Why Ndombele could be a bigger problem than Spurs realised

[shelfboy68]

It's an illuminating collection of clips, especially as it's one match and against a Premier League side, but even there at 21, his running appears laboured. It's a strange contrast that I alluded to above: with the ball at his feet, especially in tight spaces, he's quicksilver, but when he has to make ground, he sort of lumbers up to moderate speed. As someone else wrote, he doesn't run like a 21/22 year old.

I have a prejudice in favour of players who prefer to make the ball do the work. I mentioned Riquelme above, but also Carrick and Pirlo are different examples and, of course, Iniesta. But many of that kind of player need to have a team built around their skill-set - they need someone to provide cover and to take pressure off them, so they can do magic things. I'm not sure that's practical in the PL in 2020 and I don't think it's Mourinho's way of doing things. His midfielders can be exemplary, but they aren't usually magicians.

Ya ya toure was also a laboured runner but very efficient at what he did.

 

[Shadydan]

Ya ya toure was also a laboured runner but very efficient at what he did.

Good comparison, I don't think there's much difference in playing and running style between the two just that Toure had a better education when he left France and found himself playing under firstly Rijkaard and then Pep, you can't really afford to slack off at Barcelona.

 

[Thewobbler]

The worst part about it we were still in the game, if that had led to a goal which it nearly did it would have been a lot worse for him. The problem is footballers have a lot of power and money these days with big contracts so calling them out probably wont work. Some have the desire to be world class, some are happy just to get that big contract and coast. I hope its the former for tanguy because he can be one of the best if he gets his attitude and fitness right.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Ya ya toure was also a laboured runner but very efficient at what he did.

Being 8 foot 11 helped, having the strength of atlas and the stride of jonathan Edwards. Plus about 15 goals a season was handy! Oh and playing 90 mins every now and then!

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I can see a simple solution
Real Madrid fires Zidane
Zidane has a nasty last press conference alluding to a south american coming in
Pochettino is announced
Pochettino has a gung-ho first press conference alluding to having a wide network that will help him sign the needed players
Pochettino calls Levy
"Hombre, can I buy a few players?"
"No, Sir, but we can sell you Ndombele".

 

[guiltyparty]

The thing I will never understand is, for a club that is so tight with its money, how it came to pass we’d drop 60m on a player that, while clearly a talent, so obviously has potential issues.

Only really had 2 decent seasons in his career, in a much lower league, late bloomer with historical fitness issues. I mean, we’ve balked at much surer bets for much less money. Just doesn’t seem to follow any rhyme or reason

Like, Bruno Fernandes has been the best player in Portugal for years, with goals and assists coming out of his arse, but we wouldn’t pay that money. We’ve never gone near it for a striker who could score the goals. But we will for a languid midfielder, it’s just intriguing what our plan is

 

[PeeLee]

It's attitude pure and simple, it's about wanting the ball and winning it back for your team.

He either doesn't feel at home yet and doesn't care about winning or losing, or he just doesn't care enough about football full stop.

Yeah, he's had a couple of niggly injuries but he's been in full training for well over a month and had a full pre-season. It's about attitude and both he and Aurier's attitudes stink, you wouldn't get that from Sissoko, Winks etc and I hope when we get rid of Serge, Ndombele bucks his ideas up or he will become a very expensive flop

Mention of whom, a reminder of just how much Sissoko's presence, skill, style and work-rate have been missed.

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

Mention of whom, a reminder of just how much Sissoko's presence, skill, style and work-rate have been missed.

He's a limited footballer but he gives everything, if you could transplant his work rate into Ndombele we'd have a top player

 

[whitesocks]

Winks doesn't come over well in that clip either.
All our players look like they are running in treacle.

Part of it might be the angle the clip was taken from as I don't remember ndombele looking as disinterested as that from the normal camera angle.

But sure it is true that he is struggling to adapt to the prem/tottenham. We are stuck with each other now so the ball is in his court to make it work.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Seb is excellent...

Why Tanguy Ndombele could be a bigger problem than Tottenham ever realised

The French midfielder has all the tools to succeed - but seems to lack the mindset to get there

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