Player Watch - Japhet Tanganga

[coysjod]

Huge difference seeing Japheth vs Tierney compared to the horror show Doherty put on last time we faced them. Tanganga is miles better than Doherty, no doubt who should be shown the door.

 

[chrisd2k]

He’s a RB. Just call time on the CB experiment and play him out there. Miles better than Doherty.

Experiment? All his youth career he's been a CB

 

[mark87]

He’s a RB. Just call time on the CB experiment and play him out there. Miles better than Doherty.

It's not an experiment, he's always played at centre back.

 

[delawarespur]

I’ve been saying it for timeeeee, he’s a better RB than CB. The athleticism, strength, stamina, but with the awareness and 1v1 ability. He seems to have developed more outlet skills too taking up good positions high and wide. Develop and perfect just one type of delivery from out wide, and he’s there in my opinion. I said a while ago, he’s Wan-Bissaka even if he develops just a tiny bit more with the ball.

 

[OpenHeartZoo]

Missed most of the game today but all of this lads most impressive games have been at full back. For a player who has been focusing on centre back play for his entire youth I actually think he's shown some promise going forward at times as well. I think he should get a run and some proper coaching at right back.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

The camera didn't pan to him after he went off, but the commentator said he was moving OK. Hopefully either fatigue or a minor knock.

He was walking around after the match clapping the fans. So, I assume nothing serious.

 

[delawarespur]

I’ve been saying it for timeeeee, he’s a better RB than CB. The athleticism, strength, stamina, but with the awareness and 1v1 ability. He seems to have developed more outlet skills too taking up good positions high and wide. Develop and perfect just one type of delivery from out wide, and he’s there in my opinion. I said a while ago, he’s Wan-Bissaka even if he develops just a tiny bit more with the ball.

@chrisd2k you disagree, which is fine, but why do you prefer him as a CB? I’m intrigued, because Japh definitely has the versatility and qualities to play CB and it’s a really interesting topic of debate

 

[mark87]

I'd happily have him as first-choice right back.

 

[Jamturk]

The thing is if he's a backup how is he going to develop?

I like him defensively as a FB but he lacks the attacking threat which makes us too easy to shutdown as a team.

 

[chrisd2k]

@chrisd2k you disagree, which is fine, but why do you prefer him as a CB? I’m intrigued, because Japh definitely has the versatility and qualities to play CB and it’s a really interesting topic of debate

He's an impressive player so I'm not surprised he looks good at RB as most good players can play multiple positions. But his whole youth career he has been a CB and coached to be a CB. He has only played CB in pre season for us so how do you know he's looked better at RB? He's a CB doing a job out there

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

The thing is if he's a backup how is he going to develop?

I like him defensively as a FB but he lacks the attacking threat which makes us too easy to shutdown as a team.

Depends on how the players use the space in front. And, it also open up some opportunities where Tanganga does get forward and catches the opponent out-numbered.

At the end of the 19/20 season Jose was using that asymmetrical back line, with a RB who attacked, while Davies stayed deeper on the left. The reverse can work also - where Reguilon is more attacking, while the RB sits a little deeper - whether that is Tanganga or Tomiyasu.

Its not great news for Doherty - but Tanganga would do well, as would Tomiyasu. (With Reguilon and Sessegnon on the left).

 

[delawarespur]

He's an impressive player so I'm not surprised he looks good at RB as most good players can play multiple positions. But his whole youth career he has been a CB and coached to be a CB. He has only played CB in pre season for us so how do you know he's looked better at RB? He's a CB doing a job out there

I’m not 100% sure on this, but I think more of his senior appearances have come as a RB than as a CB. I look at just players who play/have played for the club, Dier has been played in multiple positions, Sanchez was originally a midfielder before breaking through and wining the Libertadores, Mousa Dembele was a striker for a while, Foyth was a CB exclusively in his youth career and in his early senior career for Estudiantes, but now is Villarreal’s first choice RB, Dele started his career as almost the deepest midfielder at MK and in his youth, Lucas was a no 10 at São Paulo (although I still think he’s best there so maybe not the best example).

I just think it’s too early in his career to say his development through the youth makes him more useful as CB. Whether he or the coaching staff think he’s just doing a job as a fullback, I think he’s been much better there, so why not play to his strengths? I see CB qualities, but he’s shown more than enough development as a fullback for me to say, “give him the spot” at least until another RB is brought in. I think he has the technical skills with his running, control, and passing. The positional sense when attacking is surprisingly very good. The athleticism and engine is there. The 1v1 defending and footwork in different defensive scenarios is there.What’s not there is an ability, or even a willingness to cross. But if we sign Tomiyasu, he’s very similar to Japh, and I and many others see him as our starting RB should he sign. I don’t want Japh’s versatility to work against him, developing a technical skill like crossing e easier than developing some of the other qualities he has, and he’s more than young enough to improve in that area.

 

[Montalbano]

No need to loan him.

 

[G Ron]

He was excellent today and must be our 1st choice right back right now. Defensively very solid and used the ball really well. Very comfortable and accomplished performance. He’s a strong option if he can stay fit.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

RCB in a back 3 is probably his ideal position imo.

But yeah, no chance I'd loan him out if it was up to me.

 

[walworthyid]

Experiment? All his youth career he's been a CB

Much better at RB for me. He can be far more aggressive, which he is naturally, at RB. Not to mention his natural pace and athleticism.

Perhaps CB later in his career.

 

[nialsy2005]

I think if the plan is for us to play a back 4 with a more attack-focused LB, and a more Conservative RB, then I'm hard pressed to find a better alternative/backup to Tomiyasu (providing we get him) than Japhet. Certainly seems a better tactical fit than Doherty at least. Would be an odd choice to loan him if this is the rough formation that we'll be playing

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Given how poor Reggie is with regards to his defensive positioning, I would 100% keep Japh as our less-adventurous fullback to keep an effective back 3. With our midfield and frontline we have plenty of wide options so the attacking burden required of Japh is greatly diminished. I'd rather at least one of our fullbacks is a good defender first and forward support second.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Given how poor Reggie is with regards to his defensive positioning, I would 100% keep Japh as our less-adventurous fullback to keep an effective back 3. With our midfield and frontline we have plenty of wide options so the attacking burden required of Japh is greatly diminished. I'd rather at least one of our fullbacks is a good defender first and forward support second.

Both he and Tomiyasu in this role works better than Doherty and Serge.

 

[lukadownthelane]

He can be our Azpilaqueta. I’m assuming I butchered the spelling but he’s Chelsea so who cares?!