How do you explain the frustration with Tanguy Ndombele since he arrived at Tottenham two years ago? Moussa Sissoko is a good place to start.
In August, the Watford midfielder returned to north London just days after ending his five-year association with Spurs. And in the second half, when he sent one of his classic long-range attempts hurtling into the north stand, his efforts were greeted with rapturous cheers from the home supporters.
What transformed Sissoko into an (admittedly ironic) cult hero was precisely that – his effort. Spurs have long required a midfielder who is industrious, but is also capable of unmatched vision, and what he may have lacked in the latter, he made up for in the first department.
Which brings us back to Ndombele. Though he plays a different role from Sissoko, the £63m signing has now played under four permanent managers, several of whom have questioned his contribution. After one underwhelming performance against Burnley in 2020, that famous motivator Jose Mourinho surmised that Spurs “didn’t have a midfield”, adding: “I know adapting to the Premier League is difficult, but he [Ndombele] has had enough time and a player of his potential has to give us more than he is giving us.”
More on Tottenham Hotspur FC
Man Utd's lack of vision to Newcastle's revolution - every Premier League club's 2021 reviewed31 December, 2021
The 13 deals to look out for in January including Man Utd quartet, Mbappe and Alli29 December, 2021
The full list of fixtures postponed in the Premier league with Everton vs Newcastle off29 December, 2021Antonio Conte was more tactical in his put-downs, when asked ahead of Saturday’s trip to Watford what part Ndombele had to play within the squad. “He is a midfielder” was his response. The only kind way of looking at that answer is that he misinterpreted the question, but the numbers tell their own story.
Since Conte’s arrival, Ndombele has been an unused substitute five times. He has only started two games – and has been taken off in both. One was the shock defeat to NS Mura, the other the 2-2 draw with Liverpool in which Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was not fit to start. The Frenchman has made three further appearances from the bench.
That apparent struggle to complete 90 minutes, which has been an issue since he was first signed under Mauricio Pochettino, has to influence any decision Spurs make on his future as the January transfer window opens.
Conte has made it clear that Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp are his preferred two in midfield. Ndombele, meanwhile, has previously made it clear that he has struggled to settle – the Tottenham Hotspur: All or Nothing documentary showed him voicing his unhappiness in a conversation with chairman Daniel Levy.
Ndombele’s Spurs career by numbers
- Games: 86
- Games missed (injury/illness): 17
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 8
It is hard to see how those two views are reconciled, especially when Harry Winks is brought into the equation. “I find players that are reliable,” Conte said, in praise of the England international. “And then I can count on them.” He would not be drawn on counting on Ndombele, of whom he only said it was “not right” to guarantee that he’d be staying on past January.
If Spurs cut their losses, they’ll be left with a few sparkling memories: that ingenious flicked goal against Sheffield United, his extraordinary flourishes of skill against Chelsea and a goal on a debut against Aston Villa which promised so much.
There is an argument that aside from Harry Kane and the Dele Alli of old, Ndombele is the most naturally gifted player at the club. Yet the highlights reel is short, and the number of games he has changed has been considerably fewer.
Take, for instance, in the final days of Pochettino, it was put to him that Ndombele had made a big difference in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. “Big difference?” he replied. “Doing what?”
And that, regardless of raw skill, is how players are ultimately judged.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/32LGQbg
Post a Comment