Ndombele (signed for Spurs)

[aguero93:20]

It's interesting that Ndombele was linked to so many elite clubs who've all opted for different targets in the end. De Jong to Barca, Rodri to City, you know?

I don't watch any French football so I know nothing about him beyond what he did to us in the Champions League, but it appears he was a little inconsistent during patches of last season. Those who watch a lot of Ligue 1 say he was always good for the big occasion but occasionally struggled to impose his will on matches he really should have taken control of, apparently much like Lyon themselves. You'd expect that from such a young player with the potential he has, though, and I'm sure Pochettino will get a great tune out of him. I just wonder if that's why City and Barca have gone for other players in the end despite being so heavily linked with Ndombele after Christmas.

It just reminds me of the time Spurs signed Aurier, who was heavily linked to a whole host of elite clubs around Europe for quite some time, only for those elite clubs to go cold on him and pursue other targets instead. Barca went for Semedo, City went for Walker, and Aurier went to Spurs. Admittedly Aurier had serious, serious attitude problems that Ndombele doesn't seem to have, but I'm curious as to why one of the hottest prospects in European football hasn't been snapped up by clubs who could have easily blown Spurs out of the water if they really wanted him.

Based entirely on those two performances he produced against us last season, I'm sure he'll be a fantastic signing for Spurs, and getting a starting player in such an important position for £55m is great business in this market. Considering Winks is never fit and considering Sissoko's improvement might not carry over into next season, it's wise for Levy and Pochettino to see Spurs as a team who still need major improvements and a deeper squad, as opposed to a team who maybe don't need that much in the way of enhancement simply because they made the Champions League final.

As others have said, we can't sign all of them. We'll have Fernandinho and Gundogan and potentially Rodri who could all slot into defensive midfield next season, there really won't be any room for Ndombele.

Shades of Jean-Michael Seri last summer.

 

[jared]

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

Playing against most of the other PL teams where we dominate so much possession I feel a rodri/busquets type is better for us. Ndombele Is better for counter attacking teams against team like us, as a box to box that can dribble penetrate which he did to us with devastating effect. I haven't seen him much aside from CL games against us so I could be wrong.

 

[St.Pauli support]

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

Agreed.
Btw I didn't doubt your knowledge in any way.

So you would prefer the more offensive DM whereas I vote for the pure DM, which I see as a like for like replacement for Fern
who didn't contribute too much as box to box mid in the recent past but mainly carrying the ball to our AMs and care for defensive stability.

As you say we'll keep an eye on both of them.

 

[FCBarca]

Agreed.
Btw I didn't doubt your knowledge in any way.

So you would prefer the more offensive DM whereas I vote for the pure DM, which I see as a like for like replacement for Fern
who didn't contribute too much as box to box mid in the recent past but mainly carrying the ball to our AMs and care for defensive stability.

As you say we'll keep an eye on both of them.

As a cule, we love players like Rodri - he was a missed opportunity for many when he went to Villarreal. My naive observations of the Premiership is that the tempo of the matches are usually higher and more often end to end action. Is that better served by a skilled/polished but more static piece at the quintessential Pep position or someone who can go box to box? As you say, it'll be great to see both under different profile coaches to develop - for all intents & purposes, probably the ideal destination for both

Truth is, I never saw Busquets prior to Pep with Barca B - maybe he looked similar before Pep molded him or perhaps Guardiola just recognizes the brains & profile of a player and that's enough to build from. Rodri does show qualities that a Cruyffist loves, we'll see how it develops under the best modern teacher of his own position

 

[Deleted member 81382]

Very good signing for Spurs but like others have said, if Pep thinks Rodri is the best fit for our team then that's enough for me.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

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.

Agreed it will be a very good signing. Spurs are well ahead of the rags and Arsenal, and a good bit ahead of Chelsea as well.

 

[ojeme]

When they got Paulinho and we got Fernandinho, they thought they got the better deal but today there's no doubt who got the better deal.

In Pep we trust!

 

[Marvin]

It's interesting that Ndombele was linked to so many elite clubs who've all opted for different targets in the end. De Jong to Barca, Rodri to City, you know?

I don't watch any French football so I know nothing about him beyond what he did to us in the Champions League, but it appears he was a little inconsistent during patches of last season. Those who watch a lot of Ligue 1 say he was always good for the big occasion but occasionally struggled to impose his will on matches he really should have taken control of, apparently much like Lyon themselves. You'd expect that from such a young player with the potential he has, though, and I'm sure Pochettino will get a great tune out of him. I just wonder if that's why City and Barca have gone for other players in the end despite being so heavily linked with Ndombele after Christmas.

It just reminds me of the time Spurs signed Aurier, who was heavily linked to a whole host of elite clubs around Europe for quite some time, only for those elite clubs to go cold on him and pursue other targets instead. Barca went for Semedo, City went for Walker, and Aurier went to Spurs. Admittedly Aurier had serious, serious attitude problems that Ndombele doesn't seem to have, but I'm curious as to why one of the hottest prospects in European football hasn't been snapped up by clubs who could have easily blown Spurs out of the water if they really wanted him.

Based entirely on those two performances he produced against us last season, I'm sure he'll be a fantastic signing for Spurs, and getting a starting player in such an important position for £55m is great business in this market. Considering Winks is never fit and considering Sissoko's improvement might not carry over into next season, it's wise for Levy and Pochettino to see Spurs as a team who still need major improvements and a deeper squad, as opposed to a team who maybe don't need that much in the way of enhancement simply because they made the Champions League final.

As others have said, we can't sign all of them. We'll have Fernandinho and Gundogan and potentially Rodri who could all slot into defensive midfield next season, there really won't be any room for Ndombele.

£55m is great business? Never thought I'd read that.

Spurs have probably landed him because for one they were prepared to pay the fee that in their past they have refused to do.

 

[balotellishaircut]

£55m is great business? Never thought I'd read that.

Spurs have probably landed him because for one they were prepared to pay the fee that in their past they have refused to do.

£60 - 65m I think, like everyone has said I think Rodri will suit us better, I don't think TN has the intelligence to play in our side.

 

[JPBB]

I don't think TN has the intelligence to play in our side.

Why? Is it because he is black?