Spurs fans were less than impressed as Tanguy Ndombele was once again unable to last the full game during the 3-2 win over Southampton on Wednesday night.
The French midfielder, who joined Spurs for a club-record fee from Lyon in the summer, has struggled with fitness problems for the majority of his brief career in England. Earlier in the season, he admitted to coming off due to fatigue and Jose Mourinho criticised the 23-year-old after he missed a game over Christmas after saying he wasn’t fit to play.
Ndombele, who is valued at £58.5 million (as per Transfermarkt), contributed to Spurs’ opening goal against Southampton, with his strike deflected into his own net by Jack Stephens (0:21), but was substituted by Mourinho just after the hour mark. The Portuguese manager revealed earlier this week that the French international is on a special fitness programme but that hasn’t stopped Spurs fans criticising the midfielder after he was unable to complete the full 90 minutes.
Should Ndombele be sold?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to Ndombele’s performance against the Saints can be seen in the tweets below.
Didn’t see much of Ndombele before he signed so can’t comment on what he was like before but he is absolutely miles away from being fit enough to play in this league #THFC
— SimonFish (@poetfish2) February 5, 2020
Ndombele is just massively overweight. And I have massive doubts over Sessegnons ability.
— Philip (@philip_thfc) February 6, 2020
Hey @SpursOfficial we have brought a lazy lemon in #NDombele. Complete waste of space. #TOTSOU
— Keith Brockway (@zestein) February 5, 2020
He was awful….
— Levy Out (@SuperSpurs1985) February 5, 2020
Haven’t seen a Spurs side so disorganised or unfit. Not sure what’s happening behind the scenes in training. Ndombele looked wrecked after 20 mins. Players struggling to match Southampton in all areas of the pitch. #THFC #COYS
— John Hueston (@johnrhueston) February 5, 2020
For me, Ndombele has to be sold in the summer. Physically he isn’t PL level. Can’t have a player like him only lasting 60-70 mins every other game #thfc #coys
— Double_O_Negative (@DrDoom_n_Gloom) February 5, 2020
#ndombele off again before 60 mins. Dunno what’s happening with that guy but it’s such a shame when he clearly has so much talent but to not make 90mins is shocking.#COYS #THFC #TOTSOU
— nicky ritchie (@nickyritchie2) February 5, 2020
Ndombele plays like he’s come out of retirement and playing a testimonial or charity match. You can see he’s a baller on the ball but can’t run and looks over weight off it #thfc
— George Montella (@georgemontella) February 5, 2020
These Spurs fans were clearly less than impressed with Ndombele’s performance in the FA Cup replay, with some suggesting that he should be sold if his fitness does not improve.
What do we think?
Ndombele’s fitness is clearly a huge concern but in his few appearances, most notably in the Champions League where he averages an impressive 7.46 match rating (according to WhoScored), he has shown that there is clearly a quality player in there if he can just get fit.