Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[roslau]

Lesson learnt to buy non premier league proven cm to replace Dembele and Wanyama. Hope we don’t make the same mistakes again

 

[jay2040]

Lesson learnt to buy non premier league proven cm to replace Dembele and Wanyama. Hope we don’t make the same mistakes again

I don't think they are linked,just bad luck!

 

[Albertbarich]

Lesson learnt to buy non premier league proven cm to replace Dembele and Wanyama. Hope we don’t make the same mistakes again

We just brought opening Bentancour and he's been fantastic.

It's just a bad transfer , every team has them.

 

[JacoZA]

In the past I've wondered if he perhaps suffers from depression or some other mental health issue, causing a lack of interest in football. After reading up more on the topic though, I've become convinced it's a case of self-limiting behaviour. He's had people around him talking of his potential for a very long time, singing his praise. Problem is, if he were to fully apply himself he runs the risk of falling short of these expectations. So, he simply doesn't apply himself and he remains protected from that possible truth by this much-lauded potential.

To a greater and lesser extent it's a very common problem - most people are guilty of this in some way in their life. Especially people who were labelled "gifted students" at an early age. His is just unique in that it plays out in front of millions and has financial investments added to it. It doesn't give him a free ride or excuse his behaviour - but its worth understanding, especially as it is something that is treatable. (If you're interested in the topic, I recommend researching 'Adult Underachievement')

 

[VancouverSpurs]

In the past I've wondered if he perhaps suffers from depression or some other mental health issue, causing a lack of interest in football. After reading up more on the topic though, I've become convinced it's a case of self-limiting behaviour. He's had people around him talking of his potential for a very long time, singing his praise. Problem is, if he were to fully apply himself he runs the risk of falling short of these expectations. So, he simply doesn't apply himself and he remains protected from that possible truth by this much-lauded potential.

To a greater and lesser extent it's a very common problem - most people are guilty of this in some way in their life. Especially people who were labelled "gifted students" at an early age. His is just unique in that it plays out in front of millions and has financial investments added to it. It doesn't give him a free ride or excuse his behaviour - but its worth understanding, especially as it is something that is treatable. (If you're interested in the topic, I recommend researching 'Adult Underachievement')

I agree, it is worth looking into. I'm sure that a modern club like Spurs employs sports psychologists who would be able to help Tanguy with something like this. Thing is, speaking from personal experience, it ultimately all comes down to whether the person wants to change their unhealthy patterns of thinking and do the hard work that's required. As they say, you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make it drink. The only person who is ever going to be able to unlock Tanguy's undeniable talent is Tanguy himself. It's incredibly sad because he can do things on the pitch that very few others can. You can see why Poch was so enamored with him and the idea of unlocking his potential.

Just goes to show how important assessing a player's mentality is during recruitment.

 

[JacoZA]

I agree, it is worth looking into. I'm sure that a modern club like Spurs employs sports psychologists who would be able to help Tanguy with something like this. Thing is, speaking from personal experience, it ultimately all comes down to whether the person wants to change their unhealthy patterns of thinking and do the hard work that's required. As they say, you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make it drink. The only person who is ever going to be able to unlock Tanguy's undeniable talent is Tanguy himself. It's incredibly sad because he can do things on the pitch that very few others can. You can see why Poch was so enamored with him and the idea of unlocking his potential.

Just goes to show how important assessing a player's mentality is during recruitment.

Spot on. Without the person's buy-in, there's no chance of fixing the problem. And unfortunately, in this case, avoiding dealing with the problem is part of the problem. There was talk a while a go about the club adding someone in the psych role, if I remember correctly. Hopefully that will help avoid issues like this in future.

(I came across Sessegnon talking about working with a sports psych: https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-new...ns-up-on-working-with-psychologist-last-year/ )

EDIT: this is possibly a topic worth further discussion, but I don't want to clog up the Tanguy thread, so I've posted in the Mental Health Support thread.

 

[tevezito]

Come on dude, that's really unnecessary.

Yes, completely agree. That second o in the too is completely unnecessary.

 

[cliff jones]

We just brought opening Bentancour and he's been fantastic.

It's just a bad transfer , every team has them.

I think the point is you can gamble 20 mil but not 60, and not in tandem with a similar gamble in GLC

 

[GetKaned]

Probably Barca. They love a shite random midfielder.

Probably want him for free, then they'll pay us £50m on the never-never. Dele style

Nah its Real Madrid making a statement signing after losing out on Mbappe

 

[GetKaned]

In the past I've wondered if he perhaps suffers from depression or some other mental health issue, causing a lack of interest in football. After reading up more on the topic though, I've become convinced it's a case of self-limiting behaviour. He's had people around him talking of his potential for a very long time, singing his praise. Problem is, if he were to fully apply himself he runs the risk of falling short of these expectations. So, he simply doesn't apply himself and he remains protected from that possible truth by this much-lauded potential.

To a greater and lesser extent it's a very common problem - most people are guilty of this in some way in their life. Especially people who were labelled "gifted students" at an early age. His is just unique in that it plays out in front of millions and has financial investments added to it. It doesn't give him a free ride or excuse his behaviour - but its worth understanding, especially as it is something that is treatable. (If you're interested in the topic, I recommend researching 'Adult Underachievement')

May be that's what happened to Dele too.

 

[glacierSpurs]

I'm just puzzled, or disappointed rather, why he's not motivated to be fighting back to the national squad when the WC is coming. That, really tells me all we need to know from him.

 

[Styopa]

Lesson learnt to buy non premier league proven cm to replace Dembele and Wanyama. Hope we don’t make the same mistakes again

Most of our best players were signed from outside of the Premier League, from Lloris to Romero to Bentancur to Son. Going back further Modric and VDV had never played in the Premier League when we bought them. Nor had Berbatov. I definitely think there can be value in buying proven Premier League players but over the years we have bought some fantastic non premier league players.

 

[Styopa]

I think the point is you can gamble 20 mil but not 60, and not in tandem with a similar gamble in GLC

They didn’t feel like big gambles at the time. Ndombele in particular felt like a massive coup and a ready made Dembele replacement. He came with a high fee but that seemed to reflect his status as one of the most highly rated players in Europe. I think there may have been some questions about his attitude and in hindsight the club should have probably looked into that more. But there were other factors at play too: our disastrous start to the season; Pochettino’s sacking; covid and the season being suspended; Mourinho’s sacking. It was hardly ideal conditions for a new, young player from abroad to join the club.

 

[DazzyWazzy55]

Plenty on here saying that Poch/Hitchen should bear responsibility for Tanguy for failing to carry out due diligence and ultimately they should, but perhaps Poch was confident in himself to be the one to unlock Ndombele's potential.
Maybe the due diligence was carried out and all the issues we now see were identified but Poch thought he could get to the talent that is undoubtedly there and make him our midfield genius. If he had been successful then we would've seen his fee and wages as a bargain, however we know it hasn't played out that way and Ndombele is now an expensive millstone around our neck.

 

[easley91]

Plenty on here saying that Poch/Hitchen should bear responsibility for Tanguy for failing to carry out due diligence and ultimately they should, but perhaps Poch was confident in himself to be the one to unlock Ndombele's potential.
Maybe the due diligence was carried out and all the issues we now see were identified but Poch thought he could get to the talent that is undoubtedly there and make him our midfield genius. If he had been successful then we would've seen his fee and wages as a bargain, however we know it hasn't played out that way and Ndombele is now an expensive millstone around our neck.

Poch only had a few months with him though. All hindsight and everything but if he had a full season with Tanguy, who knows?

 

[dontcallme]

Poch only had a few months with him though. All hindsight and everything but if he had a full season with Tanguy, who knows?

It’s my view that you can’t change someone like Ndombele enough to get the best of him. I think his natural ability has allowed him to coast and that’s what he’ll do.

He needs to work on so much more than just his fitness.

We’ll never truly know of course but in hindsight I believe this deal was always due to fail.

 

[easley91]

It’s my view that you can’t change someone like Ndombele enough to get the best of him. I think his natural ability has allowed him to coast and that’s what he’ll do.

He needs to work on so much more than just his fitness.

We’ll never truly know of course but in hindsight I believe this deal was always due to fail.

I'm not saying it 100% would have worked, but the manager who brought you in as a star signing then being sacked months later has to have some affect, no?

In terms of elite level football yes he needs to work on his fitness, however I wouldn't class him as "fat". I mean we used to have Andy Reid and Mido once upon a time.

Certainly seems to be mental issues as well. He's still young enough that things can change. It just won't be here with us. It's a shame, because he has all the talent in the world.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm not saying it 100% would have worked, but the manager who brought you in as a star signing then being sacked months later has to have some affect, no?

In terms of elite level football yes he needs to work on his fitness, however I wouldn't class him as "fat". I mean we used to have Andy Reid and Mido once upon a time.

Certainly seems to be mental issues as well. He's still young enough that things can change. It just won't be here with us. It's a shame, because he has all the talent in the world.

Possibly but it’s my view that Poch was poor in the transfer market and he’d bought himself a dud.

In life things often don’t run smoothly and you have to make the best of it. Ndombele showed little interest in making a success of it here.

Edit: just to clarify I’ve never called him fat and defended him when people have called him it.

 

[DannyNZ]

Possibly but it’s my view that Poch was poor in the transfer market and he’d bought himself a dud.

In life things often don’t run smoothly and you have to make the best of it. Ndombele showed little interest in making a success of it here.

Edit: just to clarify I’ve never called him fat and defended him when people have called him it.

Don’t think it’s any more complex than this, Poch purchased a lemon.

 

[Johnny J]

Plenty on here saying that Poch/Hitchen should bear responsibility for Tanguy for failing to carry out due diligence and ultimately they should, but perhaps Poch was confident in himself to be the one to unlock Ndombele's potential.

Football will never short of managers who back themselves to be the one who finally restores the ailing club to former glories, or who finally helps a player who's lost their way fulfil their early promise.