Two Tottenham Hotspur midfielders who should swap roles
By Gary Pearson
Tanguy Ndombele should start on Sunday in the No. 10 role, swapping positions with Giovanni Lo Celso to yield optimal offensive results for Tottenham.
Jose Mourinho was steadfast, even stubborn, on having Tanguy Ndombele cemented beside Pierre Hojberg as the team’s second holding midfielder. Under Jose, Tanguy was able to advance slightly up field more than the defensive Dane, but not without fear of persecution if he became exposed while gallivanting forward.
He was, invariably, shackled by the assignment, preventing him from showcasing the creativity and ingenuity he possesses.
Jose was earlier in the season temporarily forced to play Tanguy as the No. 10 when, due to a litany of injuries, Spurs were short on options. The Frenchman showed glimpses of brilliance in support of lone striker Harry Kane.
By no means has Tanguy failed in his deeper midfield role, but he hasn’t exactly thrived either. Inconsistent outings highlighted by Tanguy’s predisposition to fade temporarily out of matches belies the necessary requirements of a specialized defensive midfielder. He was left out of the starting team for the Carabao Cup Final, evincing Mason’s lack of trust in the Frenchman in that particular position.
Sometimes Tanguy, against his best intentions, makes the wrong decision, often holding on to the ball slightly too long, an entirely too risky proposition in that area of the pitch.
Playing in the No. 10 role will allow Tanguy to show all of his creative genius without having to worry about conceding possession. His lack of goals have always prevented him from fitting into the complete-player mould. However, he proved in the last match against Sheffield United, with an odds-defying lobbed outside of the boot wonder goal, that he is capable of clinical finishes.
He just needs to be provided the platform, which the No. 10 role would facilitate. Nobody expects him to score 20 goals a season, but a player of his boundless natural talent should be bagging at least 10 goals per season.