Player Watch - Tanguy Ndombele

[JayB]

That base of midfield position is his best role imo. He can control the game from there with his intelligence on the ball and ability to keep possession while players further forward work around him. Personally, I think his relative lack of athleticism means he's less suited to those more advanced roles.

I disagree, I think athleticism is of the upmost importance for the DM role in Poch's system. Wanyama's superior athleticism was a major part of why he beat out Dier to be first choice prior to his injury, and I don't think it's a coincidence that as Dier filled out his frame and became less mobile he regressed dramatically as a midfielder. You have to be able to cover a lot of ground in order to shield the back line effectively.

Winks can definitely do a job at the base of midfield because he's so tidy and keeps play ticking over, but I'd be very surprised if Poch didn't want a ball-winner there. One who can play a bit, ideally.

That doesn't mean that Winks wouldn't have major role to play. He'd be capable of slotting in for any of the three midfield positions (assuming this hypothetical CM3 setup actually comes to be), and with injuries and rotation he'd still play tons of matches.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I disagree, I think athleticism is of the upmost importance for the DM role in Poch's system. Wanyama's superior athleticism was a major part of why he beat out Dier to be first choice prior to his injury, and I don't think it's a coincidence that as Dier filled out his frame and became less mobile he regressed dramatically as a midfielder. You have to be able to cover a lot of ground in order to shield the back line effectively.

Winks can definitely do a job at the base of midfield because he's so tidy and keeps play ticking over, but I'd be very surprised if Poch didn't want a ball-winner there. One who can play a bit, ideally.

That doesn't mean that Winks wouldn't have major role to play. He'd be capable of slotting in for any of the three midfield positions (assuming this hypothetical CM3 setup actually comes to be), and with injuries and rotation he'd still play tons of matches.

Not sure if I agree or not. I know exactly where you're coming from, and yet I do wonder if it's more a matter of having athleticism in (probably) two of the CMs, rather than specifically the DM

For instance - Ndombele and Sissoko as CMs, with Winks at the base...I think would work really well

Not sure. Let's hope we find out!

 

[glospur]

Not sure if I agree or not. I know exactly where you're coming from, and yet I do wonder if it's more a matter of having athleticism in (probably) two of the CMs, rather than specifically the DM

For instance - Ndombele and Sissoko as CMs, with Winks at the base...I think would work really well

Not sure. Let's hope we find out!

Yep. I much prefer a system where you have a guy who can control the ball, and therefore the game, at the base of midfield, but who is also positionally astute enough, with a combination of athleticism, creativity and ball-winning in the two ahead of him. It's a much better balance IMO.

 

[RichieS]

18/19 missed 70 days
17/18 almost 200 days
16/17 59 days
He has a problem with injuries
I’m a fan and will be gutted for him if this is ever present in his career.
He for me could be one of the best midfielders we have ever produced

I think most of that time is attributable to a single, really nasty, injury (the ankle break he suffered in April 2017). So I'm not sure that constitutes "a problem with injuries", although if the constant discomfort he spoke about recently doesn't settle down then he could go the way of Ledley.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I think most of that time is attributable to a single, really nasty, injury (the ankle break he suffered in April 2017). So I'm not sure that constitutes "a problem with injuries", although if the constant discomfort he spoke about recently doesn't settle down then he could go the way of Ledley.

I hope you're right, but my suspicion is that he's going to need to manage his injuries for most of his career. It's such a shame, because once he gets into a rhythm he really is an excellent player.

Fingers crossed that after we buy Ndombele and Lo Celso (dead certs) we can manage the squad a bit better. Goes for Kane too

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

So I'm not sure that constitutes "a problem with injuries", although if the constant discomfort he spoke about recently doesn't settle down then he could go the way of Ledley.

Surely this is why he underwent surgery?

Let's hope that's the case & he can now stay fit and show those who don't see what he adds to this team how wrong they are.

 

[dfree]

In the 2 teams that went for the title, both played a 433 with a holding midfielder. In both cases, they had someone who is primarily a ball winner but also decent on the ball. With potentially Ndombele and Lo Celso/Eriksen in the other 2 spots who aren't defensively focused, having a 'stopper' at the base isn't the worst idea in the world.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

In the 2 teams that went for the title, both played a 433 with a holding midfielder. In both cases, they had someone who is primarily a ball winner but also decent on the ball. With potentially Ndombele and Lo Celso/Eriksen in the other 2 spots who aren't defensively focused, having a 'stopper' at the base isn't the worst idea in the world.

Personally I think that's an over simplification.

In the case of City, that's true, but it's worth reflecting that the other two midfielders they'd have were the likes of Silva (x2), Gundogan or De Bruyne - none of who are exactly, or at least primarily physical players. And I'd argue it was the tactical discipline he provided, as much as the physical presence (the importance of which was increased by the lack of a physical presence elsewhere) that was key.

In the case of Liverpool, when Fabinho played, sure. But when he wasn't there, when I saw them the player performing that role was not really on his own as a single stopper (Henderson, Wijnaldum), nor would I say either conform to your typical 'stopper' in the way we're talking about it. In fact, I'd say both share some similarities with Winks re: build and approach

 

[daryl hannah]

Depressing knowing that in 3 weeks we'll be humouring ourselves about the times when we thought we could sign Ndombele and Lo Celso, whilst we struggle to sign Issac Hayden.

Hayden would be a very good signing IMO. Arsenal messed up letting him go.

 

[daryl hannah]

Hayden would be a very good signing IMO. Arsenal messed up letting him go.

Look again, THFCSPURS19.

 

[Stamford]

Lyon just got CL so maybe this will be harder

 

[dtxspurs]

Lyon just got CL so maybe this will be harder

He was gone regardless.

 

[Yiddo100]

Lyon just got CL so maybe this will be harder

They always had CL, Chelsea winning just meant they went straight to group stage instead of qualifying

 

[Jody]

Lyon just got CL so maybe this will be harder

Or Lyon wont need to demand quite so much...

 

[SpartanSpur]

It's quite nice thinking about how the player is being shown around our training ground and THAT stadium knowing that all they will do is impress the player more! We know this happens a lot but surely now it's a more effective move than ever before. Hopefully this is getting close.

 

[JonnySpurs]

You seem to have forgotten the cardinal rule of transfer forums; the post which fit what you want to hear are the legit ones.

I can get on board with this.

WELCOME TANGUY!

 

[Twizzle]

may as well get as many brownie points as we can from our shiny new stadium, I bet he was impressed

 

[Japhet]

You seem to have forgotten the cardinal rule of transfer forums; the post which fit what you want to hear are the legit ones.

Right up until the dreaded JJ poo poo. Anyway, I'm off to check him out again on a 'Welcome to Liverpool' Youtube clip.

 

[Primativ]

Also today the mail saying we’ve dropped our interest in André Gomes. Surely if correct that implies we’ve secured our number 1 target ???

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Promising signs - but no one should infer it’s done because Pulisic was at our training ground in Jan and then nothing happened.