Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[BringBack_leGin]

Because we're Spurs "supporters", not "players". Supporting a player, especially one who the club has invested heavily in, when things aren't exactly going their way shouldn't be an alien concept. My company pays me to do whatever it is I'm supposed to do, doesn't change the fact I sit on here all day trying to goad @BringBack_leGin .

I was responding directly to people diminishing his actual talent, fwiw. His application hasn't been good enough, which is redundant to say and has been covered ad nauseam, but his talent is absolutely undeniable.

I knew you couldn’t serious believe the stuff you were coming out with

Seriously though, his talent is clearly undeniable. However the quality of career he is (in terms of performance, he already has earned enough to ensure no Ndombele has to work again for a long time) will depend on how far he’ll go to fulfill it. I sincerely hope that’s it’s with us but my gut tells me it won’t be.

And I do not lack for gut.

 

[Tucker]

You must have hated Berbatov.

As laid back as Berbatov looked a lot of the time, he never looked unfit, and aside from when he wanted to leave I don’t recall any reports of him not giving his all in training.

Most importantly of all, Berbatov contributed to the team consistently with goals and assists.

Aside from a few flashes of brilliance here and there, all I’ve seen from NDombele is someone who isn‘t giving the effort required of a player at a top club.

If we keep him, it’s really down to him if he takes the chance, or goes down in history as a massive flop. Because if we are struggling to get what we paid for him now, you can bet we won’t get anywhere near if he has another poor season.

 

[Rosco1984]

As laid back as Berbatov looked a lot of the time, he never looked unfit, and aside from when he wanted to leave I don’t recall any reports of him not giving his all in training.

Most importantly of all, Berbatov contributed to the team consistently with goals and assists.

Aside from a few flashes of brilliance here and there, all I’ve seen from NDombele is someone who isn‘t giving the effort required of a player at a top club.

If we keep him, it’s really down to him if he takes the chance, or goes down in history as a massive flop. Because if we are struggling to get what we paid for him now, you can bet we won’t get anywhere near if he has another poor season.

Berbatov also played upfront so he didn't need to track his man as he was running towards our box. The wolves performance was completely unacceptable and a professional midfield player should have been totally ashamed of the effort he put in in that game. The zoom story sums it up he had three months where he literally had nothing to do and he tried to find a way out of using endless free time to get fit.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I keep seeing people saying this, but can’t for the life of me remember a single stand out performance from him in a Spurs shirt. Genuine question, why do you think he’s so great?

Talent is nothing if you don’t put the effort in, and we have seen time and again that he simply can’t or won’t put a shift in.

I’m more than happy to give him time to prove me wrong, but I also won’t be mad if the club decide to cash in their chips on this guy.

I think it's a matter of seeing the potential for him to come good, rather than thinking he is currently "so great".

This highlight reel shows what he does well, to give hope that he may be able to prove everyone wrong, if given more time. Obviously it doesn't show all the bad parts of his game that have caused him to struggle and some people to write him off.



Considering how little he played, 2 goals and 4 assists (plus created a healthy number of chances that weren't converted) was not a terrible offensive contribution. Dembele, who was extremely highly regarded and played the same role, was far less productive in the final third.
If Ndombele can improve his defensive / off the ball contributions, he could potentially be extremely effective. It appears to be a combination of fitness, work-rate and injuries holding him back, not a lack of ability or talent, so I remain hopeful (but not confident) that Mourinho can sort him out.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

You must have hated Berbatov.

Running loads =/= maximum contribution to the team

This was Berbatov's response to being criticised for laziness, in an interview after he left the Premier League:

"Everybody is different in the way they see the game and play. My difference was that sometimes you would see I might not be into the game, but at the same time I was scanning the pitch to see where to position myself at the right moment, at the right time in a pocket of space - and you can give me the ball so that I have more time to myself and not have someone on my back.

When I have that time and space I have more time to think about where to put the ball.

Some people don't understand it, but if you are clever in your head, even if you are slow in speed, you can still be quick. You can position yourself better and be even more use to your team.

If you were to put it into order of the players who would run in my Tottenham team I would say Jermaine, [Robbie] Keane and then probably everybody else - with me behind.

But I was running in my head. And when I see someone in a better position than me I always give the ball. No selfishness. In the end we win and lose together.

It seems a bit strange, but in every team I have been in, you see my style of play and sometimes fans and players don't understand that and they become a bit afraid of it, like I am not helping and not good for the team.

But after a while you get used to it because this style can bring results."

One of Benitez's first observations when he took over at Liverpool was that Gerrard was running too much and needed to learn to be more intelligent with his movement and positioning.
Obviously a CM has more need to track back than a CF, but I think as fans we often put too much weight on how much a player runs rather than taking a step back and looking at what they are actually contributing.

 

[PrettyColors]

Other than £200,000 a week, I’m saying nothing...

Jose’s draws & defeats - Ndombele’s contributions

Man United. On the bench, came on after 70 minutes - lost
Bayern Munich. Injured - lost
Chelsea. On the bench, came on after 74 minutes - lost
Norwich. Completed the game - drew
Southampton. Started, subbed after 25minutes due to injury - lost
Middlesbrough. Injured - drew
Liverpool. Injured - lost
Watford. Injured - drew
Southampton. On the bench, didn’t play - drew
Leipzig. On the bench, came on after 64 minutes - lost
Chelsea. Started, taken off after 63 minutes - lost
Norwich. On the bench, brought on after 81 minutes - drew, lost on penalties
Burnley. Started, taken off after 45 minutes - drew
Leipzig. On the bench, didn’t play - lost
Man United. On the bench, didn’t play - drew
Sheffield United. On the bench, brought on after 71 minutes - lost
Bournemouth. On the bench, came on after 45 minutes - drew
Crystal Palace. Injured - drew

Unavailable - 5 of 18
Completed 90 minutes - 1 of 13
Starts - 4 of 13
Substituted off - 3 of 4
Not used at all when available - 3 of 13

Wins

Games won with Ndombele in the squad - 9 of 16
Games won without Ndombele in the squad - 7 of 16
Starts - 2 of 9
Substituted off - 2 of 2
Substituted on - 1
Unused subs - 5 of 9

Putting the season into perspective that is an absolutely shocking record.

 

[glacierSpurs]

He's also easily the best passer (maybe Kane aside) at the club, nobody else comes close to having the vision and execution of his pass to set Son up against City.

People who can't see his talent are either being deliberately blind to it, or iffy judges of footballer.

TBH, I don't think there is anyone oblivious to his talents. It is his, I dont' wish to say laziness, but slugginess, that some of us have problems with..

 

[Japhet]

As laid back as Berbatov looked a lot of the time, he never looked unfit, and aside from when he wanted to leave I don’t recall any reports of him not giving his all in training.

Most importantly of all, Berbatov contributed to the team consistently with goals and assists.

Aside from a few flashes of brilliance here and there, all I’ve seen from NDombele is someone who isn‘t giving the effort required of a player at a top club.

If we keep him, it’s really down to him if he takes the chance, or goes down in history as a massive flop. Because if we are struggling to get what we paid for him now, you can bet we won’t get anywhere near if he has another poor season.

He seems very immature to me in his attitude and lack of urgency. He needs to grow up a bit sharpish and realise that he needs to put the work in and not just rely on talent. He won't get away with that in the EPL. Like a lot of immature youngsters it also seems that he's surrounded himself with a load of dickheads and hangers on if the reports are true. No doubting his potential though.

 

[Tucker]

He seems very immature to me in his attitude and lack of urgency. He needs to grow up a bit sharpish and realise that he needs to put the work in and not just rely on talent. He won't get away with that in the EPL. Like a lot of immature youngsters it also seems that he's surrounded himself with a load of dickheads and hangers on if the reports are true. No doubting his potential though.

Agreed, hopefully he wises up before he wastes his career.

 

[Spurrific]

TBH, I don't think there is anyone oblivious to his talents. It is his, I dont' wish to say laziness, but slugginess, that some of us have problems with..

I literally replied to somebody saying we only think Ndombele is talented because he can dribble

 

[Dazzazzad]

I've been on the fence before but I don't think I've ever been torn quite like this.

In 2 years I could see him being considered one of our worst ever transfers. In 2 years I could also see him being one of the best players in the world and, of sold, one of our biggest regrets in letting him go.

 

[mill]

I've been on the fence before but I don't think I've ever been torn quite like this.

In 2 years I could see him being considered one of our worst ever transfers. In 2 years I could also see him being one of the best players in the world and, of sold, one of our biggest regrets in letting him go.

Sounds like a sharp fence

 

[BoogerHD]

He's also easily the best passer (maybe Kane aside) at the club, nobody else comes close to having the vision and execution of his pass to set Son up against City.

People who can't see his talent are either being deliberately blind to it, or iffy judges of footballer.

That pass was just a standard pass forward lmao. The only reason it amounts to anything is because Otamendi, stupidly, decides to step forward out of line and gives Son all the room in the world behind him lol. The pass was straight to his feet and not through the defence.

 

[Spurrific]

That pass was just a standard pass forward lmao. The only reason it amounts to anything is because Otamendi, stupidly, decides to step forward out of line and gives Son all the room in the world behind him lol. The pass was straight to his feet and not through the defence.

You’re either trolling or you have never kicked a ball competitively in your life - which is it?

 

[BoogerHD]

You’re either trolling or you have never kicked a ball competitively in your life - which is it?

Watch it back lol

He does well to make space for himself but the pass isn't anything special. He passes it directly to Son's feet, not into space. If Otamendi doesn't step forward, Son doesn't have the room to turn and shoot. There's other moments where his passing has been good, but this particular moment isn't that special.

 

[Spurrific]

Watch it back lol

He does well to make space for himself but the pass isn't anything special. He passes it directly to Son's feet, not into space. If Otamendi doesn't step forward, Son doesn't have the room to turn and shoot. There's other moments where his passing has been good, but this particular moment isn't that special.

The direction of the pass isn’t the only thing that makes it good, obviously. It’s the weight, the speed of thought and the way he moved his body to disguise it. I’m sure you’re being deliberately obtuse, because no football fan could know so little about the game as to not appreciate that pass.

 

[BoogerHD]

The direction of the pass isn’t the only thing that makes it good, obviously. It’s the weight, the speed of thought and the way he moved his body to disguise it. I’m sure you’re being deliberately obtuse, because no football fan could know so little about the game as to not appreciate that pass.

Lmao we'll just agree to disagree I don't think it's anything special and you think it's the best pass ever made

 

[Spurrific]

Lmao we'll just agree to disagree I don't think it's anything special and you think it's the best pass ever made

I don’t know why I expected a mature conversation with somebody called BoogerHD

 

[C0YS]

Watch it back lol

He does well to make space for himself but the pass isn't anything special. He passes it directly to Son's feet, not into space. If Otamendi doesn't step forward, Son doesn't have the room to turn and shoot. There's other moments where his passing has been good, but this particular moment isn't that special.

That's a great pass. The pace and weight on the ball is exceptional.

 

[BoogerHD]

I don’t know why I expected a mature conversation with somebody called BoogerHD

Did the joke upset you? lol We're not gonna convince each other so we'll leave it at that my guy lol.