2025/26 Iliman Ndiaye

[Kevsleftpeg]

He doesn’t help himself either though. Sometimes try running in behind and attacking the space a bit. Do that a few times and drag your full back/centre half and you’ll have the space to ask for it to feet.

Salah is one of the best examples I’ve seen of this for a long time. Used to be pure pace merchant but now happy to receive it to feet - the defenders know there’s a massive threat of him running in behind as well. That kind of variety stops you being easy to play against, like he was tonight.

He had a right footed player behind him tonight and and usually has Myko who can’t pass at all. The fullback will just let him run because non of them can pick a pass.

 

[HalfTimeSayers]

Some worrying body language very early in the game. Looked like he had a cob on. Maybe got kicked??

I love seeing him out muscle a bigger player to break a tackle and then ghost through two more players. But he never manages to slip a nicely weighted pass off etc.

So much to like. He’s strong, great dribbler etc. Will assume he doesn’t create anything, ever, for others because they don’t make any intelligent movements. But does feel like if he isn’t scoring, then aside from flashes of brilliance that don’t go anywhere, then nothing else happens. Feel being overly harsh there though because we lost. Would love him to slot like he did last year, but add 10 more assists.

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

I do love Ndiaye so much. I really do. But once he flishy flashy dribble dazzles a few times he’s then swarmed by 5 guys. I don’t know the answer. He is a gem. But I know he’s being used wrong because he’s great.

 

[Back On The Grass]

Poor overall tonight, but flick in the centre circle to set KDH free was the only bit of quality we showed all night.

 

[mccole]

Has no help all game and just "helped" Garner all game.

Utter waste on the left for me.

Play him central

 

[Street end man]

Moyes should be asking him, not telling him where he wants to play.
Same with Grealish.

 

[Esgehtvoran]

Moyes should be asking him, not telling him where he wants to play.
Same with Grealish.

He’s not good enough for that. Absolutely brilliant running with the ball but his decision making is awful and has been since we signed him. Won’t move a ball into space at all.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

I do love Ndiaye so much. I really do. But once he flishy flashy dribble dazzles a few times he’s then swarmed by 5 guys. I don’t know the answer. He is a gem. But I know he’s being used wrong because he’s great.

The answer is having a proper threat on the other wing
If we line up with Ndiaye on one wing, Grealish in the center and a proper right winger (ideally with pace) then they can’t swarm him like they did tonight or we switch the play and we’re in!

Alcaraz is not a right winger so he kept getting drawn inside when the ball was wide and without a proper full back on either side our shape was awful and offered no outlet to switch the play quickly

 

[Number_25]

He's a good dribbler, but he does have a knack of just running into corridors and losing the ball.

 

[EGWToffee]

I thought him and Alcaraz did ok. The rest were dreadful. Charlie full of effort. Ndiaye showing little bits of quality.

 

[RichCee123]

Really enjoyable to watch but no end product from the wing. Maybe better as an impact player off the bench?

 

[ToffeeScot]

The problem with our attacking players is that they're all the types where they need a bit of space in the final third to be able to showcase their quality and have an impact. They weren't going to get that space when pinned into our own half due to having no natural fullbacks.

 

[ElGato]

Showed flashes of what he can do but thought in general he was playing for himself rather than the team last night.

Wanted to stay on his feet and take on too many men - bit too showy - at times we needed him to draw the foul and buy us some time up the pitch. Tbf I think the team could and should have been instructed to do that more; Leeds were hyper aggressive and clattering us all over the pitch, we needed to break the play up and make it obvious to the Ref that they were being overly physical to get us some extra time/space on the ball.

Few times when he gave up on his man tracking back. Don't know if that is a fitness issue.

Body language was a bit concerning, but that goes for the lot of the them

 

[Dykovski200]

I do love Ndiaye so much. I really do. But once he flishy flashy dribble dazzles a few times he’s then swarmed by 5 guys. I don’t know the answer. He is a gem. But I know he’s being used wrong because he’s great.

For me he should start in the 10 role as he’s really good in tight places and can cause havoc on the edge of the box and put Grealish on the left. As for Alcaraz, until we get a RW he starts there or maybe try Dwight. KDH needs to be deeper so he can take the ball from the centre halves.

 

[IrishBlue2022]

Really enjoyable to watch but no end product from the wing. Maybe better as an impact player off the bench?

This feels like bait.