Wilfred Ndidi (signed for Besiktas 9m)

[Steve Earle]

5 hours ago, Gerard said:

 

Lennon was better than Ndidi.

He wasn’t (IMO). He was great was Lenny, but Kante & Ndidi were on a different level.

 

Lenny was comfortably in my all time XI until Kante came along.

 

Muzzy too was great, but to rate him above Tielemans as so many FTers do is hard to fathom. For me, I hasten to add!

[shen]

I also want to commend Ndidi's willingness and adaptability to make those runs into the channels under Maresca. It was laughable and odd at first, but it turned into a very useful tactic/move. Unlike Kristiansen who (understandably maybe) didn't want to adapt.

[Spiritwalker]

The biggest issue we might face is if another club comes in for him that he wants to join

but they don’t won’t pay the same asking price.

[Gerard]

1 hour ago, Steve Earle said:

He wasn’t (IMO). He was great was Lenny, but Kante & Ndidi were on a different level.

 

Lenny was comfortably in my all time XI until Kante came along.

 

Muzzy too was great, but to rate him above Tielemans as so many FTers do is hard to fathom. For me, I hasten to add!

 

Disagree, no way on earth was Ndidi a class above Lennon.

 

I remember Izzet said about Lennon "he's good enough to play for AC Milan" when at that time AC Milan was the pinnacle of European football and I totally get where Muzzy was coming from.

 

I've always thought Neil Lennon was one of the most underrated players we've ever had, if he was at Man Utd in the 1990's, he'd have been there a decade as a squad player. Just read the game brilliantly as a defensive midfielder and was quality on the ball rotating it and rarely losing it.

[merlin1969]

Going to Besiktas 9m

[STUHILL]

Very likeable player and for a few years, was genuinely one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. 

I think along with injuries and being here so long, he struggled to ever hit those heights again.

He was surprisingly, a joy to watch under Enzo in the Championship and proved he still has some left in the tank.

However, this feels like a good time for him to go, and I wish him the best. Glad he isn't moving to another club in England too. 

[Steve Earle]

2 hours ago, Gerard said:

 

Disagree, no way on earth was Ndidi a class above Lennon.

 

I remember Izzet said about Lennon "he's good enough to play for AC Milan" when at that time AC Milan was the pinnacle of European football and I totally get where Muzzy was coming from.

 

I've always thought Neil Lennon was one of the most underrated players we've ever had, if he was at Man Utd in the 1990's, he'd have been there a decade as a squad player. Just read the game brilliantly as a defensive midfielder and was quality on the ball rotating it and rarely losing it.

You pays your money, you takes your choice. 
 

Oh, and Muzzy was, lovably, wrong!

 

I’m with you on the Lenny love & agree with all you say about him, apart from the playing for Milan bit. And the better than Wilf bit. 
 

Nothing for us to fall out about.

[MPH]

3 hours ago, Steve Earle said:

He wasn’t (IMO). He was great was Lenny, but Kante & Ndidi were on a different level.

 

Lenny was comfortably in my all time XI until Kante came along.

 

Muzzy too was great, but to rate him above Tielemans as so many FTers do is hard to fathom. For me, I hasten to add!

 

Muzzy always gave 100%. He never got fat and Lazy.. was much more athletic and ran more.

Edited 4 August 2025 by MPH

[Bert]

2 hours ago, Gerard said:

 

Disagree, no way on earth was Ndidi a class above Lennon.

 

I remember Izzet said about Lennon "he's good enough to play for AC Milan" when at that time AC Milan was the pinnacle of European football and I totally get where Muzzy was coming from.

 

I've always thought Neil Lennon was one of the most underrated players we've ever had, if he was at Man Utd in the 1990's, he'd have been there a decade as a squad player. Just read the game brilliantly as a defensive midfielder and was quality on the ball rotating it and rarely losing it.

The difference between Lennon and Wilf is/was that Lennon could actually play football. Wilf has always been at his best when he was simply winning the ball and knocking it off to Tielemans or Maddison. 
 

Lennon could win the ball and make things happen himself, Lennon could dictate a game. 

[TonyN11]

Be sad to see Ndidi go but all for building a more youthful squad

[Steve Earle]

5 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

Muzzy always gave 100%. He never got fat and Lazy.. was much more athletic and ran more.

But wasn’t technically near Youri; didn’t dominate games at a top 6 PL level, didn’t score the goals or win us the FA Cup. There’s really no comparison, even if his last season, when Rodgers had run him into the ground, was poor. 
 

[Bert]

3 hours ago, Steve Earle said:

He wasn’t (IMO). He was great was Lenny, but Kante & Ndidi were on a different level.

 

Lenny was comfortably in my all time XI until Kante came along.

 

Muzzy too was great, but to rate him above Tielemans as so many FTers do is hard to fathom. For me, I hasten to add!

It’s a tough one between Muzzy and Tielemans. I think a lot of people are a bit blinded by Tielemans cup winner. Don’t get me wrong he was absolutely class for us, bar the relegation season. I think in today’s game Muzzy would be suited to the 10 whereas Tielemans is an 8. The better comparison of players for me, would be Muzzy and Maddison. 
 

 

[st albans fox]

7 minutes ago, Bert said:

The difference between Lennon and Wilf is/was that Lennon could actually play football. Wilf has always been at his best when he was simply winning the ball and knocking it off to Tielemans or Maddison. 
 

Lennon could win the ball and make things happen himself, Lennon could dictate a game. 

Absolutely - lenny was a pre cursor of the modern defensive midfielder.  Controlling the tempo of the game for us. Gives and go’s - receiving the short throw ins and recycling possession. 
 

wilf technically not on the same page 

 

incidentally, wilf is another example of an Lcfc player who hasn’t managed to maintain his form once he’d been linked with a big move away and not gone. 

[Steve Earle]

1 minute ago, Bert said:

It’s a tough one between Muzzy and Tielemans. I think a lot of people are a bit blinded by Tielemans cup winner. Don’t get me wrong he was absolutely class for us, bar the relegation season. I think in today’s game Muzzy would be suited to the 10 whereas Tielemans is an 8. The better comparison of players for me, would be Muzzy and Maddison. 
 

 

Interesting…I’m not sure Muzzy had the guile for the 10 role (thinking all those no-look Youri passes to play in Barnes, Madders or Vardy - and I don’t really see Youri as a 10 either)? I see him as an 8 myself, and for me it’s a straight choice between him & Youri to play alongside Kante in an all time 4231 XI.

 

Possibly both would be better as 8s in a 3-box-3?

[Bert]

4 minutes ago, Steve Earle said:

Interesting…I’m not sure Muzzy had the guile for the 10 role (thinking all those no-look Youri passes to play in Barnes, Madders or Vardy - and I don’t really see Youri as a 10 either)? I see him as an 8 myself, and for me it’s a straight choice between him & Youri to play alongside Kante in an all time 4231 XI.

 

Possibly both would be better as 8s in a 3-box-3?

I actually think Muzzy was probably ahead of the times and would be a perfect 10. The late runs into the box, used to drift around the pitch picking up the little pockets of space. Muzzy always had that freedom when playing with Lennon and Savage to go and make things happen up the pitch. 
 

I remember a few players saying that in training Muzzy was absolutely phenomanl and I can’t remember what player it was, but he did something in training where everyone just stopped and applauded. 
 

In your 4231 with Tielemans and Kante - who is in the middle of the 3? 

[Steve Earle]

6 minutes ago, Bert said:

I actually think Muzzy was probably ahead of the times and would be a perfect 10. The late runs into the box, used to drift around the pitch picking up the little pockets of space. Muzzy always had that freedom when playing with Lennon and Savage to go and make things happen up the pitch. 
 

I remember a few players saying that in training Muzzy was absolutely phenomanl and I can’t remember what player it was, but he did something in training where everyone just stopped and applauded. 
 

In your 4231 with Tielemans and Kante - who is in the middle of the 3? 

Depends on the day & the mood! 
 

I have Mahrez (of course) & the great Keith Weller in the Albrighton role. 
 

Which leaves me with either Maddison or McAllister as the 10…behind Vardy, obviously 🙄 

Edited 4 August 2025 by Steve Earle

[Verumex]

Sorry, I'm a bit lost, can someone point me towards the Ndidi transfer thread? 

[5waller5]

38 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

Muzzy always gave 100%. He never got fat and Lazy.. was much more athletic and ran more.

Agree, coupled with our expectations being lower, he came from Chelsea reserves for next to nothing and won our hearts quickly and retained them with his effort. 

[MPH]

54 minutes ago, Steve Earle said:

But wasn’t technically near Youri; didn’t dominate games at a top 6 PL level, didn’t score the goals or win us the FA Cup. There’s really no comparison, even if his last season, when Rodgers had run him into the ground, was poor. 
 

 

when did Youri score an overhead like Muzzy did? 
 

Youri played in a much better team hence the top six and FA Cup run, but looking at their individual performances and  goals, Youri wasn’t any better at all

[Bob Weasel Fox]

1 hour ago, Verumex said:

Sorry, I'm a bit lost, can someone point me towards the Ndidi transfer thread? 

It appears people might, just might of veered off course of the topic 

 

just a maybe 🤔 

 

anyway as always and good as Ndidi has been for us previously - my usual take is sell sell sell

[Sly]

Looks like this will get done as soon as Wilf passes the medical in Turkey.

 

£8m and a thank you for your services. 

Follows our other greats in Ghezzel and Amartey to Besiktas! 
 

 

[Bordersfox]

1 hour ago, Sly said:

Looks like this will get done as soon as Wilf passes the medical in Turkey.

 

£8m and a thank you for your services. 

Follows our other greats in Ghezzel and Amartey to Besiktas! 
 

 

The latest rumour was he hasn't agreed to join Beskitas and is considering his options.  Is there some update suggesting he's gone for a medical? 

[Jon the Hat]

11 hours ago, MPH said:

 

Muzzy always gave 100%. He never got fat and Lazy.. was much more athletic and ran more.

Looking at Tielemans' fitness now, he was taking the piss with us.

[Finnegan]

10 hours ago, Verumex said:

Sorry, I'm a bit lost, can someone point me towards the Ndidi transfer thread? 

 

Besiktas have sent personal terms to his agent and are willing to trigger his release clause, allegedly.

[Bordersfox]

19 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

Besiktas have sent personal terms to his agent and are willing to trigger his release clause, allegedly.

Yes but who was better Ian Marshall or Ndidi?