where are they? N`dombele seems incapapable of starting two a games a week, Sessignon is nowhere to be seen, not even on the bench last night, and Lo Celso has barely played 90 minutes combined since he has been at the club.
All three were apparently purchased to strengthen the squad, and I expected, both N`dombele and Lo Celso to go straight into the First XI and strengthen the midfield from the off, even though I knew very little about either. But under two managers now, neither seem to be able to nail down a regular first XI place. Why? Given that the midfield seems to be at the moment any two of three of Winks, Dier or Sissoko, not a great choice.
N`dombele looks to me a half decent player, but why cannot he seemingly play back to back games. Lo Celso I have no idea how good or bad he is, not seen hardly anything of him, something not right. And Sessignon, youg player, has Prem experience, and cannot get anywhere near the back four, of what is is currently a car crash of a defence.
Unless we get the midfield sorted out, then it is all too easy for the opposition to run straight through it, and get at the shaky defence, thus the reason, why the goals are still flooding into the Spurs net. Another two conceded last night, although both were highly avoidable, Gazziniga made a right howler of the first, and the penalty was so soft, even though Sissoko is an absolute car crash waiting to happen, when he is anywhere near the penalty area, he is so clumsy.
Last night was not pretty, and I would expect a reaction on Saturday from our so called big players, Kane, Son, etc, who were awful last night, they go missing so often in big away games like last night. Anyway one defeat does not mean that much in the grand scheme of things, and a win on Saturday will mean four wins out of five for Mourinho, which would be a more than decent start, as he tries to iron out the obvious deficiencies with the squad, until he is allowed to bring in his own players. Can see a big clear out come the end of the season.
COYS
The new players purchased pre season
posted on 5/12/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Everywhere you go always take Lamela with you. LEVY OUT. (U7905)
posted 26 minutes ago
They have all had injury issues. Unfortunately now they're fit the man that wanted them is gone and has been replaced with someone who doesn't like play playing footballers.
If lo celso and Ndombele don't start on Sunday then Jose really is clueless.
Should be a midfield 3 of those two plus Dier/Foyth with a DM being brought in on Jan 1. Not holding my breath though.
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They were injured for a bit, but the previous manager did not play them much either, so not just down to the current manager.
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Ndombele was pretty much a guaranteed starter rotation aside and Lo Celso started the last 2 games under Poch once has was fully fit. They had worked their way into the team, unfortunately Jose has taken them out.
Sessegnon imo was a very bad signing and I blame Poch for that. At £25m we could have bought somebody we actually need in the squad, ie a DM or RB. If Sessegnon was a left back I could understand, but he's not. Don't blame Jose for not using him when we have the likes of Son and Moura there but the other two have to start on Saturday.
posted on 5/12/19
Lo Celso looked despondent coming on with 5 minutes left.
posted on 5/12/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 2 minutes ago
Bad management
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More like bad recruitment, although could I suppose be bad management, as the previous manager brought all three players, that cannot now get in the starting XI.
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All 3 are highly rated players it was great recruitment
It’s been bad management by poch, José and in case of Ndombele and GLC their respective international managers calling them up when clearly weren’t fit enough for it
posted on 5/12/19
“ Sessegnon imo was a very bad signing and I blame Poch for that. At £25m we could have bought somebody we actually need in the squad, ie a DM or RB. If Sessegnon was a left back I could understand, but he's not. Don't blame Jose for not using him when we have the likes of Son and Moura there but the other two have to start on Saturday.”
Sessegnon should be on the bench as the only real alternative to Son or Lucas.
Our bench last night while great on paper had no pace on at all.
posted on 5/12/19
comment by Everywhere you go always take Lamela with you. LEVY OUT. (U7905)
posted 57 minutes ago
They have all had injury issues. Unfortunately now they're fit the man that wanted them is gone and has been replaced with someone who doesn't like play playing footballers.
If lo celso and Ndombele don't start on Sunday then Jose really is clueless.
Should be a midfield 3 of those two plus Dier/Foyth with a DM being brought in on Jan 1. Not holding my breath though.
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agreed. 3 man midfield needed. Especially away from home against bigger teams.
posted on 5/12/19
i don't think we can play with SoN, Moura , Kane and Alli in the same team with our current midfield options.
posted on 5/12/19
My guess is, Jose is still figuring the team out.
He is with a new group of players. Most of them though, he will have seen play for Spurs plenty of times, and will know their strengths/weaknesses, and knows they are already familiar with the team and the league.
Players such as Ndombele and Lo Celso are unknowns. So he’s playing it relatively safe by going with what’s already established, rather than be in the position is being a new manager with a new team featuring new players unfamiliar with the tram and league.
That said, it’s not working, because our midfield last night was rubbish. So hopefully he realises he needs to take bigger risks.
posted on 5/12/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 2 minutes ago
Bad management
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More like bad recruitment, although could I suppose be bad management, as the previous manager brought all three players, that cannot now get in the starting XI.
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Still blaming Poch
posted on 5/12/19
Poch's fault, obviously
posted on 5/12/19
As a United fan, it was a lot more daunting watching N'Dombele power forward than Winks, I must say.
From what I've seen from him, I think there could be a good player in there (similar to Dembele, who I was always envious of).
I can only assume its a fitness thing; didn't Dembele once admit to being too tired to play EPL football week-in, week-out? It wasn't like he was old too; think he'd just hit 30!