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Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

Univarn

Lost. Probably Not Worth Finding.
Jul 20, 2017
2,864
15,279
Even if he plays a bit part role until the end of the season we won’t know for sure about Jose’s thoughts on him until the start of next season when he’s had a pre season with hopefully a better diet and attitude towards his fitness. If he doesn’t start at that point then that will be the sign that something is wrong.
I think that's the correct approach. I think a lot of the times we get hung up on here about something being "right" or "wrong" when there really are so many variables at play. Maybe he's had a hard time making the cultural shifts. Maybe he's not really motivated for *wavey hands* "reasons". Maybe there's something to do with injuries. It's honestly probably a combination of all 3 and probably some others we'd have never thought of.

We signed him to a 6 year contract and reportedly put him on parity with our top earners. We're not seeing that return at the moment and I think that's frustrating for all of us, especially those like myself and some others who have been watching him for years now. This summer and next season are crucial for him and us and I genuinely hope he comes good and everything gets back on track.
 

scat1620

L'espion mal fait
May 11, 2008
16,280
52,491
Honestly, unless he's got a severe or recurrent actual injury issue, I will be pretty fucking furious if we finish the season with Ndombele not starting games regularly and having to cross our fingers that he will be able to play a meaningful part in first team matches next season. Time marches on every game that he's not able to play for us, and if we don't see him become a regular this season then that's 17% of his entire contract that has effectively been wasted by us not having a player available that we would very much like to select if we could.

If he's not injured then he and the coaching staff need to find a solution to get him back in the side ASA-MF-P, and if they can't then the player and/or the coaching and fitness staff should get a big fucking kick up the arse. This just isn't good enough.
 

JKendall13

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2012
1,040
6,953
We’ll have a tough time of it if he can’t play versus Leipzig. These are the type of games you buy a player like Ndombele for. Hope his fitness is right.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,646
16,810
Hey Dan, I disagree strongly. Why are creative players so coveted?

De Bruyne and Eriksen are up there with the most desirable players in the top 5 leagues precisely because of the number of key chances they create.

Dele can create 'a bit,' and yet he's not talked about in the same breath as De Bruyne or Sancho, D.Silva, B. Silva, or Ziyech.

We watched the Poch team over 5.5 years and everyone concluded that when Eriksen was off-form, we sucked.

Why does this fanbase revere Hoddle, for instance?

To suggest that a team of the Diers and Winks of this world playing recycla-ball would fare as well creatively as a team with Lo Celso and Ndombele in it is ridiculous. Creative players make the difference. For one thing, recycla-ball is boring as hell.
The OP said Eriksen is the only creator in our squad from the Poch era. Nobody said Eriksen wasn't our best creator but guess what if you only have one creative player they get man marked and you don't create. The whole team has to make runs and gel for the creation to come off. Oh and by the way Eriksen was so desired that when available for 20m only inter milan were in for him.

If you have one good player in the squad and the rest of the team don't contribute with creative runs and movement he will look pretty average pretty quick.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,646
16,810
Hopefully we were just saving him for the Champions League game. If not you have to wonder what is going on with his fitness. Probably the most individually talented player we have in the squad and yet we can't get him on the pitch? Would love to know what the medical showed up regards to fitness levels when were signing him.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
The issue also is he doesnt have an automatic slot. He can play in either a midfield 2 or a midfield 3. Lo Celso is 100% starter. Dele is 100% starter. Winks is probably 70%
 

GutBucket

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2013
6,808
11,492
Has to start vs Leipzig, him and Lo Celso together instantly make us one of the more creative teams out there and Ndombele can also score goals from distance. Someone will have to cover for him defensively though, he doesn't have enough stamina to play on both sides of the pitch.
 

Thenewcat

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
2,970
10,275
Has to start vs Leipzig, him and Lo Celso together instantly make us one of the more creative teams out there and Ndombele can also score goals from distance. Someone will have to cover for him defensively though, he doesn't have enough stamina to play on both sides of the pitch.
Then he can’t start. We aren’t in a position to carry a luxury player.
 

Thenewcat

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
2,970
10,275
Ball retention isn't a luxury.

Playing Dele and Dier is a luxury.
I didn’t comment on either. But the idea that we should pick a guy who can’t run for 90 mins is not the solution. If he’s fit, great, he plays. If he is in the same shape as before the break, half an hour is his useful limit
 

CowInAComa

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
7,293
18,237
A player that can't last a half and even then it's only if he isn't expected to actually run about too much is fucking useless.

It's about time he started proving some value to us. 6 months is plenty of time for him to get up to match speed.
 

swarvsta

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2008
773
4,061
The issue also is he doesnt have an automatic slot. He can play in either a midfield 2 or a midfield 3. Lo Celso is 100% starter. Dele is 100% starter. Winks is probably 70%

Lo Celso is a 100% starter? For you or for Mourinho?

But fully fit and in great form, didn’t start the last game. :whistle::cautious:
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
Ive been thinking about this and trust me i love Ndombele but given that we like to play counter attacking footballer, he just isnt dynamic enough for that. Thats not judging him too quickly thats just looking at how we are set up, how we want to play and whether he fits into that

I think he is definitely our creative force and one that can unlock defences but against teams who would park the bus. I dont think he will play against RBL but what do I know eh.
 

ero1x

Well-Known Member
Nov 16, 2004
1,533
1,207
I honestly think it’s 50 50 whether he’s with us next season and I’m leaning slightly towards him being sold. Especially if we need to raise funds for other positions, because let’s be truthful, his first season has been a bit of a disaster.
He reportedly earns £200k a week and cost us over £50M... I guess you'll struggle to find a club that will take a player off our hands on those terms, if his only season has been 'a bit of a disaster'.
 

eViL

Oliver Skipp's Dad
May 15, 2004
5,840
7,960
He can't run. When we're out of possession he trots back like he's ready to pass out. Until he adds some intensity to his game he is a liabilty.

We wouldn't be out of possession if we retained the ball better. Less running. Perfect for N'Dombele, shite for the statzone bloke who fucking LOVES Dele's pointless running around.
 
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