Ndombele (signed for Spurs)

[eversince 76]

Barca play in Spain. City in England so don’t think we can compare. Busquets is also very tall. De bruyne is taller than Frenkie and also much stronger.

Ndombele is a very good passer of the ball probably not better than De Jong but not far away. He’s played countless defense splitting passes. And was just praised for his game intelligence. De Jong is very elegant with the ball I must admit. I just think the hype with him is a little extreme right now.

Ndombele has already played against PSG 4 times including one win, and now twice against us, and it looks like he was top class in all these games. Not to mention Lyon finished 3rd last season above Marseille who made the EL final in a very tough EL, much harder than when Ajax made the final. Frenkie just broke into the Ajax team last season starting 16 games and I believe the majority were at CB. De Jong is yet to play in such a big game. Benfica are 4th in Portugal and far off talent wise than a few years ago and AEK are 7th in Greece 12 points off 1st lol this was a surprise. Wouldn’t put too much weight on his performances for his country given they are glorified friendlies called the nations league.

Maybe I’m wrong but I think we need to see much more of De Jong before we can speak about €90m incl bonuses. From now until the CL knockout games the only matches you can really judge De Jong on are the Bayern at home and probably Feyenoord away. Everything else.

I just think Ndombele is a better fit for the DM position in the Premier League. I don’t see why we would look to De Jong in the 8 position as we already have enough players there.

You DO know FdJ played for the Dutch team vs France and Germany? Came through it without a fuzz.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Nothing in that YouTube compilation changes my mind. It’s not that I think he’s shit. On the contrary, he is quality. Likewise I don’t think he’s bad on the ball. But I don’t think he’s a Pep player. Some of his good stuff last night looked a bit more like by accident than design.

I’m sure this is sacrilege, but bear with me...if Pep wants to win big things often, then he needs to accommodate this type of player in his team. He learned from last year that we need to have some steel in the midfield, especially away against top teams (ex. Dippers away for a 0-0 and once we scraped back into Lyon game he brought in Delph), which MIGHT mean needing two DMs at time, esp if one is mobile enough to get box to box.

Pep is using his considerable talents as best manager in the world to play The Beautiful Game, but my fear is that the requirement to play this way is SO dependent upon world class talent playing at a world class level every game. That said, I also feel like the game around us is catching up with him and one thing that is becoming more and more important is the big, strong, young player who can dominate the middle of the park, while being able to pick and play a pass. We don’t have any! And, the two young lads who do make the bench are maybe 100kilos soaking wet COMBINED!

This fella is the closest thing yet seen that is anywhere close to the size and physicality needed to replace Yaya AND/OR Fernandinho. We don’t need two DMs very often, so Delph fits the bill for now, with (please!) some Academy youngsters hopefully coming through to save us a few quid for a second LB and another CF.

 

[Easy]

You DO know FdJ played for the Dutch team vs France and Germany? Came through it without a fuzz.

Again I said these were glorified friendlies. The Uefa nations league is a fluke competition.

 

[Dax777]

I’m sure this is sacrilege, but if Pep wants to win big things often, then he needs to accommodate this type of player in his team. He learned from last year that we need to have some steel in the midfield, especially away against top teams (ex. Dippers away for a 0-0 and once we scraped back into Lyon game he brought in Delph), which MIGHT mean needing two DMs at time, esp if one is mobile enough to get box to box.

This fella is the closest thing yet seen that is anywhere close to the simple and physicality needed to replace Yaya AND/OR Fernandinho. We don’t need two DMs very often, so Delph fits the bill for now, with youngsters hopefully coming through to save us a few quid for a second LB and another CF.

If you don't mind me asking, who was the 'Steel in the middle' he brought in to achieve the 0-0 at Anfield?

 

[ChicagoBlue]

If you don't mind me asking, who was the 'Steel in the middle' he brought in to achieve the 0-0 at Anfield?

By playing with two players in the middle of a 5 man midfield to blunt their game, while stifling our own, and relying on the break. Not a Pep trait, but he learned that he actually DOES need to change, even if by a little, to get where he wants to go in this country, with this team.

 

[Dax777]

By playing with two players in the middle of a 5 man midfield to blunt their game, while stifling our own, and relying on the break. Not a Pep trait, but he learned that he actually DOES need to change, even if by a little, to get where he wants to go in this country, with this team.

I believe he did the very same thing in the 3-0 defeat. Gundogan, Silva Sane with Dihno and Kev behind them.

A lot more 'Steel' there than the team that tied 0-0. Frankly the 0-0 team was the most attack minded 11 we've ever played at Anfield.

Contrary to your claim, it seems its overdosing on Skill players and not Steel players that did the trick.

But if I was being honest, I'd just say it was a function of being in the 3rd year in the same system and thus slmost all our players were playing at a higher level.

Very little to do with Steel of any kind. IMHO

 

[ChicagoBlue]

I believe he did the very same thing in the 3-0 defeat. Gundogan, Silva Sane with Dihno and Kev behind them.

A lot more 'Steel' there than the team that tied 0-0. Frankly the 0-0 team was the most attack minded 11 we've ever played at Anfield.

Contrary to your claim, it seems its overdosing on Skill players and not Steel players that did the trick.

But if I was being honest, I'd just say it was a function of being in the 3rd year in the same system and thus slmost all our players were playing at a higher level.

Very little to do with Steel of any kind. IMHO

Good points all. My only pushback would be that he put out about the only team he could and packed the midfield. Sergio was a set adrift for much of the game and we tried to overcome our lack of actual steel with quantity of ball players to try to move the ball around once it was won back. While ON PAPER it looked attacking, it didn’t PLAY that way, which was noteworthy for me. Had we had Delph available, or an Ndombele, I think we would have played him in the middle of the park with Fernandinho.

Regardless of whether it is Ndombele or A.N. Other, I hope it is a big lad with some presence and a tackle in him....as well as the basics a Pep player needs to get on the field in the first place, so not Fellaini! ;-D

 

[eversince 76]

Again I said these were glorified friendlies. The Uefa nations league is a fluke competition.

Well. In that case we better leave it to Pep and his staff. I myself see a much changed team and style of play where it’s hard to find a place for another Yaya-like player Ndombele is.

 

[mosssideblue]

In the Lyon team, it was Aouar who seemed the more accomplished defensive player. And both were outstanding at turning away from pressure. But Aouar was better in my humble opinion.

OK, who is going to own up to hacking Dax's account :)

 

[Easy]

Well. In that case we better leave it to Pep and his staff. I myself see a much changed team and style of play where it’s hard to find a place for another Yaya-like player Ndombele is.

I see your point. I am not against the De Jong signing at all, just saying he is getting a lot of hype and would like to see more of him in games that mean something. If it’s true that Txiki already made multiple trips to Amsterdam to discuss a deal then we must be serious and he must be some player.