Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[fishhhandaricecake]

there's not enough creativity in a midfield of Højbjerg and presumably Winks/Sissoko, we would really regret binning off Ndombele, I know he's had a dreadful season but it would be stupid to give up on him so easily

Hoyjberg is a DM, we'd have to also get a creative CM replacement for Ndombele if its just not working out with him. And/Or we drop Lo celso back next to Hoyjberg and buy another AM.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Hojberg is not Ndombele's replacement ... He is wanyama replacement whom we sold in january ...

Agree, we'd also need to replace Ndombele with a creative CM or drop Lo celso back and buy another AM.

 

[Snarfalicious]

If he wants to go, I think you make it happen at this point. PSG seems like a solid bet; they've got the money, they know what he can offer in that league and I can see Ndombele jumping at the opportunity.

Levy better make damned sure all that money gets reinvested in the squad, though.

 

[yido_number1]

Really dissapointed we didn't get a chance to see him get a run of games before the end of the season. Loads of individual talent in there just horrendous body conditioning for whatever reason. It would be great if we don't sacrifice the creative passing by signing a DM that is too limited and all about defence. Really underwhelmed with links to EH.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

A player swap with Griezmann. What planet are some of you on?

Like I said, Barcelona are a poorly run club. That Arthur / Pjanic "swap" they just pulled off was a terrible move. They gave up one of their only younger players and brought in another old center midfielder. Look at their squad, it's really not anything to fear in 2-3 years time.

Griezmann is also already 28 and having a poor year, doesn't seem to fit Barcelona at all. At some point they will need younger players, and like we're apparently considering in this thread with Ndombele, Griezmann is a prime candidate for them to cut their losses on. Ndombele is only 23. Griezmann also takes playing time away from one of their best prospects / young stars (Ansu Fati) and plays a similar role to Lautaro, who they are likely to sign (and for a big price). So all of a sudden there is Messi and Lautaro who are undroppable, and then Griezmann, Suarez, Fati, and maybe Dembele for the other spot in the 4-3-3. They would have to fund a Lautaro purchase too.

I clearly stated that I don't think us managing to pay Griezmann's likely desired wages is realistic (though who knows w the Mourinho contract). I don't think it's a likely swap at all. But 1) it's not completely out of the question, and 2) it's Barcelona's "upper management" v Levy...very one sided negotiating edge there, and it's in our favor.

Ndombele + 15-30m for Griezmann is not out of the realms of possibility. The wages are another story entirely.

 

[brendanb50]

Like I said, Barcelona are a poorly run club. That Arthur / Pjanic "swap" they just pulled off was a terrible move. They gave up one of their only younger players and brought in another old center midfielder. Look at their squad, it's really not anything to fear in 2-3 years time.

Griezmann is also already 28 and having a poor year, doesn't seem to fit Barcelona at all. At some point they will need younger players, and like we're apparently considering in this thread with Ndombele, Griezmann is a prime candidate for them to cut their losses on. Ndombele is only 23.

I clearly stated that I don't think us managing to pay Griezmann's likely desired wages is realistic (though who knows w the Mourinho contract). I don't think it's a likely swap at all. But 1) it's not completely out of the question, and 2) it's Barcelona's "upper management" v Levy...very one sided negotiating edge there, and it's in our favor.

I'd recommend taking a look for an account called @swissramble on twitter - explains the financial nature of the Arthur/Pjanic deal and how it basically put cash in the bank for both clubs in this financial year.

 

[brendanb50]

Really dissapointed we didn't get a chance to see him get a run of games before the end of the season. Loads of individual talent in there just horrendous body conditioning for whatever reason. It would be great if we don't sacrifice the creative passing by signing a DM that is too limited and all about defence. Really underwhelmed with links to EH.

I think not getting something out of him would be a bit of a failing.

Don't get me wrong, perhaps both sides have ran out of patience and he wants to go but a player of his talent doesn't come along too often. Workrate may be an issue but surely he can be motivated in some way to knuckle down.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

I'd recommend taking a look for an account called @swissramble on twitter - explains the financial nature of the Arthur/Pjanic deal and how it basically put cash in the bank for both clubs in this financial year.

Yes I've read through it, that's why I said "swap" in quotations. Doesn't change the fact that it's a poor move from the outlook of long term squad management.

 

[brendanb50]

Yes I've read through it, that's why I said "swap" in quotations. Doesn't change the fact that it's a poor move from the outlook of long term squad management.

I'd agree, not really sure what the advantage is on Barca's side of the deal. Shows that not all transfers are squad/quality based though.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

I'd agree, not really sure what the advantage is on Barca's side of the deal. Shows that not all transfers are squad/quality based though.

The only thing I can imagine is they just feel they are going to make an all out push for glory next season with Messi in his last couple prime years.

 

[The Legend of Tanguy]

Now this makes complete sense. There was no way in hell that Levy is would just cut ties with his biggest ever player investment without doing everything in his power to turn it around - that's just bad business. PEH with Tanguy and GLC in front of him would be an ideal midfield that can adapt to nearly any opposition - IMO, that is a midfield that could compete for a PL title (pending our defense is strengthened). My only concern is where we can play Dele because this sets up perfectly for a 4-3-3 with Kane, Son, Stevie up front. Diamond would be too narrow - at this point, our fullbacks are not good enough to provide the width required for that to work.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Now this makes complete sense. There was no way in hell that Levy is would just cut ties with his biggest ever player investment without doing everything in his power to turn it around - that's just bad business. PEH with Tanguy and GLC in front of him would be an ideal midfield that can adapt to nearly any opposition - IMO, that is a midfield that could compete for a PL title (pending our defense is strengthened). My only concern is where we can play Dele.

This is what a lot of us have been calling for so it's music to our ears. Honestly, I think you can make a case for selling Dele at this point, but Jose does appear to love what he offers. Perhaps you do a 4-3-1-2 with Dele in the 1, playing off Kane and Son.

--------- Hojbjerg ---------
Ndombele --- Lo Celso ---
----------- Dele ------------
Kane ------------- Son ----

 

[The Legend of Tanguy]

This is what a lot of us have been calling for so it's music to our ears. Honestly, I think you can make a case for selling Dele at this point, but Jose does appear to love what he offers. Perhaps you do a 4-3-1-2 with Dele in the 1, playing off Kane and Son.

--------- Hojbjerg ---------
Ndombele --- Lo Celso ---
----------- Dele ------------
Kane ------------- Son ----

I made an addition to my post above right as you posted this. I agree, that looks nice in theory, but i just don't think our fullbacks can provide the width required for that to work. In theory, that formation plays like a 3-4-1-2 in attack, with Hojbjerg dropping deep and our full backs bombing forward. Davies and Aurier just don't have the quality to do that. Now if we can develop Sessegnon (who seems perfect for that formation) and get another quality RB, I'm open to it. I'd still prefer utilizing Stevie wide instead instead of Dele at the 10.

 

[Young Nasty Man]

Now this makes complete sense. There was no way in hell that Levy is would just cut ties with his biggest ever player investment without doing everything in his power to turn it around - that's just bad business. PEH with Tanguy and GLC in front of him would be an ideal midfield that can adapt to nearly any opposition - IMO, that is a midfield that could compete for a PL title (pending our defense is strengthened). My only concern is where we can play Dele because this sets up perfectly for a 4-3-3 with Kane, Son, Stevie up front. Diamond would be too narrow - at this point, our fullbacks are not good enough to provide the width required for that to work.

This is the type of stuff that gives me hope. I completely agree with this though process.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

This is what a lot of us have been calling for so it's music to our ears. Honestly, I think you can make a case for selling Dele at this point, but Jose does appear to love what he offers. Perhaps you do a 4-3-1-2 with Dele in the 1, playing off Kane and Son.

--------- Hojbjerg ---------
Ndombele --- Lo Celso ---
----------- Dele ------------
Kane ------------- Son ----

The Porto formation...

 

[dtxspurs]

This is what a lot of us have been calling for so it's music to our ears. Honestly, I think you can make a case for selling Dele at this point, but Jose does appear to love what he offers. Perhaps you do a 4-3-1-2 with Dele in the 1, playing off Kane and Son.

--------- Hojbjerg ---------
Ndombele --- Lo Celso ---
----------- Dele ------------
Kane ------------- Son ----

Looks like a certain formation that people complained a lot about that a certain manager might have wanted to try with the correct players...

 

[Laboog]

Use Dele as a backup to GLC. Both often have injuries it seems (GLC has not been here long enough to really know but this year he struggled a bit) so having two options will never be a bad idea. Especially since the 5 sub role is here another season. Signing Holbjerg and making Ndombele work in the squad would make transfers much clearer for our targeted needs.

Realistically it would be something like this knowing how cheap Levy is.

GK - Lloris, Gazza
RB - Two new signings
CB - Sanchez/Toby plus new signing
LB - One new signing, Davies
Defensive midfielders - PEH, Winks, Skipp
Creative - Ndombele, Lo Celso, Dele
Wingers - Lucas, Sissoko, Son, Lamela, Bergwijn
Striker - Kane, new signing

 

[The Legend of Tanguy]

Use Dele as a backup to GLC. Both often have injuries it seems (GLC has not been here long enough to really know but this year he struggled a bit) so having two options will never be a bad idea. Especially since the 5 sub role is here another season. Signing Holbjerg and making Ndombele work in the squad would make transfers much clearer for our targeted needs.

Realistically it would be something like this knowing how cheap Levy is.

GK - Lloris, Gazza
RB - Two new signings
CB - Sanchez/Toby plus new signing
LB - One new signing, Davies
Defensive midfielders - PEH, Winks, Skipp
Creative - Ndombele, Lo Celso, Dele
Wingers - Lucas, Sissoko, Son, Lamela, Bergwijn
Striker - Kane, new signing

I agree with this, but don't forget about Tang Gang and Sessegnon. Kim Min-Jae sounds like an ideal budget option at CB and then yea Max Aarons or someone of that mould could fill in nicely at RB. Another alternative to PEH that would be a very "Levy" signing would be Weston McKennie from Schalke. It was reported that they're struggling financially and may be willing to sell some players cheap. He's a big (6'1) CDM, who's only 21 years old and would be a stroke of marketing genius to capture more fans abroad in the U.S. We'd then have the 2 biggest players in Korea and one of America's top 2 or 3 young players as well. Levy would be printing money from kit sales across the world.

 

[CowInAComa]

Have we sold him yet?

 

[JayB]

I made an addition to my post above right as you posted this. I agree, that looks nice in theory, but i just don't think our fullbacks can provide the width required for that to work. In theory, that formation plays like a 3-4-1-2 in attack, with Hojbjerg dropping deep and our full backs bombing forward. Davies and Aurier just don't have the quality to do that. Now if we can develop Sessegnon (who seems perfect for that formation) and get another quality RB, I'm open to it. I'd still prefer utilizing Stevie wide instead instead of Dele at the 10.

We would absolutely need to upgrade our fullbacks in order to play a diamond, but we've been strongly linked with a number of fullbacks already so it seems that it is on the list of areas to address this summer.