José Mourinho will apparently give Tanguy Ndombele another chance to prove himself at Tottenham after a disappointing first season.
The French midfielder arrived to big expectations but an even bigger belly has prevented him from showcasing his talent to the fullest.
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Ndombele has been called out for a lack of fitness and commitment on more than one occasion, leading to suggestions that the usually ruthless Mourinho was ready to swiftly ditch the £53.8m signing [BBC Sport].
However, the Daily Star understands the Mourinho has faith in the 23-year-old to come good after resolving his fitness issues with a full pre-season, and to establish himself as a key player in his Spurs team going forward.
A source close to the Spurs gaffer told the Daily Star: “Jose believes Ndombele is a player of great quality. He will not ditch him.”
It is a relief to learn of Mourinho’s plans for Ndombele who has excited many fans in glimpses, while frustrating many more in spades. But I think most are still on his side and want to see him given time to succeed.
What I noticed about Tanguy, and I think this directly plays into questions of “fitness”, is that he was getting physically battered in this league, in a way he’s never experienced, when trying to play that muscular “Dembele style” of midfielder, where you’re holding off one defender after another with brute strength and body position, until able to play a pass. To do that for any length of time you’ve gotta be a physical beast. Dembele was, Sissoko still is but doesn’t have that close control dribbling thing in his locker.
We see he’s got that Dembele skillset, but needs another 15lb of muscle on him and a stronger mind. I see Tanguy putting himself into positions, unnecessarily, that get him physically knocked around when it serves no purpose and he comes off worse in the challenge. He’s going to have to learn, and quickly. You can be the fittest player on the pitch, but if you get knocked around like a rag doll for an hour, you’re going to fade.
So for me it’s one part cardio/endurance fitness, one part mental weakness, one part not reading the game – or more specifically not reading which physical clashes to engage in and getting battered as a result, and two parts not having the physical tools to play his natural and effective style. So what do you do? Slightly adapt the style while making him hit the weight room in the off season? Hope that better decision making will be the only adaption he really needs? Who knows, I’m not a football coach, I don’t see their stats from training or anything else except matches. So my opinion is worth what you paid for it.
If the lad had some mental health issues why play him? If the coaches knew his head was not right and he wasn’t fit enough I wouldn’t expect him to be hung out to dry by them so the media and fans savaged him.
Or maybe he’s has had a some mental health challenges and is on some meds. Head meds make you gain weight. Who knows anyway. I do know he’s a real real quality player.
In this day and age there shouldn’t be an issue with the fitness and diet of a player. The Sports Science department will have all the biometrics of this lad every week and know damn well what is going on. If he is not putting in the yards through GPS in training he shouldn’t have been near the pitch.When he has had the ball he does look quality, but it is not 1980, you cannot get away with being idle. It is too soon to get rid, but the lad has to start showing up.
Rode around 6 of Haringeys parks earlier. The rec. Downhills. Priory. Chestnuts. Finsbury and allypally. Police were only moving people on at ally pally. can walk around all day long (in pairs or on your own) but no “chilling. 🌚
For me. 23 is when ballers start ball. There’s no way Jose would let that fine fine baller go. Pre and full season is all he needs