Tanguy Ndombele has had one of the best career transformations in recent history with the former Lyon man now the go-to player for Jose Mourinho.
He came off the bench to score twice as Tottenham beat Wycombe in the FA Cup yesterday.
A year ago, he was struggling to impress at the club, but now he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
His poor start could have cost him his Tottenham career when the club made the ever-demanding Mourinho their new manager.
The expectations from the Portuguese made him clash with the midfielder, but Ndombele has responded well to his poor start to his Premier League career.
Sky Sports has had a looked at how he has turned his north London career around and praised him.
Adam Bate ran through how impressive he has been, including his special dribbles that helps Spurs open up teams, among others.
He wrote on Sky Sports: “Ndombele’s story is all the more enjoyable given the redemptive nature of it. The fear was that this £53.8m record signing, the man Mourinho once bemoaned as always injured, would be consigned to history as an expensive Tottenham mistake, particularly after being hauled off for a particularly poor showing at Burnley in March.
“His failure to register a single sprint in that game at Turf Moor seemed to sum up the lethargy that had enveloped his game, not only limiting his effectiveness but setting him on a collision course with the demanding Mourinho from which he could not deviate.
“But the response has come, from the controversial personal training sessions in the park to the evident appetite to adapt, noted by Mourinho when discussing Ndombele in September.”
“Some of it is there in the numbers. Ndombele completes a dribble more than twice as often as any other Tottenham player. That alone helps to break the lines and open up the game for his team.
He continued “Ndombele dribbles in unusual areas and can beat the opposition press by doing so. It is rare to see a player be able to dribble so effectively in central zones and he can do it when operating in that deeper midfield role as well as when deployed behind the forwards.
“Interestingly, when looking for evidence of improvement in Ndombele’s performance, it is not there in these key areas of his game – dribbling and ball carrying. He was delivering on his core strengths even as his overall contribution was being questioned.
“While his recent goal glut is a convenient moment to celebrate his growing importance to Tottenham, his general play on the ball has not been the biggest aspect of change.
“It is off the ball that Ndombele has been earning Mourinho’s trust, showing that he can maintain concentration for extended periods of time. These are the qualities that he demands in his players.
“Ndombele has already covered more ground this season than he did last, despite being yet to register the same number of minutes that he did in his debut campaign. Most notably, the number of high-intensity sprints – a key criticism in the past – has quadrupled. There is more energy in Ndombele’s game and it is making a difference.”
And his actual strikes for his goals a couple reminded me of Klinsmanns.
Ndomballer.. You were right about him bruv.. Time for me to eat my humble pie 🥧
Second year player is now delivering for an impatient manager and feckled fans. He did not carry himself (weigh) as required for the tuff English grind, but he is doing what brought him here. A tantalizing talent with tricks on his boots. The off the move on D is much better, getting back in shape so he can take the breathers in order to play 90 minutes.
I agree with most points but view Tanguy’s accomplishments as more evolution than transformation. His technical prowess was evident from his first touch in a Spurs kit, but he arrived out of shape and out of sorts, neither of which was helped by his lack of familiarity with the league, his teammates and English. Now we are seeing his potential emerge. Beyond the fun to watch shoulder dips and hipsways, Tanguy’s vision and ability to pick out a runner is second only to Harry, and is critical to the way Jose wants to attack on the counter. Best of all, Tanguy just turned 24 and if he can further hone his skills, watch out!
A couple of his goals recently have been these one-twos where he lays it back, runs in behind and collects the through ball. These ‘burst-sprints’ as mentioned above are massive new pluses. When he has all the talents he already had but now he will run through you and collect the ball inside the area he makes himself much more unpredictable. Love it.
Fair point. Defensively they were vulnerable until J Stones tightened their Defence!
If you put your neck out any further ppl will call you a Swan!!! Mr Dilly.
They were title favourites many weeks ago with their games in hand.
Only José’ tactics can beat them.
Liverpool & Man.U can try going head to head & see what happens.
*For the neutral!
Tippy tappy football a joy to watch!
Citeh have the unenviable luxury of selecting 3 teams but only 11 players on the day!!
Generally operating with 30% possession opponents are working on scraps!!
Even against this team now [on form] that same Jose tactic will work against Man.City.
KDB was the one that was causing problems in our 2-0 win, it will take him a good few weeks to get back to full fitness, match will be long gone by then.
Hope not but once they get into their groove it could get messy in the Final!
Foden – Sterling – Gundalin – Cancello – Mahrez
Rodri -Jesus etc etc plus J Stones.
Wishful thinking me thinks!!
We beat them before they got back into this form. Hopefully pushing the final back two months means they will be out of this purple patch again by then
Boombastic baller
As Spurs,support im happy too see him turnover. And i do think he has potential too ballon dor,so keep going Man..
Fantastic transformation from last to this season, outstanding player.
His first goal he made look so easy placing it with pinpoint precision & the second, he ‘sold one defender an ice cream & sent the other to wait for a taxi’ with his skilfully quick feet.
The transformation from last season is unreal. He’s a different player. We knew the magic was there, but he’s proving now he has the hunger.. Consistency now needed and we have a player.
Yes I know we beat them at the New Stadium via a clinical suffocating counter attacking display when lets hope history repeats itself twice!!
Tipping Man City for the PL title routed the Baggies 5-0 at the Hawthorns this eve (4-0 up at HT eased off in the 2nd half). Plenty of contemplation for us pre Carabs Cup Final!
Having been a doubter he is slowly winning me over!