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Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

JakeCOYS

Ndombele Enthusiast
Jul 2, 2019
18
104
But it's not a hypothesis, we've all seen it play out. People can bring up body shape, unique running style, etc. but we've all seen him since his first outings in pre-season and it's been a repeat pattern of him clearly being knackered after only a fraction of the game. I could pull up any examples, Arsenal and Bournemouth games spring to mind, where halfway through the first half and he already is completely unable to chase a player and do basic defensive duties because he's absolutely fucked.

There has definitely been an issue because as I said I am struggling to recall any other player turning up in the Spurs first team and having such a bad level of fitness and starting to struggle only a few minutes into a game. Van der Vaart probably the closest you could use as an example as he struggled physically/athletically a lot of the time. Maybe Lyon are to blame and have shocking standards, but surely the player has to take some responsibility here too and must know deep down if he's not the most natural athlete, and you'd expect some sort of standards and drive to turn up at a club after a big move and show everyone what you're all about. Well the evidence suggests that didn't happen...….

He didn't even play against Arsenal..
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Almost every time Dembele played he would hobble around and grab his thigh every now and then. But once he was called into action he stepped up and did his job. I’m not saying the situations are exactly the same but I was always on the edge of my seat with anxiety over Mousa’s fitness. Some people just look awkward and have strange gaits.

But again, different scenarios. Dembele had to be wrapped up in cotton wool and his body might break down at times, but for most of his time in a Spurs midfield he could get around the pitch and do his work (particularly defensively) over a 90 minutes.

He didn't even play against Arsenal..

Yeah ok, I've mixed up two games in my head there. Meant Bayern, where everyone was getting excited over him playing two or three nice passes at the start and then ignoring that he literally couldn't run after 20 mins and was useless defensively.

Bayern.

BAYERN.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
Would you want Ndombele in the trenches with you when the bullets are flying .
No he would be cowering in the corner so to speak great talent no guts .
Seems to me every time he is tackled he is close to wanting to leave the pitch. what a wimp but great ability.
There’s many ways to break that down. You want someone who can change things.
 

JakeCOYS

Ndombele Enthusiast
Jul 2, 2019
18
104
But again, different scenarios. Dembele had to be wrapped up in cotton wool and his body might break down at times, but for most of his time in a Spurs midfield he could get around the pitch and do his work (particularly defensively) over a 90 minutes.



Yeah ok, I've mixed up two games in my head there. Meant Bayern, where everyone was getting excited over him playing two or three nice passes at the start and then ignoring that he literally couldn't run after 20 mins and was useless defensively.

Bayern.

BAYERN.

The game was 4-2 when he came off.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
The problem is that while clearly a very talented player on the ball, off it he is suspect.

Which doesn’t fit our system at all.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
But again, different scenarios. Dembele had to be wrapped up in cotton wool and his body might break down at times, but for most of his time in a Spurs midfield he could get around the pitch and do his work (particularly defensively) over a 90 minutes.



Yeah ok, I've mixed up two games in my head there. Meant Bayern, where everyone was getting excited over him playing two or three nice passes at the start and then ignoring that he literally couldn't run after 20 mins and was useless defensively.

Bayern.

BAYERN.

You mixed up Arsenal and Bayern? Unforgivable. ;)
 

dudu

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
5,314
11,048
2 goal difference is a bit different than 5.
Should have been 4-4 if we scored the two great chances he created..

We may have conceded 2 fewer also as he was somewhat at fault for both of their goals in the first half.
 
D

Deleted member 29446

Interesting JJ talking about us not wanting a DM in the window, was because Jose wants TN to be our holding midfielder.

Also Jose talking earlier in his pressers about midfielders who can play in a double pivot, and the ones who can't and what is required of them.

Wonder if Gedson would be the perfect partner to TN with time.

Just think:
1: We might be to open if that's the case, as we have no DM to shield our backline
1.1: That would require more so our fullbacks to stay a bit more back i reckon, not sure if we could play with Aurier high up and 3 CBs.
2: I don't think a holding midfielder is TN's best position, as he's amazing going forward, and tackling is not a obvious strength of his
2.1: Maybe it's good i'm not the manager and Jose is.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Interesting JJ talking about us not wanting a DM in the window, was because Jose wants TN to be our holding midfielder.

Also Jose talking earlier in his pressers about midfielders who can play in a double pivot, and the ones who can't and what is required of them.

Wonder if Gedson would be the perfect partner to TN with time.

Just think:
1: We might be to open if that's the case, as we have no DM to shield our backline
1.1: That would require more so our fullbacks to stay a bit more back i reckon, not sure if we could play with Aurier high up and 3 CBs.
2: I don't think a holding midfielder is TN's best position, as he's amazing going forward, and tackling is not a obvious strength of his
2.1: Maybe it's good i'm not the manager and Jose is.
I don’t think JJ meant Ndombele would at the base of the midfield, more than Jose wanted to base or build the midfield around him.

It would be incredibly wasteful to have him as the deepest midfielder given his ability to beat people, surge up the pitch and play vertical balls through the lines.

I would bet my house on Jose wanting a DM in the summer. I think it would be impossible to get someone in Jan because we don’t seem to have much cash available and most likely our primary targets won’t be available until the end of the season.

Most of the top clubs have DMs who can play as well these days. It’s not enough to be a pure destroyer. Maybe only Gueye at PSG is the latter, but he’s necessary because of the lopsided attacking nature of their side.
 
D

Deleted member 29446

I don’t think JJ meant Ndombele would at the base of the midfield, more than Jose wanted to base or build the midfield around him.

It would be incredibly wasteful to have him as the deepest midfielder given his ability to beat people, surge up the pitch and play vertical balls through the lines.

I would bet my house on Jose wanting a DM in the summer. I think it would be impossible to get someone in Jan because we don’t seem to have much cash available and most likely our primary targets won’t be available until the end of the season.

Most of the top clubs have DMs who can play as well these days. It’s not enough to be a pure destroyer. Maybe only Gueye at PSG is the latter, but he’s necessary because of the lopsided attacking nature of their side.

That is true, what he said. But that would mean that BF would play in the CM role, which I can't get my head around?

Agree so wasteful for him to be our deepest midfielder.

Let's hope we go for a class DM in the summer. So Gedson to rotate with TN?
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
That is true, what he said. But that would mean that BF would play in the CM role, which I can't get my head around?

Agree so wasteful for him to be our deepest midfielder.

Let's hope we go for a class DM in the summer. So Gedson to rotate with TN?
Yeah, also possible he wants to go to 433 eventually. Although it’s tough to fit Dele into that.
 
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