Returning loanee will get redemption opportunity at Tottenham
By Gary Pearson
Tanguy Ndombele left for Napoli on loan with his tail between his legs but returns with a fresh slate and one more opportunity to redeem himself at Tottenham.
The Frenchman endured a miserable final stint before landing in Napoli for a one-season loan, where he made 30 Serie A appearances, scoring just once and resigned to the bench for large portions of the title-winning campaign.
While his skill set was never in question, Nbomdele’s refusal to put in the hard yards led to his ultimate Tottenham demise.
The mercurial talent was excessively selective about when to put his body on the line and when to devote everything to the collective, angering both supporters and coaches. Often injured, Ndombele lacked the fitness and commitment required to see his game ascend to an elite level.
His inability to commit fully was overtly evident, quickly turning his tenure sour. Supporters had enough of his propensity to lollygag, as did Jose Mourinho, who sent the Frenchman packing.
Cue Ange Postecoglou’s entrance.
The Australian will provide an opportunity for each player to make an impression, and that includes Nbombele. However, Ndombele’s previous half-in attitude won’t be tolerated.
The Frenchman will again find himself on the outside looking in if he doesn’t fully commit to the cause. And it will be blatantly obvious to Postecoglou if Ndombele returns to his mail-it-in ways.
If it were based purely on talent, Ndombele would be a strong candidate to adopt the No. 8 role, allowing him to advance while supporting the front three freely. Unfortunately for Ndombele and Spurs, God-given talent doesn’t guarantee one’s place in the starting 11.
Hopefully, Postecoglou can reinvigorate Ndombele and obtain a positive result, something no other Tottenham manager could.
If he can get Ndombele to endlessly put his body on the line and work tirelessly both on and off the ball, it would be one of the Aussie’s early shining achievements as Tottenham’s manager.
Looking at the formation Postecoglou will employ at Tottenham. dark. Next
Don’t hold your breath, though. We wouldn’t want the millions that read this article simultaneously passing out.