Hide Mendy

[StriderHiryu]

6 minutes ago, Danny Clender said:

He was good last night.

He must be a Binny's dream, his recycling skills are immaculate. 

 

One thing though regarding the Kante / Ndidi comparisons.

Am I right in thinking, his defensive instruction doesn't allow him to take on such attacking enterprise that Kante / Ndidi did/do for us?

 

He did carry the ball out well last night, but he then seems to reach a retreat line and has to track back and drop out of any attack. 

I wonder if we'll see his attacking side as the season progresses.

 

One thing for sure, he's really enjoying his football at the moment . 

I think it's just the difference in playing style's between the players. Mendy is more of a Joe Allen / Sergio Busquets / Jorginho type that recycles the ball and keeps things going. Ndidi and Kante are better destroyers with Ndid the better tackler and Kante the better interceptor. 

Assuming a fully fit squad, I would put Ndidi in for games where I expect a tough midfield battle and need to win the ball a lot. So the teams in the Champions League places and maybe some of the more attacking teams like Leeds yesterday. But in games where I expect us to see a lot of the ball and having the emphasis on making the play, I would play Mendy, so games like Wolves at the weekend, our European games, games against the bottom 10 teams, etc. 

 

Potentially Ndidi can improve his passing to Mendy's level, but realistically I think Mendy's will always be better. Mendy was capped at U21 level for France and that focus on the technical side of his game shines through. He is a lot classier than he initially looks and in fact reminds me a lot of Fernandinho in the way that he plays. 

[Guest Danny Clender]

1 hour ago, StriderHiryu said:

I think it's just the difference in playing style's between the players. Mendy is more of a Joe Allen / Sergio Busquets / Jorginho type that recycles the ball and keeps things going. Ndidi and Kante are better destroyers with Ndid the better tackler and Kante the better interceptor. 

Assuming a fully fit squad, I would put Ndidi in for games where I expect a tough midfield battle and need to win the ball a lot. So the teams in the Champions League places and maybe some of the more attacking teams like Leeds yesterday. But in games where I expect us to see a lot of the ball and having the emphasis on making the play, I would play Mendy, so games like Wolves at the weekend, our European games, games against the bottom 10 teams, etc. 

 

Potentially Ndidi can improve his passing to Mendy's level, but realistically I think Mendy's will always be better. Mendy was capped at U21 level for France and that focus on the technical side of his game shines through. He is a lot classier than he initially looks and in fact reminds me a lot of Fernandinho in the way that he plays. 

Thanks!

Last night, I kept imagining the alleged moment where we had a choice between Mendy and Kante.

As you say, Mendy's passing and recycling prowess would have been well scouted and Kante's interceptions and tackles would have been his desirables.

 

As it's been said, Ranieri was keen to take Mendy over Kante, but I wonder if Kante's increased ability to run with the ball forward in attack mode was the reason why we ended up with him instead? 

That's why I was wondering if it's something we can expect from Mendy or not so much. 

It's an interesting one to wonder about. 

 

And here's one for you...could you see Ndidi and Mendy playing together again? 

[Mark]

2 minutes ago, Danny Clender said:

And here's one for you...could you see Ndidi and Mendy playing together again? 

If we've not learnt it's one or the other after all these years then we never will 😩

[StriderHiryu]

1 minute ago, Danny Clender said:

Thanks!

Last night, I kept imagining the alleged moment where we had a choice between Mendy and Kante.

As you say, Mendy's passing and recycling prowess would have been well scouted and Kante's interceptions and tackles would have been his desirables.

 

As it's been said, Ranieri was keen to take Mendy over Kante, but I wonder if Kante's increased ability to run with the ball forward in attack mode was the reason why we ended up with him instead? 

That's why I was wondering if it's something we can expect from Mendy or not so much. 

It's an interesting one to wonder about. 

 

And here's one for you...could you see Ndidi and Mendy playing together again? 

I could see that, but my reaction to doing that would be the following:

 

 

Now to be fair, Rodgers would not ask them to play side to side football like Puel did - Puel deliberately played a double pivot so the 10 (Maddison) had more of a free role, whereas Rodgers prefers two playmakers, a deep lying one and an attacking one. So if Rodgers player both Ndidi and Mendy together, then it's either to see a game out (this is OK in my book), or because Tielemans and Praet are injured and he wants Mendy to be the deep playing playmaker. And whilst I really rate Mendy, I wouldn't play Busquets, Jorginho or Fernandino as that type of player, and neither would I play Mendy there either.

[M0901]

He looks like he’s enjoying himself again. He’s playing with a smile on his face and he’s full of confidence. What a man.

[urban.spaceman]

.

 

Edited 3 November 2020 by urban.spaceman

[murphy]

21 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

I think it's just the difference in playing style's between the players. Mendy is more of a Joe Allen / Sergio Busquets / Jorginho type that recycles the ball and keeps things going. Ndidi and Kante are better destroyers with Ndid the better tackler and Kante the better interceptor. 

Assuming a fully fit squad, I would put Ndidi in for games where I expect a tough midfield battle and need to win the ball a lot. So the teams in the Champions League places and maybe some of the more attacking teams like Leeds yesterday. But in games where I expect us to see a lot of the ball and having the emphasis on making the play, I would play Mendy, so games like Wolves at the weekend, our European games, games against the bottom 10 teams, etc. 

 

Potentially Ndidi can improve his passing to Mendy's level, but realistically I think Mendy's will always be better. Mendy was capped at U21 level for France and that focus on the technical side of his game shines through. He is a lot classier than he initially looks and in fact reminds me a lot of Fernandinho in the way that he plays. 

Statistically, Wilf has been better than Kante at both tackling and interceptions in recent seasons, leading the PL for both last year for CDMs .

 

In my opinion, as good as Mendy has been for us, Wilf is still first choice.  He's that good.

 

With the number of games we have this year I can see Mendy still playing a big role for us as Wilf will need to be rested.  Mendy has proven himself more than a capable deputy but I wonder if N'Didi could be considered 4th choice CB and slot into defence if needed as we can have faith that Mendy will step in and do a good job.  This would mean we don't necessarily need to get another CB in just yet, saving us the money to use elsewhere?

 

 

Edited 4 November 2020 by murphy

[Strokes]

19 minutes ago, Mark said:

If we've not learnt it's one or the other after all these years then we never will 😩

Unless Wilf goes in at Centre Half.

[John12345]

Seeing as Mendy is the better footballer I could see him being favoured over Ndidi by Rodgers as he has the attributes he values the more highly. Let's see what the form is like when Ndidi is fit hey. It will be a nice problem to have hopefully.

[sacreblueits442]

14 hours ago, Danny Clender said:

He was good last night.

He must be a Binny's dream, his recycling skills are immaculate. 

 

One thing though regarding the Kante / Ndidi comparisons.

Am I right in thinking, his defensive instruction doesn't allow him to take on such attacking enterprise that Kante / Ndidi did/do for us?

 

He did carry the ball out well last night, but he then seems to reach a retreat line and has to track back and drop out of any attack. 

I wonder if we'll see his attacking side as the season progresses.

 

One thing for sure, he's really enjoying his football at the moment . 

...just watching him it seems  like his natural inclination  is to carry the ball forward!!!

 The performances we were seeing  was him receiving  the ball with him facing his own goal and the inevitable  pass back to the defence. 

 Obviously  a lot more to his game not being tapped. As for Ndidi, there are moments in the game when he wins the call and seems to grow an extra foot in stature. Potentially  a Yaya Toure  quality player  there, we just need to help in to grow into the leader he could be.

[lifted*fox]

mendidi

 

Edited 3 November 2020 by lifted*fox

[lifted*fox]

pigeons

Edited 3 November 2020 by lifted*fox

[foxes_rule1978]

Well, he is unreal 

[moseeds]

I think it's easy to forget with young people who move clubs especially from abroad will often take time to settle - new city, new friends, new language, new food, no family. There's an assumption high wages can alleviate all that but in reality high wages can be even more destructive under those circumstances. Anyway, he's doing great. Can't find the bugger though...

[Captain...]

19 hours ago, Danny Clender said:

Thanks!

Last night, I kept imagining the alleged moment where we had a choice between Mendy and Kante.

As you say, Mendy's passing and recycling prowess would have been well scouted and Kante's interceptions and tackles would have been his desirables.

 

As it's been said, Ranieri was keen to take Mendy over Kante, but I wonder if Kante's increased ability to run with the ball forward in attack mode was the reason why we ended up with him instead? 

That's why I was wondering if it's something we can expect from Mendy or not so much. 

It's an interesting one to wonder about. 

 

And here's one for you...could you see Ndidi and Mendy playing together again? 

They should never play together unless Wilf is playing CB again.

 

4141 Ndidi is the superior 1 to cover the back 4. He is a one man machine.

 

343 or 4231 Mendy with Tielemans is a better midfield pairing, than Ndidi and Tielemans, they complement each other really well. They can play little passes and work space drawing in the opposition midfield creating space for others. Mendy is not strong enough and fast enough to play as a single pivot without the support round him.

[StriderHiryu]

 

Rodgers doing a bad job of hiding Mendy!

[Vardinio'sCat]

91.1% pass completion so far this season, according to the website 90min!

 

speaks well too, never heard his voice before today.

Edited 4 November 2020 by Vardinio'sCat

[urban fox]

Just now, Vardinio'sCat said:

91.1% pass completion so far this season, according to the website 90min!

That is a phenomenal stat.

[PaulW]

He's been like having a new (big money) signing for nothing this season!