N'Dicka v Schlotterbeck - Spurs LCB watch

Eintracht Frankfurt lost out at home to SC Freiburg in a game featuring two of the players who could possibly be courted by Tottenham to fill out the squad in the position of left center back. Currently Davies is the only player in the position, which is all well and good until a) he gets suspended or injured and/or b) there are multiple games per week. Hence why it's a position of need in the summer. I don't think it's farfetched to say most left footed CB's in Europe have been at least loosely linked. This includes all of Botman, Schlotterbeck, Pau Torres, Bastoni, Gvardiol, and others. Why not then include N'Dicka? I've mentioned him before, but he has all the physical tools to work out in the Premier League. I'd even throw in Salisu, Guehi, and Colwill (if Chelsea were to part with him). Either way, the two in the title faced off last weekend and I wanted to write up my observations from the match.

I have to add a few things before remarking on the actual game. I didn't watch this in real time. That, at least for me, makes a difference in that I'm less engaged in what's happening throughout but I also have cues of what to look for at various points. Secondly, you're able to look at substitution patterns to see how the shape of each team changed. For instance, Streich makes a triple sub at 61 minutes, taking off three forward thinking players and replacing them with two forwards and a CB. Frankfurt made like for like subs until the final 15' when Glasner went for it. Point is, the two players I'm looking at in the match played different roles. N'Dicka played his usual role as an LCB in a back three with Kostic in front of him acting as the main attacking threat down the left. Schlotterbeck, on the other hand, started out in a 4, partnering Lienhart with Gunter flanking him out wide. I also know, having watch both numerous times before, that N'Dicka keeps it simple while Schlotterbeck is a more "modern" defender in that he strides forward with the ball and plays penetrating passes.

On a related note to how I ended the previous paragraph, the first goal develops from N'Dicka making a poor pass. Frankfurt are attacking and he's high up the pitch, plays a square pass that's intercepted, and then tries to cut off the ball carrier (Holer) instead of retreating immediately to mark the man running in behind (Sallai). He actually does well to sprint back and slow down the Freiburg break, but his teammates swarm the ball, leaving guys open for the pass, and Grifo eventually scores.

Also, just relating to the nature of the tie, Freiburg started out better, scored first, and then allowed Frankfurt to dictate. The equalizer comes at the 54 minute mark with some comical Bundesliga defending. Somehow there's a Frankfurt throw-in and Freiburg shift completely to their left. A flick-on occurs and Kostic is played through, leaving him 1v1 to slot home. Can't say it's on Schlotterbeck at all, as it's the right side at fault (and I guess you could say the one who allowed the flick-on).

Soon after (58') there's an example of why Schlotterbeck is highly coveted. There's a long ball over the top to Borre, who's kept on by Lienhart screwing up the high line, yet Schlotterbeck sprints and forces Borre to shoot from a tight angle, likely saving a goal.

Ten minutes later Petersen scores the headed winner from an outstanding free kick by Gunter. I'm not quite sure what the marking was supposed to be from Frankfurt, or what N'Dicka was doing, but it looked like he was on Lienhart/Schlotterbeck or had a free role, while the header was at the back post.

One other point about the state of the game. As I said, both times there was a team in the lead it was Freiburg. In an even matchup like this, it tends to be that the aggressor at the time is the one who's losing, and this was no different. Thus, N'Dicka was left in more vulnerable positions generally, given his team was pushing for the equalizer for 40 or so minutes of match time. When Freiburg led, they generally held a compact shape, so Schlotterbeck was supported by the team structure. There was actually one other chance of note, when Hrustic had his second effort after a blocked free kick bang off the inside of the post. Kamada scored a header, too, but was offside, the second one like that for Frankfurt on the day.

Looking at the profiles of the two players, it's clear Schlotterbeck is more suitable to the "upgrade on Ben Davies" role. At the same time, the German is in high demand and many top clubs will be looking at him. Two other names that probably aren't ready but would be intriguing are Hincapie and Theate. If you were to get a guy like Saiss (contract expiring) to rotate with Davies for a year or two, one of the guys I just mentioned could develop more and make the jump. The question is not whether Schlotterbeck would thrive at Spurs. It's if he'd actually go there. Champions League football still needs to be secured, and it's rumored he wants to stay in Germany. N'Dicka is better for a team that presses but has less of the ball. Think Everton or Leeds, assuming they stay up. Brighton would be interesting as a Dan Burn replacement.