Ndombele (signed for Spurs)

[TonyM]

Coochie coochie coo little spursie worsie. Look at you. Look at you. Making signings like the big boys. So cute.

Sure bless em.

 

[ws01]

I wanted him here badly after his performances against us and then watching him in Ligue 1 thereafter.

If Pep didn't want him and thinks Rodri is a better fit then that's what we trust right there.

 

[FCBarca]

He was my alternative to De Jong, would've personally gone after Ndombele rather than Rodri but Pep obviously sees something - it'll make their parallel developments interesting to observe from a distance. For Spurs, it's clear he is an ideal signing. Sissoko & Wanyama are getting older but still can be considered to still be in their prime - wonder how Poch will deploy him. Perhaps he will get to play further forward rather than strictly as a DM

Very impressive player, just can't for the life of me understand what Pep didn't like with the player

 

[St.Pauli support]

He was my alternative to De Jong, would've personally gone after Ndombele rather than Rodri but Pep obviously sees something - it'll make their parallel developments interesting to observe from a distance. For Spurs, it's clear he is an ideal signing. Sissoko & Wanyama are getting older but still can be considered to still be in their prime - wonder how Poch will deploy him. Perhaps he will get to play further forward rather than strictly as a DM

Very impressive player, just can't for the life of me understand what Pep didn't like with the player

Height could be a reason: Ndombele is 1.81m , Rodri is 1.91m.

Pep knows DM quite well, you know better than me.
When he can have 'young Busquets' he surely prefers young Busquets, even to Frenchman Ndombele.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Very impressive player, just can't for the life of me understand what Pep didn't like with the player

Probably nothing.

Like when you order a takeaway,pizza or a curry....both are lovely and go down a treat......but one might just hit the spot that bit more than the other.

 

[jared]

Heard from people who watched the French league that he is a good player but is inconsistent and can be mentally weak. Still a good player for the spurs to have and surprised Levi is willing to spend that much.

Out scouts who followed him probably better judge then most of us who only watched him in the CL games.

 

[FCBarca]

Height could be a reason: Ndombele is 1.81m , Rodri is 1.91m.

Pep knows DM quite well, you know better than me.
When he can have 'young Busquets' he surely prefers young Busquets, even to Frenchman Ndombele.

There are similarities but this player is a clone of so & so is nonsense. I recognize the allure of Rodri & perhaps there are some aspects of how the player reads the game that is superior to Ndombele but in general I see the Frenchman doing just about everything better than the Spaniard. We'll see though which will make the next year or two interesting in terms of tracking their development.

 

[St.Pauli support]

There are similarities but this player is a clone of so & so is nonsense. I recognize the allure of Rodri & perhaps there are some aspects of how the player reads the game that is superior to Ndombele but in general I see the Frenchman doing just about everything better than the Spaniard. We'll see though which will make the next year or two interesting in terms of tracking their development.

You don't understand Pep about this issue at all. Would honestly be interested in details mate.

For what reasons would you clearly have picked Ndombele ahead of Rodri?
Especially if you say there are similarities.
Is it just your feeling or are there definite points?

 

[FCBarca]

I've watched Pep as a player and coach of Barcelona, I am confident I understand how he views the pivote quite well. What Guardiola and many in Spain have seen in Rodri is his intelligence on the pitch in terms of positioning and reading the game from deep & building into attack. You'll be getting a more defensive minded midfielder that can slot into the back line & split the centerbacks much like Busquets often does. The flip side is that you are not going to get either the dribbler/penetrator or line breaking passes that Ndombele is better at. The thinking there is clearly that City already has enough penetration with the attacking players at Pep's disposal

The lingering question I have is if this position is best served by a more defensive player or one who can be more box to box like Fernandinho. There is no question Rodri will develop further under Guardiola but I do not see him morphing into Ndombele going forward anymore than the Frenchman would become a strictly defensive player. Is that best for City in today's game? I wonder

 

[KCblue]

Very good signing for Spurs. If they can fend off interest for Eriksen and extend him, along with bringing in another defender or two and a forward, they could push forward.

I'm not sure if they'll be able to challenge for the title or not with those signings but it's pretty clear that they're the next best side after us and the dippers.