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Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
The problem Ndombele faces is a very similar one many creative/skillful black players have faced in the past and still do.

Naturally black players are extremely strong and generally have excellent stamina so managers have tended to play them in a defensive midfield role. If they have serious pace, they are played wide, if they are good at finishing, then they will play up front.

However, the creative black players havent had their fair chance of playing in their deaired roles. Its a complaint Yaya toure has made in the past and you can see Pogba gets criticised a lot for not tracking back. He is another player that should be playing closer to the strikers.

Ndombele should be treated like Gazza, Riquelme, zidane etc and be allowed to flourish further up the field without the need to do the donkey work.

But he has to work hard. There is no excuses for him not to. If he is still jogging around when the league restarts i think we will just have to get rid

If he gets his shit together he could be our best player
 

Drink!Drink!

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2014
1,356
5,015
Scored a goal, looked quite effective going forward. Looked half arsed when being asked to defend, didn't track Gedson nor press Winks when he dropped deep to collect.

If anything, that training session just looked like much of the same shite that we saw during the season. Defenders being exposed on the transition. Trouble with not knowing how to deal with a #10 dropping between the lines (Foyth slow to step up and the subsequent hole leaving Sonny with space to run in to) and both RB's being too high to get back in time and support their CB's.

well that's got me fired up and excited for the re-start of the season :ROFLMAO::X3:
 

Vincent30

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
900
3,694
When you look at this attributes, he clearly would be such a scary player in that AM role, less tracking back responsibility and someone who can take apart teams in the final third.

My ideal would be:

Front 3 of: Bergwijn, Son and Kane.

Midfield 3 of: Hojbjerg sat in front of the back four super disciplined (Someone similar - Camavinga from Rennes / Sangare from Toulouse), Lo Celso as our link player who is tenacious enough to play deeper and track back, and Ndombele the free man destroying teams in the final third and feeding our forwards.

I think it's clear to see ability wise he is superior to Dele. It's just a shame Dele is loved by Jose and the above is an unlikely situation.
 

Dirtysanchez6

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2018
1,455
5,638
I think we’re about to play him as a am or got 4213 with him infront if the other 2 cms I think he will destroy teams in that position tbh
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,986
81,914
The problem Ndombele faces is a very similar one many creative/skillful black players have faced in the past and still do.

Naturally black players are extremely strong and generally have excellent stamina so managers have tended to play them in a defensive midfield role. If they have serious pace, they are played wide, if they are good at finishing, then they will play up front.

However, the creative black players havent had their fair chance of playing in their deaired roles. Its a complaint Yaya toure has made in the past and you can see Pogba gets criticised a lot for not tracking back. He is another player that should be playing closer to the strikers.

Ndombele should be treated like Gazza, Riquelme, zidane etc and be allowed to flourish further up the field without the need to do the donkey work.
There is merit in that. In England especially we often call flair players lazy. I remember watching Ginola constantly wanting the ball and always looking to make runs and make something happened. But he was called lazy for not tackling back.

With Ndombele though, he looks genuinely knackered after 10-15 minutes. Yaya Toure could always manage the full 90 minutes, Ndombele clearly can't.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
There is merit in that. In England especially we often call flair players lazy. I remember watching Ginola constantly wanting the ball and always looking to make runs and make something happened. But he was called lazy for not tackling back.

With Ndombele though, he looks genuinely knackered after 10-15 minutes. Yaya Toure could always manage the full 90 minutes, Ndombele clearly can't.
Exactly. Ginola, Le Tissier, Zola, these players were indulged, the didn’t need to track back so long as they were effective in attack, which they were because they worked bloody hard to always be available and took responsibility for making things happen.

If Ndombele always shows for the ball and takes responsibility for driving us forward, then I’d happily see him paired with a pure water carrier who’s job is to just win possession and give it to him.
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,326
13,915
So if we play Ndombele in AMC who plays with LoCelso in CM?

Does that setup mean we need more defensive cover because he won't track back or less because he won't go too far forward?
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,762
12,519
It means we still play 442 when defending but he is one of the 2. If he just shuttles around the pitch to cut angles off then we are fine, but as a down-side, the guy was bought for his press resistance to help us play out from the back better.

Still for me, we see something like this maybe??

==================Lloris==================
======Alderweireld====Dier======Davies========
==================Winks==================
Aurier=======GLC============N'Dombele=======
==================Dele================Son
==================Kane===================

Edit: Ignore that shape in the middle there.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
The problem Ndombele faces is a very similar one many creative/skillful black players have faced in the past and still do.

Naturally black players are extremely strong and generally have excellent stamina so managers have tended to play them in a defensive midfield role. If they have serious pace, they are played wide, if they are good at finishing, then they will play up front.

However, the creative black players havent had their fair chance of playing in their deaired roles. Its a complaint Yaya toure has made in the past and you can see Pogba gets criticised a lot for not tracking back. He is another player that should be playing closer to the strikers.

Ndombele should be treated like Gazza, Riquelme, zidane etc and be allowed to flourish further up the field without the need to do the donkey work.
You're going to hit a nerve some people might not be ready for. The remaining positions black players ain't really associated with is the playmaker goalkeeper and of course managers.

I remember people used to believe black players didn't t have the brains to run game from midfield (seriously) however for their athletic abilities striker was more ideal.
 

Dirtysanchez6

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2018
1,455
5,638
It means we still play 442 when defending but he is one of the 2. If he just shuttles around the pitch to cut angles off then we are fine, but as a down-side, the guy was bought for his press resistance to help us play out from the back better.

Still for me, we see something like this maybe??

==================Lloris==================
======Alderweireld====Dier======Davies========
==================Winks==================
Aurier=======GLC============N'Dombele=======
==================Dele================Son
==================Kane===================

Edit: Ignore that shape in the middle there.
Really hate this lopsided formation
 

fridgemagnet

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2009
2,410
2,864
It means we still play 442 when defending but he is one of the 2. If he just shuttles around the pitch to cut angles off then we are fine, but as a down-side, the guy was bought for his press resistance to help us play out from the back better.

Still for me, we see something like this maybe??

==================Lloris==================
======Alderweireld====Dier======Davies========
==================Winks==================
Aurier=======GLC============N'Dombele=======
==================Dele================Son
==================Kane===================

Edit: Ignore that shape in the middle there.

The mahooosive issue again and it's not just you it's nearly every article I've read about how we should line up that've done the same thing (and I'm going to sound like a broken record) is that any formation that includes Aurier is going to leave massive holes to exploit in that area of the pitch that they're expecting Toby/A-Nother of our backline to go and cover as well as any combination of midfield getting dragged over as well; leaving dirty great holes through the middle too.

Take him out entirely, pick anyone else that can play RB I don't particularly care who, you'll see the entire team become much better as a result. For the time being that midfield needs Sissoko in it IMHO.

I'm rubbish with these formation things I'm certainly no coach (and you can argue about CB partnership as I'd put Davidson in there but not next to Toby in a 3) but having Alli and Tanguy able to feed the front 3, Kane is able to receive the ball deep if necessary and send Sonny or Bergwijn away from deep, Lo Celso is able to play forward passes quickly, Sissoko and Lo Celso are able to put out threats quickly, can be switched on the fly to having Deli and Tanguy in behind Kane, Sonny and Bergwijn switching flanks putting balls in for Kane and Deli or cutting in and shooting. Or the number of options of having a front two but we wouldn't be so predictable;
it could be Kane with Son or Kane with Deli, or Kane with Bergwijn or Son and Bergwijn with Kane behind, or bring Lo Celso forward with Alli deeper. Or if you think Ndombele and Alli should be completion for each other and only choose one then swap one of them for Lamela (albeit preferably with less ball rolls)

We need a CM and CB that can step out and drive forwards with the ball, we didn't do that enough the last couple of seasons, Verts would do it or when Winks pushed up and drove at the opposition or Sissoko it made opponents nervous and if either was a decent finisher things would be very different.

At least we'd be able to the opposition something to worry about for a change and support Kane more, rather than constantly shitting the bed when everyone realises Aurier has decided he can't be arsed. Obviously I understand that 3 at the back isn't for everyone especially given what's currently available and away from home it'd probably not be ideal.
Just an opinion you're entitled to yours certainly. At least whilst conceding two goals a game at least have the firepower out there to hit back. Whatever we do no Serge Aurier it completely screws the entire team. IMHO.

Apologies for the long post. There's probably a good reason I'm not a coach.

910OJMyl.png


Could make the midfield really compact but lethal on the counter.
qbEjA4Dl.png


Alli and Ndombele would/could be higher with Sonny and Bergwijn really wide or narrow running from deep or pushing up.

qW3gHUpl.png
 

Hoddlegenius

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
424
797
The mahooosive issue again and it's not just you it's nearly every article I've read about how we should line up that've done the same thing (and I'm going to sound like a broken record) is that any formation that includes Aurier is going to leave massive holes to exploit in that area of the pitch that they're expecting Toby/A-Nother of our backline to go and cover as well as any combination of midfield getting dragged over as well; leaving dirty great holes through the middle too.

Take him out entirely, pick anyone else that can play RB I don't particularly care who, you'll see the entire team become much better as a result. For the time being that midfield needs Sissoko in it IMHO.

I'm rubbish with these formation things I'm certainly no coach (and you can argue about CB partnership as I'd put Davidson in there but not next to Toby in a 3) but having Alli and Tanguy able to feed the front 3, Kane is able to receive the ball deep if necessary and send Sonny or Bergwijn away from deep, Lo Celso is able to play forward passes quickly, Sissoko and Lo Celso are able to put out threats quickly, can be switched on the fly to having Deli and Tanguy in behind Kane, Sonny and Bergwijn switching flanks putting balls in for Kane and Deli or cutting in and shooting. Or the number of options of having a front two but we wouldn't be so predictable;
it could be Kane with Son or Kane with Deli, or Kane with Bergwijn or Son and Bergwijn with Kane behind, or bring Lo Celso forward with Alli deeper. Or if you think Ndombele and Alli should be completion for each other and only choose one then swap one of them for Lamela (albeit preferably with less ball rolls)

We need a CM and CB that can step out and drive forwards with the ball, we didn't do that enough the last couple of seasons, Verts would do it or when Winks pushed up and drove at the opposition or Sissoko it made opponents nervous and if either was a decent finisher things would be very different.

At least we'd be able to the opposition something to worry about for a change and support Kane more, rather than constantly shitting the bed when everyone realises Aurier has decided he can't be arsed. Obviously I understand that 3 at the back isn't for everyone especially given what's currently available and away from home it'd probably not be ideal.
Just an opinion you're entitled to yours certainly. At least whilst conceding two goals a game at least have the firepower out there to hit back. Whatever we do no Serge Aurier it completely screws the entire team. IMHO.

Apologies for the long post. There's probably a good reason I'm not a coach.

910OJMyl.png


Could make the midfield really compact but lethal on the counter.
qbEjA4Dl.png


Alli and Ndombele would/could be higher with Sonny and Bergwijn really wide or narrow running from deep or pushing up.

qW3gHUpl.png
OMG! What’s happened to Tanga’s face during lockdown? ?
 

DanielJohnCosta

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2015
1,645
5,812
from a player who by all accounts has had a bad season - this is his personal highlights

without doubt one of our most talented players (arguably the most talented) and still only 23. Strap in lads because we have a very special player and he's all ours.

 
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