Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[jay2040]

Not entirely true. He played a total of 132 minutes in the Prem until Jan... Not really much of a chance to prove himself considering he was imo better than Oscar at that moment in time too, having watched him in the Bundesliga.

It can be spun a lot of ways but he let one of the most promising midfielders go, to then become the best midfielder in the world.

I think we should keep a balanced approach when assessing his handling and judgement of players and he got this one massively wrong imo.

And so what? He is measured on trophies!

 

[even steven]

And so what? He is measured on trophies!

So because he’s won trophies in the past he can’t be judged on anything else? We might as well all pack up and chat when we win something then.

We’re not in the same situation as Chelsea where they could chuck money at everything. The ndombele situation (keep/replacement) will be very important to our success in the future.

 

[sausage]

I think we should keep a balanced approach when assessing his handling and judgement of players and he got this one massively wrong imo.

I don't think he got anything wrong - I'm sure it's been clarified a few times over that Salah and De Brunye were sold by the club and agents, not the manager. They both were obviously not up to scratch at that point, but Chelsea are, in recent history, not a club that has patience with developing players (regardless of the manager). Frank had a season where he had to, and when it look like they'd finally clicked they've gone back to buying big names and messing about their younger players again.

 

[Timbar]

Think TN is being led astray by his entourage who are looking for another pay day! Hoping his French World Cup winning captain has a word with him and he gets his head right for a challenge next season.

 

[joey55]

Think TN is being led astray by his entourage who are looking for another pay day! Hoping his French World Cup winning captain has a word with him and he gets his head right for a challenge next season.

What's he going to say "get your head down, work hard and you too can reap the rewards. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I found the strength of will to keep going and now look at me, I've got a League Cup runners up medal on my mantle piece at home. You play your cards right and that can be you in 10 years time. But if you keep up this disruptive, angling for a move away, bullshit, then you just might live to regret it. Look what happened to Berbatov, Bale, Modric and Carrick and let their stories be a lesson you!"

 

[jay2040]

What's he going to say "get your head down, work hard and you too can reap the rewards. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I found the strength of will to keep going and now look at me, I've got a League Cup runners up medal on my mantle piece at home. You play your cards right and that can be you in 10 years time. But if you keep up this disruptive, angling for a move away, bullshit, then you just might live to regret it. Look what happened to Berbatov, Bale, Modric and Carrick and let their stories be a lesson you!"

I think Hugo would have a world Cup medal too!

The players you mention had actually contributed to the results and were integral to the team at one point in time, whilst TN has still to achieve that.

 

[jay2040]

So because he’s won trophies in the past he can’t be judged on anything else? We might as well all pack up and chat when we win something then.

We’re not in the same situation as Chelsea where they could chuck money at everything. The ndombele situation (keep/replacement) will be very important to our success in the future.

I think only a handful of people,including yourself, would give that any importance over the success he has achieved.

 

[Timbar]

What's he going to say "get your head down, work hard and you too can reap the rewards. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I found the strength of will to keep going and now look at me, I've got a League Cup runners up medal on my mantle piece at home. You play your cards right and that can be you in 10 years time. But if you keep up this disruptive, angling for a move away, bullshit, then you just might live to regret it. Look what happened to Berbatov, Bale, Modric and Carrick and let their stories be a lesson you!"

I’d say all those players earned their right to step up to a winning team with top performances over a period of time.... not just because they thought they had a bit of talent wouldn’t you say?

 

[joey55]

I think Hugo would have a world Cup medal too!

The players you mention had actually contributed to the results and were integral to the team at one point in time, whilst TN has still to achieve that.

Ah lest I forget our famous WC win.

If I remember rightly we smashed the Argies in the final. Lamela and Poch felt a bit guilty that day. I often think back to the sheer elation I felt after Kane's headed winner, from a rare accurate Eriksen set piece. Those were the days!

 

[sausage]

Ah lest I forget our famous WC win.

If I remember rightly we smashed the Argies in the final. Lamela and Poch felt a bit guilty that day. I often think back to the sheer elation I felt after Kane's headed winner, from a rare accurate Eriksen set piece. Those were the days!

He's also played in a CL final, which is base camp on mount pinnacle as far as a lot of players seem to think.

 

[Jospur]

All this talk of NDombele going to Inter is very interesting. What I find particularly surprising is that a swap deal for Skriniar is the one that is being pushed - at least in this Forum. The team needs Ndombele, or failing him, then another more-than-capable centre midfielder. Inter have that player: Brozovic. He’d be an ideal replacement for Ndombele. And he’d be a starter. Yet the talk centres around Skriniar, a central defender.

We’re actually well stocked with central defenders: Alderweireld, Dier, Sanchez, Tanganga, Foyth.

We’re severely lacking in centre midfield. And yet this talk of Skriniar persists.

I wonder if agents and their army of trolls are hard at work on this one...

I’m waiting to hear some news that Skriniar is THE player that Moutinho wants. We’ve heard something similar before with Pochettino. Maybe some on here remember that...

 

[TEESSIDE1]

All this talk of NDombele going to Inter is very interesting. What I find particularly surprising is that a swap deal for Skriniar is the one that is being pushed - at least in this Forum. The team needs Ndombele, or failing him, then another more-than-capable centre midfielder. Inter have that player: Brozovic. He’d be an ideal replacement for Ndombele. And he’d be a starter. Yet the talk centres around Skriniar, a central defender.

We’re actually well stocked with central defenders: Alderweireld, Dier, Sanchez, Tanganga, Foyth.

We’re severely lacking in centre midfield. And yet this talk of Skriniar persists.

I wonder if agents and their army of trolls are hard at work on this one...

I’m waiting to hear some news that Skriniar is THE player that Moutinho wants. We’ve heard something similar before with Pochettino. Maybe some on here remember that...

The above 5 defenders doesn’t equate to being well stocked.

Alderweireld - in decline
Sanchez - most promising but still making silly mistakes
Dier - limited
Tanganga - he’s only played a handful of games and they’re mainly at full back
Foyth - disaster at centre back and he’s up for sale

A couple of seasons ago we had a prime Alderweireld and Vertonghen with Sanchez looking a very good acquisition. We had 3 quality centre backs. Now we have 1-2 at a push.

if the opportunity arises to sign another quality centre back then we need to take it.

 

[Jospur]

The above 5 defenders doesn’t equate to being well stocked.

Alderweireld - in decline
Sanchez - most promising but still making silly mistakes
Dier - limited
Tanganga - he’s only played a handful of games and they’re mainly at full back
Foyth - disaster at centre back and he’s up for sale

A couple of seasons ago we had a prime Alderweireld and Vertonghen with Sanchez looking a very good acquisition. We had 3 quality centre backs. Now we have 1-2 at a push.

if the opportunity arises to sign another quality centre back then we need to take it.

Sure. But if we lose Ndombele then the priority must be to replace him with a top-quality centre midfielder such as Brozovic.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Sure. But if we lose Ndombele then the priority must be to replace him with a top-quality centre midfielder such as Brozovic.

I think central midfield is our biggest weakness right now (you could argue full backs but the midfield is still miles off where it needs to be). Despite some flashes of brilliance I can fully understand why Mourinho hasn’t trusted Ndombele. His complete lack of positioning and defensive reading of the game, even if he makes the odd tackle, combined with his lack of urgency to get back and fix it is a massive problem. At least when Serge gets caught hopelessly out of position he hustles or at least realizes he is way out of position.

Ndombele just seems to stop when he gets caught out and it’s every game. Unless he fixes that it is hard to see how Mourinho will ever trust him in the midfield and the fact he goes with trusted but clearly limited midfielders like Sissoko and Winks over him every week really says everything about Ndombele’s chances.

I can see us not selling Ndombele and this just being an issue again next year. I can’t really see him going anywhere and being a particular success in the heart of midfield, maybe if he can be a player with a completely free role to have only attacking responsibilities.

Honestly if we lose Ndombele now our midfield is no worse.

 

[taidgh]

What's he going to say "get your head down, work hard and you too can reap the rewards. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I found the strength of will to keep going and now look at me, I've got a League Cup runners up medal on my mantle piece at home. You play your cards right and that can be you in 10 years time. But if you keep up this disruptive, angling for a move away, bullshit, then you just might live to regret it. Look what happened to Berbatov, Bale, Modric and Carrick and let their stories be a lesson you!"

Ouch. Too close to the truth. Bale and Modric I can understand - at least they went to Madrid. But Berba and Carrick was a complete fuckup on our part. How we could countenance selling them to a team in our own league just cries of inferiority. They weren't quite rivals yet, but those sales clearly showed our lack of ambition.

 

[AberdeenYid]

Ouch. Too close to the truth. Bale and Modric I can understand - at least they went to Madrid. But Berba and Carrick was a complete fuckup on our part. How we could countenance selling them to a team in our own league just cries of inferiority. They weren't quite rivals yet, but those sales clearly showed our lack of ambition.

Hindsight may suggest that Berbatov and Carrick were fuck ups. But did they want to stay? Doubtful we sold them if they did.

Also, every big club in Europe are rivals of each other now. Liverpool sold Suarez and Coutinho and that turned out quite well.

 

[kent brockman]

Ouch. Too close to the truth. Bale and Modric I can understand - at least they went to Madrid. But Berba and Carrick was a complete fuckup on our part. How we could countenance selling them to a team in our own league just cries of inferiority. They weren't quite rivals yet, but those sales clearly showed our lack of ambition.

Berba and Carrick were entering their last 24 months, and refused to extend their contracts.

I appreciate why Levy decided to take the money rather than letting them see out their contracts and leave for nothing.

 

[thfc1989]

I'm all for the swap with Skriniar as long as we also improve our midfield this transfer window. Ndombele's lack of work rate is inexcusable and I can't see him turning it around for us

The problem is, I can't see us forking out the money required to sign a decent midfield alternative.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm all for the swap with Skriniar as long as we also improve our midfield this transfer window.

Yup

Ndombele's lack of work rate is inexcusable and I can't see him turning it around for us

I find it impossible to look at last season, objectively, and come to any conclusion other than he has no desire to put in the necessary work, and that he wants to throw in the towel.

The problem is, I can't see us forking out the money required to sign a decent midfield alternative.

I agree. Certainly not one with Ndombele's talent either. It's such a shame because he can effectively fill in as part of a 2 (at the base) or carry the ball further forward, and his passing (on the floor) is brilliant. Where would we find someone else like that right now? I struggle to see it.

Realistically, about the best we could hope for is someone like Grealish, but he's definitely not like for like, it would force
GLC deeper, and I'm not sure we could afford him - or at least it would stop us getting other players. Frankly I'd say we'd be more likely to go for someone like Cantwell.

Don't get me wrong on either of the above, they're both useful players, potentially even excellent players...but I can't see either of them ending up at Barca/Real. I definitely could see Ndombele playing for those sides.

It's such a disappointment this. I really hope he turns it around but I just don't think he wants to

 

[Jonboy]

Berba and Carrick were entering their last 24 months, and refused to extend their contracts.

I appreciate why Levy decided to take the money rather than letting them see out their contracts and leave for nothing.

Levy low balled Carrick with wages, United came in and tripled them
Big club - small club