There are unconfirmed reports that membership for the Tanguy Ndombele Appreciation Society in north London has reached an all-time low.
There has been a steady trickle of departing members from the group – which may or may not actually exist – from the peak of the French midfielder’s popularity in this part of the capital in June 2019. In other words, at the precise time he joined in a club-record deal from Lyon to much acclaim.
On Sunday, that trickle became a flood. A polarising figure throughout his two-and-a-half years in N17, the tide has unmistakably turned against Ndombele.
Football fans are, generally speaking, a forgiving bunch. But there are some things that supporters, who pay a fortune for tickets and TV subscriptions to follow their clubs, will plainly not accept. Like when a high-profile, underperforming player ambles off the pitch and straight down the tunnel while their team are trailing 1-0 at home to a struggling League One side in the FA Cup.
More from Football
Adidas admits not providing Arsenal Women with same training kit as men after Mead's complaint10 January, 2022
The full list of January done deals involving Premier League clubs10 January, 2022
Klopp hails 'exceptional' Gordon as Liverpool youngsters beat Shrewsbury - ratings and analysis10 January, 2022It was only after Ndombele trudged, head bowed towards the touchline, that the boos started. With each sullen stomp that the 25-year-old made, the discontent grew louder and louder. Tottenham’s new stadium has been constructed in such a way that the noise created within it stays there, bouncing from one stand to another. When a home goal is scored or a band begins their set, the noise can be deafening; so too the din when a disinterested footballer is being heckled by 40,000 people.
“We have to know very well that if we perform well, the fans are happy,” Antonio Conte mused afterwards. “If you don’t perform well, the fans are not happy.”
Naturally, when a player commands a £55m transfer fee and the same base salary as Harry Kane, expectations are going to be high. Ndombele’s highlight reel at Lyon – the tricks, the feints, the no-look passes – had Spurs supporters salivating. This was the player that was going to add a touch of magic, a flash of flair and an element of unpredictability to an otherwise functional midfield. He was supposed to be Mousa Dembele’s natural heir.
Occasionally, he has lived up to the “Ndomballer” moniker, but his overall contribution has been disappointing. It is telling that each of his five managers at Spurs have tended to select less gifted, but more reliable players in his position: Ndombele has started fewer than 50 per cent of Spurs’ Premier League matches since he arrived, and only completed 10 of them.
Only Jose Mourinho came close to unlocking Ndombele’s potential and he is reportedly interested in offering him an escape route at Roma. At this stage, few would view his departure as any great loss.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3r69vjD
Post a Comment