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Tanguy Ndombele

Harry Brooks calling him the most creative midfielder in the world. Also thinks he'll keep getting better.

I struggle to think of anything that would make him wrong in those assessments.

Can't wait to see more of him. Just so entertaining to watch, but unlike some entertainers also very effective.
 
scaramanga said:
Whilst Hojbjerg's had some good moments for us, he's clearly the odd one out there in terms of quality.
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You're right in terms of quality on the ball, and in overall quality too I'd say. He does bring the right qualities to get the best out of the others though and is at a good level at a lot of things. That goes a long way.

I also think Hojbjerg has it in him to step it up another level.
 
braineclipse said:
You're right in terms of quality on the ball, and in overall quality too I'd say. He does bring the right qualities to get the best out of the others though and is at a good level at a lot of things. That goes a long way.

I also think Hojbjerg has it in him to step it up another level.
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Agreed
Sometimes you need a workhorse to keep the thoroughbreds happy
And since he has got match sharp his passing has been very good - something I never saw when he played for Southampton
 
braineclipse said:
You're right in terms of quality on the ball, and in overall quality too I'd say. He does bring the right qualities to get the best out of the others though and is at a good level at a lot of things. That goes a long way.

I also think Hojbjerg has it in him to step it up another level.
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Would be great if he does.

I've seen the odd pass from him that shows he has the ability to see and make them but I'd like to see him take more control of a game when we're on the ball.
 
braineclipse said:
Depends what you mean by taking control of the game?
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Collecting the ball from the back, being on the ball as much as possible, dictating the direction and pace of play, giving instructions to those with their back to play - all the things one would expect of a midfielder with a view of most of the pitch in front of him.
 
scaramanga said:
Collecting the ball from the back, being on the ball as much as possible, dictating the direction and pace of play, giving instructions to those with their back to play - all the things one would expect of a midfielder with a view of most of the pitch in front of him.
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I agree to some extent.

I want Ndombele and Lo Celso to be on the ball as much as possible. To some extent at least I'd want them to dictate the direction and pace of play.

To the extent that can happen by Hojbjerg surrendering control of the game I'd want him to do that. To the extent that Hojbjerg can get the ball more to Ndombele, Lo Celso, our attackers and our attacking full backs by having control of the game I'd want him to do that.

If Hojbjerg gets on the ball less because Ndombele gets on the ball more that's a win in my book. I don't want "everything" going through Hojbjerg the way everything can sometimes go through a top class deep playmaker. Partly because he's not a top class playmaker, but just as much because Ndombele is just so fudging good. And Lo Celso is rather good too.
 
braineclipse said:
I agree to some extent.

I want Ndombele and Lo Celso to be on the ball as much as possible. To some extent at least I'd want them to dictate the direction and pace of play.

To the extent that can happen by Hojbjerg surrendering control of the game I'd want him to do that. To the extent that Hojbjerg can get the ball more to Ndombele, Lo Celso, our attackers and our attacking full backs by having control of the game I'd want him to do that.

If Hojbjerg gets on the ball less because Ndombele gets on the ball more that's a win in my book. I don't want "everything" going through Hojbjerg the way everything can sometimes go through a top class deep playmaker. Partly because he's not a top class playmaker, but just as much because Ndombele is just so fudging good. And Lo Celso is rather good too.
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In which case, the defence could give the ball to those two or one of them could play deeper in Hojbjerg's role.

A player performing the role you describe is the defensive equivalent of a luxury player. Given that 90+% of the teams we face will be parking the bus, there's no room for passengers on the ball.

Hojbjerg isn't terrible on the ball - he's certainly no Sissoko. But if he can't grow to be those things I've mentioned, then we need to upgrade.
 
scaramanga said:
In which case, the defence could give the ball to those two or one of them could play deeper in Hojbjerg's role.

A player performing the role you describe is the defensive equivalent of a luxury player. Given that 90+% of the teams we face will be parking the bus, there's no room for passengers on the ball.

Hojbjerg isn't terrible on the ball - he's certainly no Sissoko. But if he can't grow to be those things I've mentioned, then we need to upgrade.
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Again, I agree to some extent. But there is such a thing as good enough given the quality of the players around you. Hojbjerg also brings other qualities off the ball that we don't get with the others. I don't think he is that equivalent of a luxury player. I'm just not sure the best way to get the best out of this group of players is to have Hojbjerg on the ball as much as possible. With other players next to him it would be more of an issue.

Bit early to talk about an upgrade for my liking, but like everyone else if better players can be signed I'm all for it. Time will tell how Hojbjerg develops.
 
scaramanga said:
In which case, the defence could give the ball to those two or one of them could play deeper in Hojbjerg's role.

A player performing the role you describe is the defensive equivalent of a luxury player. Given that 90+% of the teams we face will be parking the bus, there's no room for passengers on the ball.

Hojbjerg isn't terrible on the ball - he's certainly no Sissoko. But if he can't grow to be those things I've mentioned, then we need to upgrade.
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To what? A Rhodes who can pass but doesn’t stop attacks very well
 
Bedfordspurs said:
To what? A Rhodes who can pass but doesn’t stop attacks very well
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I want someone in the that position to be in the mould of Pirlo - the perfect midfielder for that spot.

I don't want a really good passer who can't tackle or a really good tackler who can't pass. I'll settle.for.just good at both whilst we wait.for great at both.
 
scaramanga said:
Collecting the ball from the back, being on the ball as much as possible, dictating the direction and pace of play, giving instructions to those with their back to play - all the things one would expect of a midfielder with a view of most of the pitch in front of him.
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Stylistically he is very much our Henderson. Switched on, wired, sticking his nose into everything.

He's not gonna be a Carrick/Popescu/Modric type just from his own mindset being the opposite those types.
 
scaramanga said:
I want someone in the that position to be in the mould of Pirlo - the perfect midfielder for that spot.

I don't want a really good passer who can't tackle or a really good tackler who can't pass. I'll settle.for.just good at both whilst we wait.for great at both.
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Who, in your opinion, were the perfect partners for Pirlo?
 
scaramanga said:
Quite literally anyone. Because he was the midfielder with everything.

A seconds Pirlo would be perfect .
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In a way Hojbjerg has a bit of that about him, though obviously he's at a different level. He's been able to form a good partnership with everyone he's been played with so far, whereas before there wasn't a good partnership to be found between our central midfielders.
 
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