Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[Timberwolf]

After Son's goal against City, celebration goes on. In the latest clip club has put out in youtube (MATCHDAY PASS | TUNNEL CAM), most of the players celebrate with Ndombele. And Winks seems to gesture to Tanguy that he belongs here...almost as if Tanguy had been going through some confidence issues. And then, Sonny comes back from his celebration and repeats the same to Tanguy.

Its great to see that players help the fellow mates. While it seems the obvious thing to do, any comradery is welcome and it bodes well for the Mourinho era.

Yeah as you said both Winks and Son pointed at the ground and everyone seemed to be making an extra effort to make him feel included. He looked so bashful, almost like a child. Makes me wonder if he's just a bit of a sensitive soul who is struggling to adapt to life in a new country and his problems have been compounded by injury issues.

Really heartwarming scenes and hopefully a big step towards Ndombele integrating and feeling at home at Spurs.

 

[LDNYid]

If Winks can keep developing in the deeper role and produce performances like Sunday’s on a regular basis, I’m beginning to think Ndombele and Lo celso either side in a 3 could be an absolute dream... I can’t wait to have a fully fit and integrated Ndombele - he’s just a joy to watch when he’s at it!

 

[danielneeds]

If Winks can keep developing in the deeper role and produce performances like Sunday’s on a regular basis, I’m beginning to think Ndombele and Lo celso either side in a 3 could be an absolute dream... I can’t wait to have a fully fit and integrated Ndombele - he’s just a joy to watch when he’s at it!

I still think we need a more physical, defensively
minded option at the base in the summer. Winks is the perfect guy to have in the squad, though.

 

[LDNYid]

I still think we need a more physical, defensively
minded option at the base in the summer. Winks a the perfect guy to have in the squad, though.

I’ve been thinking exactly that regarding a physical DM - if that’s how we’re going to play, and that’s probably wise in defensive terms, then I reckon we’ll actually need two DMs in that mould, allowing the rotation of Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso and Gedson in the two either side - I’m sold on 433, but I don’t think it suits Dele.

 

[Jamturk]

Ndombele is a beautiful player, I just wish he had a little streak in him. He has been proper kicked up, even on Sunday Fernandinho done him with an elbow into his Jawbone.

He needs to watch some videos of our beloved Gazza, another beautiful player, but Gazza took no shit and knew how to give it back especially when players were trying to do him. He even developed a running style to counter the hackers.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

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Completely mugged off Rhodri at 1.10.

 

[lol]

Let’s hold your horses there... Eriksen has unreal vision and was one of the best playmakers in the world in his time here.

I genuinely dont think so. He was very good but one of the best in the world? No.

Hazard, kdb, silva in his prime, chelsea's mata, all had visions and passing awareness better than him imo and we havent even count the other leagues.

I like eriksen but hes not top tier star level. Hes exactly where we are. A team thats quite good, not to the level of the true big boys, but just a tier below

 

[Thenewcat]

I genuinely dont think so. He was very good but one of the best in the world? No.

Hazard, kdb, silva in his prime, chelsea's mata, all had visions and passing awareness better than him imo and we havent even count the other leagues.

I like eriksen but hes not top tier star level. Hes exactly where we are. A team thats quite good, not to the level of the true big boys, but just a tier below

At his best (ie before 2019) he was clearly one of the best in the world. Hazard was a better player because of his goal threat but he wasn’t a better playmaker, and Mata is just ridiculous. Eriksen created the most chances and had the most assists in the PL in his time here - that sounds like a world class playmaker to me

 

[Ronwol196061]

Let’s hold your horses there... Eriksen has unreal vision and was one of the best playmakers in the world in his time here.

I have to tell you that Eriksen had a problem with his confidence.We saw that for the longest time and in his set plays.The more time he had to think the more iffy he became.
We KNOW that he had the talent to do better so what was it? I'd say it's his confidence.
I see NDombele,he has confidence.
Poch a little iffy with him,Mourinho a bit iffy with him.Both like water off a ducks back. No problem for NDombele, he is his own man.
Yes its early in the game. But the signs are there

 

[Ronwol196061]

At his best (ie before 2019) he was clearly one of the best in the world. Hazard was a better player because of his goal threat but he wasn’t a better playmaker, and Mata is just ridiculous. Eriksen created the most chances and had the most assists in the PL in his time here - that sounds like a world class playmaker to me

I actually think when Eriksen was near goal he had a great eye for goal and good instinct that was.Very Greaves like.
But his style of playmaking was built from 1000 short passes. I personally wasnt a fan if that.
Liverpool are showing the way now with quick dynamic but INCISIVE passing and NDombele is naturally that way.
Too many slow build ups by us including Eriksen. When our pressing failed to produce a couple of years ago we suffered with no space open. Eriksen couldnt deal with it. NDombele sees quickly where to hit it

 

[Thenewcat]

I actually think when Eriksen was near goal he had a great eye for goal and good instinct that was.Very Greaves like.
But his style of playmaking was built from 1000 short passes. I personally wasnt a fan if that.
Liverpool are showing the way now with quick dynamic but INCISIVE passing and NDombele is naturally that way.
Too many slow build ups by us including Eriksen. When our pressing failed to produce a couple of years ago we suffered with no space open. Eriksen couldnt deal with it. NDombele sees quickly where to hit it

I didn’t say Eriksen wasn’t good at scoring, just clearly not at Hazard’s level. As for your comparison with Ndombele, they are different players and Ndombele certainly has some skills Eriksen doesn’t, but the reverse is also true. The facts are Eriksen created chances and goals at an elite rate, whatever your personal preferences. Since you also said the other day that Dembele wasn’t creative, I’m interested as to why you thought the peak Poch sides were so good, as you don’t seem the rate the 2 most important players after Harry!

 

[Mornstar]

That is a really good observation and I think you are correct in your analysis.

Literally praying for Tongee to get fully fit and shake off his injury. If he fully adjusts to the intensity of our league then him and Lo Celso will literally tear the Prem apart next season.

Literally hoping you didn't mean the last bit literally

 

[Ronwol196061]

I didn’t say Eriksen wasn’t good at scoring, just clearly not at Hazard’s level. As for your comparison with Ndombele, they are different players and Ndombele certainly has some skills Eriksen doesn’t, but the reverse is also true. The facts are Eriksen created chances and goals at an elite rate, whatever your personal preferences. Since you also said the other day that Dembele wasn’t creative, I’m interested as to why you thought the peak Poch sides were so good, as you don’t seem the rate the 2 most important players after Harry!

I liked Dembele and I dont dislike Eriksen. I like Dembele for his ball retention and strength.Dont see too much creativity. Dribbled in tight spaces well and was key in a team that was more about winning the ball back from pressing than moving up the field quickly on their own ingenuity . it's the pressing that created the opportunities for Eriksen and others.Once that went up the spout so did our dynamic attacks.
We lacked with slow build ups though just moving the ball up. Dembele layed the ball off a lot and Eriksen short passed a lot. Ndombele I can see can hit those quick dynamic passes. Look at Liverpool its giving them great impetus to win the league. NDombele can do this for us. Eriksen ultimately is more conservative and more careful.Yes he hits them when they are there but often they are not.NDombele sees the space and quickly hits it surely you must see that

 

[Gringospur]

Of Eriksen or NDombele, I'd rather have the later in the team. If NDombele can do 50% of the incive forward passing that Eriksen did, he looks 100% more a fighter.

 

[popstar7]

I liked Dembele and I dont dislike Eriksen. I like Dembele for his ball retention and strength.Dont see too much creativity. Dribbled in tight spaces well and was key in a team that was more about winning the ball back from pressing than moving up the field quickly on their own ingenuity . it's the pressing that created the opportunities for Eriksen and others.Once that went up the spout so did our dynamic attacks.
We lacked with slow build ups though just moving the ball up. Dembele layed the ball off a lot and Eriksen short passed a lot. Ndombele I can see can hit those quick dynamic passes. Look at Liverpool its giving them great impetus to win the league. NDombele can do this for us. Eriksen ultimately is more conservative and more careful.Yes he hits them when they are there but often they are not.NDombele sees the space and quickly hits it surely you must see that

Lot I agree with there, and your previous posts. Ndombele just sees things very quickly and acts. And incisive is the right word, Make the runs, find the spaces and he'll get the ball to you before the defence can react.

That drop of the shoulder and change of direction for the Son assist and the above-mentioned shimmy to wrongfoot Rodri are street football, pure instinct. And once he's done you, either he or the ball are gone. It is a little Gazza-esque - that ability to take your man out of the game just by shifting your balance or moving the ball unexpectedly.

And you're right about Eriksen. 1000 passes looking for the weakness, probing, calculating. And it worked very well for us for a long time. Eriksen has been and is a great player. But I think Ndombele could be even better.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Lot I agree with there, and your previous posts. Ndombele just sees things very quickly and acts. And incisive is the right word, Make the runs, find the spaces and he'll get the ball to you before the defence can react.

That drop of the shoulder and change of direction for the Son assist and the above-mentioned shimmy to wrongfoot Rodri are street football, pure instinct. And once he's done you, either he or the ball are gone. It is a little Gazza-esque - that ability to take your man out of the game just by shifting your balance or moving the ball unexpectedly.

And you're right about Eriksen. 1000 passes looking for the weakness, probing, calculating. And it worked very well for us for a long time. Eriksen has been and is a great player. But I think Ndombele could be even better.

Thanks I spent a while trying to get this across and now we are seeing more of it. I really appreciate truly creative footie.Ive always like David Silva and Ndombele just has it. At first I saw his dribbles and quick turns the opposite way on YouTube and then when he came we started to see how he works the space. Yes Gazza was a genius. Hoddle.
Blanchflower was brilliant.
Eriksen as you said its a different thing. I think when the pressing was on with us or our counter really worked Eriksen and others enjoyed the space but generally the slow build ups against the bus parkers really hurt. I dont even think Bus Parkers spend all their time in their own third. But slow build up gave them time to set and that's what the 1000 short passes did.
See Liverpool. See NDombele.

 

[Thenewcat]

I liked Dembele and I dont dislike Eriksen. I like Dembele for his ball retention and strength.Dont see too much creativity. Dribbled in tight spaces well and was key in a team that was more about winning the ball back from pressing than moving up the field quickly on their own ingenuity . it's the pressing that created the opportunities for Eriksen and others.Once that went up the spout so did our dynamic attacks.
We lacked with slow build ups though just moving the ball up. Dembele layed the ball off a lot and Eriksen short passed a lot. Ndombele I can see can hit those quick dynamic passes. Look at Liverpool its giving them great impetus to win the league. NDombele can do this for us. Eriksen ultimately is more conservative and more careful.Yes he hits them when they are there but often they are not.NDombele sees the space and quickly hits it surely you must see that

I can see what you are saying about their styles of play, but my problem is you ignore the link to results. Eriksen’s ‘conservative’ style led to him creating more than anyone else in the league. If Ndombele can reach the same level (which I believe is possible, albeit in a different style) it will be happy days. But the idea that we only created chances because of the high press is wrong (Dembele was the one who allowed us to play through the high press of other teams, which leads to chances as well) and so is the idea that eriksen couldn’t pick a devastating pass.
Funnily enough, I see elements of both Eriksen and Dembele in Ndombele’s play - the close control, shoulder drop and quick feet to create the space for the Son goal and the way he mugged off Rodri were both very reminiscent of Dembele, and the incisive pass reminiscent of Eriksen. If he can put all that together on a regular basis we’ve got a monster on our hands.

 

[Thenewcat]

Thanks I spent a while trying to get this across and now we are seeing more of it. I really appreciate truly creative footie.Ive always like David Silva and Ndombele just has it. At first I saw his dribbles and quick turns the opposite way on YouTube and then when he came we started to see how he works the space. Yes Gazza was a genius. Hoddle.
Blanchflower was brilliant.
Eriksen as you said its a different thing. I think when the pressing was on with us or our counter really worked Eriksen and others enjoyed the space but generally the slow build ups against the bus parkers really hurt. I dont even think Bus Parkers spend all their time in their own third. But slow build up gave them time to set and that's what the 1000 short passes did.
See Liverpool. See NDombele.

Poch’s best teams routinely beat those sides - remember that stat about us winning every game against promoted teams for about 4 years? You don’t get a goal difference of +60 (as we did in 2016/17) if you can’t break down teams parking the bus

 

[Ronwol196061]

I can see what you are saying about their styles of play, but my problem is you ignore the link to results. Eriksen’s ‘conservative’ style led to him creating more than anyone else in the league. If Ndombele can reach the same level (which I believe is possible, albeit in a different style) it will be happy days. But the idea that we only created chances because of the high press is wrong (Dembele was the one who allowed us to play through the high press of other teams, which leads to chances as well) and so is the idea that eriksen couldn’t pick a devastating pass.
Funnily enough, I see elements of both Eriksen and Dembele in Ndombele’s play - the close control, shoulder drop and quick feet to create the space for the Son goal and the way he mugged off Rodri were both very reminiscent of Dembele, and the incisive pass reminiscent of Eriksen. If he can put all that together on a regular basis we’ve got a monster on our hands.

I think the difference between Eriksen and NDombele apart from their nuances about their creativity is their confidence as I mentioned. Ndombele knows exactly what he wants to do and does it. Eriksen looks for the path keeping it on the safe side.
This is a huge point when actually relating to creativity. Creativity as a vision is God given its not learned.NDombeke has that. Eriksen seems to see it when it's there NDombele by his vision creates by adjusting even when it's not apparent

 

[Ronwol196061]

Poch’s best teams routinely beat those sides - remember that stat about us winning every game against promoted teams for about 4 years? You don’t get a goal difference of +60 (as we did in 2016/17) if you can’t break down teams parking the bus

They pressed in mid and maybe Lamela,Dembele was part if that,certainly Wanyama Dier etc tackle like crazy and the ball turned around quickly...when it wasnt there we did recycling and that became more and more when our tackling slipped.To the point of running into walls. (Creativity? Lack of Ideas!)
Last season we suffered from that but at times seemed to catch up in the last 5 minutes of games.
I think NDombele and Lo Celso will be a lot better than what we had.
The energy will be more Gazza,Van der Vaart,Ginola (Bergwjin) than we had with Eriksen etc,