definitely an argument for starting Winks and NDombele together and I would have probably dropped Eriksen as he offered next to nothing at both ends of the pitch.

And Winks was our best player in the Champions League final so it made sense to start him against them again. As you say Ndombele for Eriksen would have made sense.

 

[Ronwol196061]

What did you expect after five years Ron?



And Winks was our best player in the Champions League final so it made sense to start him against them again. As you say Ndombele for Eriksen would have made sense.

Thanks Nailsy.
I think Poch did well in the 5 years overall,I would have expected more 5 years ago.
But nobody is perfect and where we lack was the development of the attacking midfield and I think they addressed that in the summer.
I want to see more of a flow in our game. When I watch Ndombele I feel he provides something we havent had for the longest time.
People heralded Eriksen. I wasn't a big fan even he had the numbers.I think Eriksen slowed us down.
I did like Dembele but he only brought the ball so far forward.
With Ndombele I Iove the way he hits the pass immediately. He has a sense of the moment and seizes it.
My fear is Poch not getting it right.
Ndombele should do what he does and Poch should back him up with two mids.

Winks could be a good CM,he isnt a DM for sure.
Put Sissoko or Dier behind Winks would be the ticket. If Winks didnt work out as a CM then put Skipp in he maybe the ticket

Leave Ndombele to expand our game

We are talking if Fernandes?

It's crazy.



Let's but a quality RB and a Quality DM and we are tremendous.

stop the ridiculous hot potato passing around our area.
What does Poch tell them to do?

 

[Shadydan]

Thanks Nailsy.
I think Poch did well in the 5 years overall,I would have expected more 5 years ago.
But nobody is perfect and where we lack was the development of the attacking midfield and I think they addressed that in the summer.
I want to see more of a flow in our game. When I watch Ndombele I feel he provides something we havent had for the longest time.
People heralded Eriksen. I wasn't a big fan even he had the numbers.I think Eriksen slowed us down.
I did like Dembele but he only brought the ball so far forward.
With Ndombele I Iove the way he hits the pass immediately. He has a sense of the moment and seizes it.
My fear is Poch not getting it right.
Ndombele should do what he does and Poch should back him up with two mids.

Winks could be a good CM,he isnt a DM for sure.
Put Sissoko or Dier behind Winks would be the ticket. If Winks didnt work out as a CM then put Skipp in he maybe the ticket

Leave Ndombele to expand our game

We are talking if Fernandes?

It's crazy.



Let's but a quality RB and a Quality DM and we are tremendous.

stop the ridiculous hot potato passing around our area.
What does Poch tell them to do?

When we we coming out of the AVB/Sherwood era hiring Poch at the beginning of the 2014/15 season where we finished 6th the previous season, you expected to do better than 4 Champions League qualification back 2 back and a CL final to boot??

 

[wrd]

When we we coming out of the AVB/Sherwood era hiring Poch at the beginning of the 2014/15 season where we finished 6th the previous season, you expected to do better than 4 Champions League qualification back 2 back and a CL final to boot??

Reminds me of the transfer window when some people are mad at the end because they expected 8 world class signings.

 

[Ronwol196061]

When we we coming out of the AVB/Sherwood era hiring Poch at the beginning of the 2014/15 season where we finished 6th the previous season, you expected to do better than 4 Champions League qualification back 2 back and a CL final to boot??

Sorry I meant I wouldnt have expected more!
My concern has been the development of the last two seasons (I really wasn't impressed with the CL run last season)
And the lack of flow through midfield generally...that I think was addressed.
We did strengthen the attacking midfield now we need to go back and do the defence
Really again over the 5 years Poch did well no doubt it was a typo

 

[Shadydan]

Sorry I meant I wouldnt have expected more!
My concern has been the development of the last two seasons (I really wasn't impressed with the CL run last season)
And the lack of flow through midfield generally...that I think was addressed.
We did strengthen the attacking midfield now we need to go back and do the defence
Really again over the 5 years Poch did well no doubt it was a typo

Yeah fair points there, we are trending downwards over the last two years for sure, let's hope We (Poch or not) can get back to where we were.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Yeah fair points there, we are trending downwards over the last two years for sure, let's hope We (Poch or not) can get back to where we were.

If anything I think Poch can really be a great manager.He now needs to solve the rest of the problems.If he REALLY knows what we need he has to confront Levy.
Poch was a defence player and may think like one.
We needed more creativity now we need to let them be creative and get the defensive players to tighten up.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Yeah fair points there, we are trending downwards over the last two years for sure, let's hope We (Poch or not) can get back to where we were.

And I say 'or not' too. Poch has the learn as well. I personally hope he does.
I think he looked at Liverpool and thought he needs more attacking flair and bought it,now he has to put it together.And forget Eriksen!

 

[nailsy]

Thanks Nailsy.
I think Poch did well in the 5 years overall,I wouldn't have expected more 5 years ago.
But nobody is perfect and where we lack was the development of the attacking midfield and I think they addressed that in the summer.
I want to see more of a flow in our game. When I watch Ndombele I feel he provides something we havent had for the longest time.
People heralded Eriksen. I wasn't a big fan even he had the numbers.I think Eriksen slowed us down.
I did like Dembele but he only brought the ball so far forward.
With Ndombele I Iove the way he hits the pass immediately. He has a sense of the moment and seizes it.
My fear is Poch not getting it right.
Ndombele should do what he does and Poch should back him up with two mids.

Winks could be a good CM,he isnt a DM for sure.
Put Sissoko or Dier behind Winks would be the ticket. If Winks didnt work out as a CM then put Skipp in he maybe the ticket

Leave Ndombele to expand our game

We are talking if Fernandes?

It's crazy.



Let's but a quality RB and a Quality DM and we are tremendous.

stop the ridiculous hot potato passing around our area.
What does Poch tell them to do?

Yep, considering that we've been building a new home, and couldn't invest a significant amount in the team we've done really well over the last five years. I agree with you that we lack the fluidity of the top teams though. Hopefully the new boys can help to change that, but they need game time quickly.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

If anything I think Poch can really be a great manager.He now needs to solve the rest of the problems.If he REALLY knows what we need he has to confront Levy.
Poch was a defence player and may think like one.
We needed more creativity now we need to let them be creative and get the defensive players to tighten up.

Our play before was expansive and attacking. From my opinion the game against juve in the champions league is where it all started going wrong for poch. He saw he got suckered, and adapted a more safety first approach. It doesn't suit us or our players.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Our play before was expansive and attacking. From my opinion the game against juve in the champions league is where it all started going wrong for poch. He saw he got suckered, and adapted a more safety first approach. It doesn't suit us or our players.

How many times have we passed between the back line back and forth?
How many times did Dembele actually reach the box as good as he was?
How many times did we see Eriksen recycle the ball until defences clammed up?
On the counter we did explode at times but I dont think our team was built for the front foot or even balanced.we had one creative player,Eriksen.
Poch has used Dele as a defender more than a 10.
Kane did a lot of his own digging.
Now we have a chance to move the ball up quicker but Poch has to get the balance right.
He used Winks as the DM....just doesnt cut it.
The issue was with Ndombeles stamina and fitness. The guy in 5 minutes can destroy defences.
Can Poch pull.it together?
The jury is out

 

[Locotoro]

Great point - 100% what a friend of mine (Valencia fan) told me when we signed RS. At that point I though he's just jealous

Same as Janssen and Rebrov if I remember rightly

 

[Locotoro]

I never really subscribe to the 'not suited to other leagues' mantra, football is a global game played under the same rules on the same pitches etc...

You can not be suited to a team which could happen to any player, even players that move to teams in the same league but I think it's just lazy to suggest that he wasn't suited to this league IMO.

You're right.
It's not the league it's the club/system. Perfect example is Bony moving to City or Sutton moving to Chelsea. Different style = different service

 

[Shadydan]

Baller

 

[Danny1]

Ridiculously good player. His technique on the ball is unreal and he has the vision to go with it.