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Tanguy Ndombele – Le Magicien

4 min read
by Jack Doyle
That is how Tanguy Ndombele makes me feel, like a kid again. Never before have I seen someone do what he does on a football pitch, play the way in which he plays, move the way he moves.

When I was a child, I was drawn in by the ability of players to do things I’d never seen before. The first time you would see a bicycle kick, a Panenka penalty, a 60 yard driven ball onto the toe of its target. These are moments of genuine awe, but as the years progress and the number of games you have watched increases exponentially (and the amount of times you see these skills performed increases at a similar rate) the excitement dims slightly each time.

So when a player comes along, playing in a way that is totally unique, and the way they beat players requires a replay just to be able to understand what has happened, this takes you back. It takes you back to sitting cross legged on your mum’s carpet, two feet from the TV, eyes wide with amazement.

That is how Tanguy Ndombele makes me feel, like a kid again. Never before have I seen someone do what he does on a football pitch, play the way in which he plays, move the way he moves. And so whenever the ball arrives at his feet I shift forward, slowly edging closer towards the TV, in anticipation of what will happen next. I am rarely disappointed.

His ascension to being one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe in the summer of 2019 was an unusual one. He was released from Guingamp as a 16 year old and a few failed trials at other clubs littered his late teenage years.

It was his physical limitations as opposed to his obvious technical prowess that were cited as the main reason for his difficulties early in his career. He doesn’t have the physique of an archetypal professional footballer. Comparatively thin legs, slightly disproportionately large torso and skinny arms. He’s not particularly quick and his energy levels have been questioned at Spurs.

He looks lethargic as he moves around the pitch. But contrary to the idea that these perceived limitations would hold him back, his surprising strength allows him to hold off opponents and the unerring balance he possesses means he is able to ride cynical attempts to stop him with apparent ease. These are two of his most impressive attributes. His ability to burst past players at speed and play quick penetrative passes are that of a world class number eight. His manipulation of opponents and the space around them is so good that, when he receives the ball, he is able to play quickly and effectively. With one pass or one jerking hip movement he has bypassed an entire midfield and with it, an entire week’s work for the opposition’s analysis team.

Perhaps the lack of a conventional route to the top has, rather than hindering him, allowed him to keep a sense of freedom in his play. The strengths and qualities that he brings to the team are not ones that can necessarily be taught. He doesn’t conform to playing in a way that is consistent with somebody that has had his individuality or instinctive nature coached out of him. His willingness to be engaged in possession is unlike any I’ve ever seen and, with the ball at his feet, his self confidence is seemingly without measure. Contrasting the image that we get of him off the pitch; shy, quiet, an unassuming character.

Whether you choose to watch football from an emotional or analytical perspective he is sensational. His ability to break the lines (one of the most highly sought after skills in the game) seemingly at will makes him perhaps the most incisive passer in the country. The unique way in which he so easily glides past elite level players is as baffling as it is jaw-dropping. He moves sluggishly to offer an option for the passer, luring opposition players in and within his first or second touch he will be clear, leaving defenders and fans equally perplexed as to what they have just witnessed.

It is this laid back and languid style that will rile some fans, but it shouldn’t. If you want him to be charging around, clattering into tackles, then you will live your life perpetually disappointed with Ndombele, missing the point of him entirely.

Perhaps he should score more, perhaps he should be racking up more assists for a player with his skillset. But, in essence, his is a talent that isn’t measurable by the normal indicators. Maybe unsurprisingly, given what we know about him, judging him in a conventional way isn’t possible.

In years to come we will look back on the career of Tanguy Ndombele. And there’s a chance that we will be looking back at a career that reached the ceiling of his potential, dominating midfields at the highest level consistently. There’s also a chance that we will be looking back at a career blighted by unfulfilled hope in which his bright light didn’t shine for long enough. But ultimately, who cares, because after all, his enigmatic, effortless, inexplicable ability with a football is why we all fell in love with the game in the first place.

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

Jack Doyle

1 Comment

  1. Colin Morris
    05/02/2021 @ 1:13 pm

    Absolutely agree with Jack, Ndombele is unique.
    Like Dombele on steroids.
    Such a shame they never played together.
    A kid again” so beautifully put.

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