Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[BringBack_leGin]

Alright.. players can have a quiet game for fuck sake.

Before the game it was Tanguy this and then soon as the game over..it's Tanguy can't play as a number 10.

Just listen to yourselves.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we want him on the ball as much as possible and that’s far more likely if he plays deeper.

 

[dtxspurs]

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we want him on the ball as much as possible and that’s far more likely if he plays deeper.

Yeah, when we can't get control of the ball and defenders are hoofing it up the field I really wish he was deeper on the pitch so he could calm things down and string some passes together. He and Hojbjerg would give our defenders really good outlets.

 

[delawarespur]

Him and gio have to play together. It's gotten to the point almost where we paid 100 mil for one player. They never play together, one's always subbed for the other. I understand the fears and why it may not be 100% ideal, even though on paper those two and PEH is very enticing. Especially against lesser teams, I'd much prefer Sissoko (who was brilliant today) subbed on for one of the two if we need to solidify the midfield or need someone with power and pace to help cover the ground in attack and defense. I don't really see the need for Sissoko and PEH against teams we are expected to dominate.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Yeah, when we can't get control of the ball and defenders are hoofing it up the field I really wish he was deeper on the pitch so he could calm things down and string some passes together. He and Hojbjerg would give our defenders really good outlets.

It would make it very hard for the opposition to press us if we had both him and Højbjerg able to receive the ball from the defence.

Throw in Lo Celso too and we’re laughing.

 

[JayB]

Him and gio have to play together. It's gotten to the point almost where we paid 100 mil for one player. They never play together, one's always subbed for the other. I understand the fears and why it may not be 100% ideal, even though on paper those two and PEH is very enticing. Especially against lesser teams, I'd much prefer Sissoko (who was brilliant today) subbed on for one of the two if we need to solidify the midfield or need someone with power and pace to help cover the ground in attack and defense. I don't really see the need for Sissoko and PEH against teams we are expected to dominate.

The problem is that neither one of them is fit enough to play twice a week. Ndombele just doesn't have the legs and there's an open question as to whether he ever will do. Lo Celso has been wracked by injury going back to before the shutdown of the league last season and has never fully gotten fit.

Add in the fact that we're absolutely dreadful when neither of them are on the pitch and we're in a situation where we can't play them together, at least not very often. We need one more creative No. 8 in the squad to rotate with the two of them IMO.

 

[jonnyp]

Poor game today. Should have took it upon himself to drop deeper and make himself more available as Sissoko is no help in getting the ball to him.

 

[cozzo]

Mourinho said the yellow card early had an effect on his game as when he lost the ball it was risky for him to go in hard to recover the ball

 

[dtxspurs]

The problem is that neither one of them is fit enough to play twice a week. Ndombele just doesn't have the legs and there's an open question as to whether he ever will do. Lo Celso has been wracked by injury going back to before the shutdown of the league last season and has never fully gotten fit.

Add in the fact that we're absolutely dreadful when neither of them are on the pitch and we're in a situation where we can't play them together, at least not very often. We need one more creative No. 8 in the squad to rotate with the two of them IMO.

A top priority for January/the Summer along with RB & CB.

 

[DannyNZ]

Mourinho said the yellow card early had an effect on his game as when he lost the ball it was risky for him to go in hard to recover the ball

Maybe but I thought they ran past him too easily on a number of occasions and while the goal shouldn’t have stood, Reguilon gets sucked away from Lamptey because Ndombele doesn’t track the runner. Just wasn’t a great game from him today with or without the ball.

 

[double0]

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we want him on the ball as much as possible and that’s far more likely if he plays deeper.

Exactly what I fell.

 

[GutBucket]

Bad game from him but he didn't have too many players able to play one-twos with him, Sissoko will never be that guy, Son and Kane were off-form plus Brighton had more players in midfield. His yellow card was a result of him not wanting to be bothered with running after Lamptey, needs to improve when we don't have posession. Great season for him but he was bad yesterday, nothing to worry about though.

 

[Mungo63]

I put forward my doubts about him a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely hammered on here. Some even suggested he’s the best midfielder in the world!
I’ve no doubt his skill set is amazing but that’s only a part of the game. I really want to see him dominate games but there’s no evidence to suggest he will. Flashes of brilliance but far too many weaknesses I’m afraid.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

I put forward my doubts about him a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely hammered on here. Some even suggested he’s the best midfielder in the world!
I’ve no doubt his skill set is amazing but that’s only a part of the game. I really want to see him dominate games but there’s no evidence to suggest he will. Flashes of brilliance but far too many weaknesses I’m afraid.

he dropped his worst game of the season but yet it was HIS pass to Son that put us through for the first goal....

 

[Mungo63]

he dropped his worst game of the season but yet it was HIS pass to Son that put us through for the first goal....

I thought our first goal was a penalty? That’s by the by and I’ve said there’s flashes of brilliance.

 

[ajspurs]

I put forward my doubts about him a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely hammered on here. Some even suggested he’s the best midfielder in the world!
I’ve no doubt his skill set is amazing but that’s only a part of the game. I really want to see him dominate games but there’s no evidence to suggest he will. Flashes of brilliance but far too many weaknesses I’m afraid.

You say that like those doubts are now justified after last night though which I don't agree with. It was actually one of his very few poor games since he's shown a new side, in a match where the team as a whole was pretty poor.

He's been pivotal to a lot of the things we've done well this season. Before yesterday his positives had massively outweighed his negatives.

 

[nicdic]

The yellow and the position had an effect on him, but also the team as a whole was poor. Let's also not forget he was left out midweek with a bit of a niggle so maybe wasn't at 100% fitness either.

I for one was really pleased he took that early yellow. Too often we let players run away and start a counter when we could easily take the foul.

 

[DiVaio]

I put forward my doubts about him a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely hammered on here. Some even suggested he’s the best midfielder in the world!
I’ve no doubt his skill set is amazing but that’s only a part of the game. I really want to see him dominate games but there’s no evidence to suggest he will. Flashes of brilliance but far too many weaknesses I’m afraid.

No one here suggested he's the best midfielder in the world, and yes, if that was his worst match for us this season, hugely affected by yellow card, that means he's good.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

I thought our first goal was a penalty? That’s by the by and I’ve said there’s flashes of brilliance.

the penalty didn't just come out of thin air

 

[Nocando]

I put forward my doubts about him a couple of weeks ago and got absolutely hammered on here. Some even suggested he’s the best midfielder in the world!
I’ve no doubt his skill set is amazing but that’s only a part of the game. I really want to see him dominate games but there’s no evidence to suggest he will. Flashes of brilliance but far too many weaknesses I’m afraid.

I think he is a very good player and has a lot of ability. However I do agree with some of your points as the protection, justification and praise of him is at times way over the top. Its almost like a cult following. If he plays bad its because of his position or the formation or because of the weather. Some people seem to be incapable of criticising him. He had a few awful touches yesterday and there were a couple of times he couldn't control the ball or gave it away needlessly. Including one where he did drop deep to collect the ball and then gave it away in a dangerous area. If that had been Sissoko he would have got slaughtered. He did make one nice run, but apart from that there wasn't much from him at all. And Moura makes those runs all the time and he gets heavily criticised regardless of what he does. I dont understand why players aren't judged objectively and on their performances.

PEH has been a breath of fresh air in our midfield, so deserves a lot of praise. There's still a long way for Tanguy to go and he's certainly not hit the Eriksen heights as yet but im hoping he will.

I think Mourinho has played this spot on so far.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I felt like this game would have been perfect for him and Lo Celso together with PEH. I thought Sissoko was a big reason why we couldn’t get hold of the game.

I’m not Sissoko’s biggest fan but surely it’s clear why he’s in the side? It’s all about balance. There were numerous times Brighton broke through our midfield press yesterday and Sissoko was the player with the legs and desire to chase back and regain possession. Until NDombele and Lo Celso develop that endurance and desire Sissoko will always occupy a midfield spot in front of them.