Excellent post. It’s easy to forget that of Dembele was strongly linked with a move to Sunderland in Poch’s first season and was very much an enigma and no one knew where best to play him. I remember beating Newcastle away, I think 4-0 and he played attacking right. It’s largely down to Ndombele as to how his career goes at spurs. Show patience and work hard and he’ll be ok, if not good luck somewhere elseWhen our other left wing options were Jamie O'Hara and Dos Santos it is hardly such a big decision.
Yes he couldn't play left wing but it was a different team, with a different style. Ndombele could play, but at the moment I just don't see why you would play him ahead of options. Ok, some people have issues with Dele but he has actually scored 8 goals and assisted 4 this season and is a way more proven, reliable and, yes, more disciplined. Meanwhile, Lamela has looked like a man on a mission this season and is clearly pushing Dele quite hard for that starting position. Ndombele has never played in the hole and I am not sure how well he would do there.
Ndombele is still a useful option to have, and I am sure we would have seen him come on as a CM were we having to chase a game. He is genuinely a game changing player. But, we are actually looking very solid and compact right now, and these last two games we actually have looked like a Jose team. Ndombele, hasn't shown himself to be that player yet.
But he shouldn't stress, quality and dedication wins out in the end. Lamela didn't get a look in in his first season. Sissoko looked like a massive waste of money in his first two. Dembele, what a player, was actually only used as an impact sub in his first season with Pochettino before learning what Poch wanted out of him.
More. Eriksen barely played in the first 4 months of his time at spurs before really pushing on around christmas. Lloris also had to wait to get into the team. Danny Rose had to fight from being considered a player who could never make it as a top quality left back and became the best in the league. Trippier had to play second fiddle for two seasons before establishing himself towards the end of the first. Gareth Bale was a curse and took years to really break through, Assou Ekotto was a liability before he adapted to the league so well he became a fan favorite. Son had a difficult first season were he came in and out of the side and Lamela, Dele and Eriksen were first choice.
That's the thing, he is a young player who needs to adapt to his managers needs, as well as those of the league. If he can takes his time he could easily become another Son, Dembele or Sissoko. But you become that by being patient and working on your game. If he wants to leave to get more games, fair enough, we should explain the situation and tell him to stay put, rumours are Son was pretty keen on going after his first season. If he doesn't accept that and still pushes for an exit. Good riddance, it's as simple of that, because he wouldn't have the mentality required for us moving forward. It would be understandable if he was 27 and at the peak of his career, but he is 23. We didn't sign him for this season. We signed him for the next 5.
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