Spurs scouted improving winger Paul-Georges Ntep
3 min read
We recently sent a scout to the Stade Rennes vs PSG game which, if memory serves, the away side PSG won 0-1. Our eyes will have been on Adrien Rabiot, a long-term target of ours and many others. He nearly signed for us on loan, but PSG put up barriers and delayed any move until the end of the January transfer window by which time it would be too late.
He had signed a contract the November befoe with a clause inserted allowing him to leave on loan that window, yet by the time we had integrated him, got him used to our tactics and how we wanted him to play in an important role there would not have been much of the window left. He then nearly joined Roma during the summer and is said to be looking for a move in January in a bid to get more game time. PSG don't want to lose him, but he wants to be starting football matches and that is an ongoing complaint from his agent Mum.
He was not the only player we have been keeping an eye on in France though. Paul-Georges Ntep didn't play in that game but has been on our radar for a while now. Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Chelsea have been watching him and West Ham United had a bid turned down in the summer for him. They, of course, won't be the only ones around Europe interested in him.
Born in Cameroon he is a French international winger, primarily a right footed left winger in the modern trend. He is under contract until 2017soenters the last year of it next summer when clubs will be circling for a bargain. The 23-year-old (24 next July) stands 1.80m (5ft 11in) tall and started the season well in Ligue 1.
He left Auxerre in January 2014 for £3.50-million (US$5.27m - AUS$7.48m - €4.9m) scoring twice and having 2 assists in August and October this season in 5 appearances (353 minutes = 3.92 full games). After games against Toulouse (1 assist), Nantes (1 goal), Lille (1 goal), Troyes (1 assist) and Monaco he has missed the next four games.
A pacey winger he has dribbling ability and a confidence in his skill with an eye for goal which sees him happy to shoot from distance. He starts on the left but is not a touchline hugger in the traditional English manner. He cuts inside to offer a goal threat looking for the gap between left-back and the central defender. This is an area we don't attack enough in my view, especially on the right-hand side. with an overlapping full-back the left-back has to make a choice and if he leaves him to the central defender then he is pulled out of position creating an opening for someone else.
His confidence can be a problem if not managed properly. Recently he made a violent challenge in training that was not appreciated by his coach. The Rennes side were undergoing a ball-keeping exercise when Ntep tried to win the ball in an overzealous manner. Rennes head coach Phillipe Montainer excluded him from the rest of the session and the pair had a heated argument.
You get an insight into his character and why he can be a problem when last season 2-0 up he had rounded the Reims keeper before sinking to his hands and knees to head the ball over the line. It is important that we have the right characters in the dressing room, players who believe in their ability and want to improve it. There is a fine line between that and thinking you are gods gift to football and have made it.
Ntep seems to fall somewhere between the two and may have to learn to channel his attitude a little to fulfil his undoubted potential.
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A pacey winger he has dribbling ability and a confidence in his skill with an eye for goal which sees him happy to shoot from distance. He starts on the left but is not a touchline hugger in the traditional English manner. He cuts inside to offer a goal threat looking for the gap between left-back and the central defender. This is an area we don't attack enough in my view, especially on the right-hand side. with an overlapping full-back the left-back has to make a choice and if he leaves him to the central defender then he is pulled out of position creating an opening for someone else.
His confidence can be a problem if not managed properly. Recently he made a violent challenge in training that was not appreciated by his coach. The Rennes side were undergoing a ball-keeping exercise when Ntep tried to win the ball in an overzealous manner. Rennes head coach Phillipe Montainer excluded him from the rest of the session and the pair had a heated argument.
You get an insight into his character and why he can be a problem when last season 2-0 up he had rounded the Reims keeper before sinking to his hands and knees to head the ball over the line. It is important that we have the right characters in the dressing room, players who believe in their ability and want to improve it. There is a fine line between that and thinking you are gods gift to football and have made it.
Ntep seems to fall somewhere between the two and may have to learn to channel his attitude a little to fulfil his undoubted potential.
Recent Articles
£1m offer for next Drogba
Liverpool to beat Spurs to Brazilian striker Pato
39 clubs scouting Club Brugge including Spurs
Reports of our scouting plus Inter scouting Lamela and Vertonghen
Spurs send a scout to Rosenburg and Lazio
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