With Tottenham Hotspur putting our four game losing streak behind us (of sorts) in last weekend’s Premier League clash with Burnley at Turf Moor, there were again plenty of talking points to come out of the game, but an unexpected one popped up when manager Jose Mourinho coyly decided to pick out record signing Tanguy Ndombele for criticism following his first half performance.
Is this the first sign of a Spurs meltdown?
No, Ndombele Was Right To Be Called Out
Yes, It Was Only Going To Be A Matter Of Time
As fans will know, Mourinho dragged off 23-year-old Ndombele at the half time break, along with Oliver Skipp, given the midfield performance and there was significant improvement in the second period as we battled back for a point.
Quoted by the post-game, although Mourinho refused to name Ndombele, given he absolved Skipp from the criticism, it’s pretty clear who he was targeting.
“In the first half we didn’t have a midfield. Of course I’m not speaking of Skipp because he’s a kid of 19 who’s played two hours in the last few days. I don’t criticise him at all. But I’m not going to run away and I have to say he has had enough time to come to a different level. I know the Premier League is difficult, and some players take a long time to adapt to a different league. But a player with his potential has to give us more than he is giving us, especially when you see how Lucas, Lo Celso and those players are playing. I was expecting more in the first half from him. Many fantastic players in their first season, in a new country, for different reasons they struggle. There have been many examples of that. He’s a player with great talent. He has to know he has to do much better and know I cannot keep giving him opportunities to play because the team is much more important.”
Thoughts on Mourinho’s words have definitely received a mixed reaction amongst the fanbase and given ongoing questions about his fitness levels, there will be those who accept and agree with the criticism of the Frenchman, and perhaps, will see Jose’s words as being more of a public motivation for him to ‘pull his proverbial socks up’ – given his words were laced with praise and the implication he can do far better.
However, there will definitely be those who feel such a public dressing down can only be harmful, will only help distract from the debate about Mourinho’s tactics in a game, and in any event, JM’s time to settle argument is flawed given he has only been given a more sporadic 17 starts with ten appearances from the bench…in that time he has chipped in with two goals and four assists. Which isn’t too shabby when adjusting to a new level and new country.
Despite the fees involved, there are usually more Ndombele’s in their first season than there are Giovani Lo Celso’s, and even then, it’s only in more recent weeks that Lo Celso has really found his own groove.
Even if you agree with Mourinho’s comments here, the fact he made them so publicly can only bring back memories of how his time at recent clubs has soured.
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What a load of rubbish. While it isn’t Ndombele’s fault that he cost so much, apart from glimpses, his performances have been awful. If he is any kind of player he will know this and will knuckle down and get himself up to speed – we may not see that until next season. If he is so thin-skinned that he cannot take criticism when warranted, that’s pathetic, especially when it wasn’t a Luke Shaw-esque broadside he got. Mourinho acknowledged his obvious ability and the fact that it takes some players time. But he also didn’t hide from what many were saying. He was honest and he was right. No need for mollycoddling!
So why not have a quiet word. We’ve seen Jose’s pattern previously, and I can’t be the only one who wonders if this is a first step on that path given there were a host of other ways he could’ve handled this. He could’ve simply said players take time to settle, the fee is a weight around his shoulders but today it wasn’t working and I had to make the change for the team. I back him to do better next time?
Simples.
Because he was asked a question and he answered it. We have had Ndombele since the summer, how many quiet words do you think there have been in that time already?
Happy to disagree Andrew…he was asked a question, he didn’t have to throw a player under the bus whilst trying to be intelligent by making clear he didn’t mean Skipp, he could’ve handled it far better in my opinion and made the same point that Ndombele is capable of more than he’s showing without making him the standout reason for the pathetic first half – cause he wasn’t.
How many quiet words were needed, most were impressed with him under Poch and the only issue was fitness levels….his substitution against Norwich coincided with a very strong end prior to penalties. He only got he last 14 minutes against Wolves. We ended Leipzig stronger than we started and he came on second half.
Is Ndombele really the problem is my point and if JM thinks he is, don’t play him. Don’t cover up your mistakes by looking for a scapegoat.
But Ndombele is a problem. People are expecting a marquee signing to make a serious impact and he isn’t. Mourinho wasn’t vitriolic about it, but he called it as it was. Ndombele is not 16. He is of an age where he should be making a contribution to the team every week and should also be thick-skinned enough to take some criticism when it is warranted. It is warranted. It also has to be said that Mourinho has never been the sort of manager who will pander to shrinking violets. It’s what Levy was talking about when he spoke to THST…Mourinho expects the players to know that it is a privilege to play for Tottenham and expects them to put the effort in to show that they know that. I like that. That grit, determination and drive has not always been there at Tottenham and when we get someone who starts to demand it, we’re going to slate him for it? Tottenham have long been seen by other clubs to have a soft underbelly. Maybe this is the start of putting that right.
I’m with you there, it wasn’t vitriolic and given the way some looked to be cropping his words to suit, it’s why I tried to make sure I got a set where it included his praise of potential – settling in – caveats, so it was more rounded.
It just hits me as incredibly poor form and we’ve seen it from Jose before when the wheels come off. Again it’s the public aspect here, where I’d argue other players have been far worse yet got away scot free. It’s the singling out of him that irks me and for me, there was a better way to handle it.
I don’t respect Jose’s assessment of players. In the Burnley game, in the first half, there were five defenders, which isolated Ndombele and Skipp, no wonder they could not cope. Early second half, he changed to play with four defenders and the team equalsed and controlled the game. Guess what, last ten minutes the myopic Jose adds a fifth defender and that is why the team did not win. Jose is the problem. At ManU, he wanted to get rid of Martial and Shaw, did you see how they performed against City? At Chelsea, he got rid of Salah and De Bruyne, look where they are today. At ManU, his trusted servant was Fellaine, a totally useless player. I hate the day Levy decided to hire Jose, I knew what wsa coming and I hope everyday that I would hear that he has been fired. He is an arrogant, stubborn, archaic and useless and despicable football dinosaur.
I don’t disagree that Tanguy has looked pretty poor recently and was poor against Burnley. He not only seems unfit but also disinterested.
But I do disagree with Jose’s public dressing down of the guy. It wasn’t the first time he has done this to Ndombele either. It didn’t work wonders before so why does he think it would work with him now?
He simply shouldn’t have played him from the off in the first place if he continues to believe that Tanguy is not up to task.