Dembele

Hatch99

Is it just me or has he been a significant disappointment since he signed ?
Good on the ball.
A lot of sideways passes, rather than forward ones.
Terrible goal scoring record.

What do you reckon ?

DamienKilmurray

I agree that he has been a big disappointment. I thought when we signed him from Fulham that he was a very good player but he hasn`t really improved us much. He has without doubt the ability, but he seems to go missing in games.

White Heart Loon

I think he's just in between two roles. He's very strong on the ball, but isn't skillful enough to be a good attacking midfielder. You never see him getting dispossesed. Maybe AVB was right last year, he's more a defensive midfielder than attacking.

slegs

I think he is a class act. He certainly hasn't started this season very well but I think we have yet to see the best of him. He looks a little unhappy or off colour in the last few games.

He is one of the best central midfielders I have seen to go past players in possession. I am confused as to why he doesnt get more goals because he has a good shot

tippspur

I have a feeling he will be making way for for someone else in midfield if he doesn't improve soon.

Sugarlumps

slegs wrote: »

I think he is a class act. He certainly hasn't started this season very well but I think we have yet to see the best of him. He looks a little unhappy or off colour in the last few games.

He is one of the best central midfielders I have seen to go past players in possession. I am confused as to why he doesnt get more goals because he has a good shot

+1

Hatch99

slegs wrote: »

I think he is a class act. He certainly hasn't started this season very well but I think we have yet to see the best of him. He looks a little unhappy or off colour in the last few games.

He is one of the best central midfielders I have seen to go past players in possession. I am confused as to why he doesnt get more goals because he has a good shot

A class act, I hope he starts to show it soon, for a fella with so much ability, his assists and goal scoring record is shocking, and he gives the ball away in poor areas at times too. He'd want to start playing soon or he certainly won't be a regular I wouldn't think.

mickman

read an article recently which stated that dembele had the best stats of any of our midfileders this season

Hard to believe i know, I really like him though, think he is a great player

Maybe off form a little but that will be temporary

Hatch99

mickman wrote: »

read an article recently which stated that dembele had the best stats of any of our midfileders this season

Hard to believe i know, I really like him though, think he is a great player

Maybe off form a little but that will be temporary

Hope his goals/assists stats improve this season

White Heart Loon

Hmmm, why can't he play like this again

Leinstersqspur

Dembele is a quality footballer.

He certainly wasn't as effective going forward last season but the loss of Sandro was a huge factor. Dembele had to sacrifice his attacking instinct for the good of the team. Villas Boas didn't trust Parker/Huddlestone enough to allow Dembele to roam free.

I think as soon as him, Capoue, Sandro, Paulinho et al all start to understand each others game he'll come good again.

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

Dembele is a quality footballer.

He certainly wasn't as effective going forward last season but the loss of Sandro was a huge factor. Dembele had to sacrifice his attacking instinct for the good of the team. Villas Boas didn't trust Parker/Huddlestone enough to allow Dembele to roam free.

I think as soon as him, Capoue, Sandro, Paulinho et al all start to understand each others game he'll come good again.

Hope your right chief.

Leinstersqspur

Hatch99 wrote: »

Hope your right chief.

So do I.

My main concern for this season is full back:

Both Walker and Rose have poor positioning and make rash tackles.
Naughton doesn't seem to be able to oust Walker at RB and is a makeshift LB.
Is Fryers ready for first team football?
Chiriches and Jan can fill in but not long term.
Without a solid back four we'll win nothing.

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

So do I.

My main concern for this season is full back:

Both Walker and Rose have poor positioning and make rash tackles.
Naughton doesn't seem to be able to oust Walker at RB and is a makeshift LB.
Is Fryers ready for first team football?
Chiriches and Jan can fill in but not long term.
Without a solid back four we'll win nothing.

Your probably right. Walker needs to seriously work on his defensive side, I had hoped that Neville would have helped him with that but not so far. He gives away some really silly frees and again the other night showed his weakness. While he's sharp going forward, his final ball is rarely good. In saying that, Glen Johnson was the same for a long time but developed very well, let's hope walker goes the same way.

Rose looks solid enough for me.It's a huge season for him, it's ok doing it for Sunderland but with us hopefully challenging for top 4, he'll need to be on his game. Naughton doesn't convince me at all, maybe ok at right back, but certainly not left back, Jan will be back up for left full I'd imagine.

Devo from Dublin

Moussa has been whipped off in the 1st 3 epl games.

Hatch99

Devo from Dublin wrote: »

Moussa has been whipped off in the 1st 3 epl games.

Exactly, because he hasn't done the business once.

Bodie Doyle

Lads this thread is nuts. When Dembele was partnered with Sandro last season we had what was regarded as the strongest midfield duo in the league. He destroyed the Man Utd midfield both in the game he played for us and in the game he played for Fulham v Man Utd just before we signed him. He adds so much more to our midfield than your regular passing/tackling run of the mill player hence AVB got rid of Parker, Hudd, Livermore etc.
I haven't seen someone in a Tottenham shirt in central midfield glide pass players so effortlessly since the Gazza days. He doesn't shoot enough but hopefully AVB will encourage him more now that he can leave the defensive duties to Sandro/Paulinho/Capoue. I know we have a lot of exciting new players coming in but to question Dembeles qualities is madness IMO.

Hatch99

Bodie Doyle wrote: »

Lads this thread is nuts. When Dembele was partnered with Sandro last season we had what was regarded as the strongest midfield duo in the league. He destroyed the Man Utd midfield both in the game he played for us and in the game he played for Fulham v Man Utd just before we signed him. He adds so much more to our midfield than your regular passing/tackling run of the mill player hence AVB got rid of Parker, Hudd, Livermore etc.
I haven't seen someone in a Tottenham shirt in central midfield glide pass players so effortlessly since the Gazza days. He doesn't shoot enough but hopefully AVB will encourage him more now that he can leave the defensive duties to Sandro/Paulinho/Capoue. I know we have a lot of exciting new players coming in but to question Dembeles qualities is madness IMO.

Maybe I am nuts, but not as nuts as even considering comparing him to Gazza. He's an attacking midfielder and look at his assists and goal scoring record. When everyone is fit, I think he'll play second fiddle behind sandro, paulinho, capoue and Erikkssiin.

If he goes and has a cracking season and gets double figures in goals and proves me wrong, I'll be only too happy to hold my hands up.

Bodie Doyle

Hatch99 wrote: »

Maybe I am nuts, but not as nuts as even considering comparing him to Gazza. He's an attacking midfielder and look at his assists and goal scoring record. When everyone is fit, I think he'll play second fiddle behind sandro, paulinho, capoue and Erikkssiin.

If he goes and has a cracking season and gets double figures in goals and proves me wrong, I'll be only too happy to hold my hands up.

Not even close to Gazza.
But you must get my point about the way he can dribble past players from the midfield by using his upper body strength. Last season his stats were not that impressive i agree but then again our attacking play consisted of getting the ball to Bale and let him do the rest. Dembele did get some impressive important goals for us though - Norwich, Inter spring to mind.
Way too early to write him off in favour of players who have barely (or in Erickssons case never) kicked a ball for Spurs.

Hatch99

Bodie Doyle wrote: »

Not even close to Gazza.
But you must get my point about the way he can dribble past players from the midfield by using his upper body strength. Last season his stats were not that impressive i agree but then again our attacking play consisted of getting the ball to Bale and let him do the rest. Dembele did get some impressive important goals for us though - Norwich, Inter spring to mind.
Way too early to write him off in favour of players who have barely (or in Erickssons case never) kicked a ball for Spurs.

He did well last season, but not as good as I expected. Yes he dribbles well and can go past people, but it's all well and good doing that on the half way line, it's in the final 3rd where we want him doing it where it will result in goals or at least chances. I'm not writing him off, I'm simply saying I expect a lot more from him, and I'd imagine the manager is saying the same thing.

GS11

He was excellent last season with Sandro, I think def mid is his best position, for me he doesn't do enough in attack to play that role behind the striker.

mickman

Had a fine game today

Leinstersqspur

Mousa Dembele – 8 – Could the Mousa Dembele that we signed from Fulham be making a spectacular return? Vintage stuff from Dembele who put in a shift that finally did himself and his play justice! Was his usual strong self, but also looked to move the ball forward quickly when in possession. His complete performance can be summed up with his passing accuracy rate of 89%, whilst he won 100% of his aerial duels.

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

Mousa Dembele – 8 – Could the Mousa Dembele that we signed from Fulham be making a spectacular return? Vintage stuff from Dembele who put in a shift that finally did himself and his play justice! Was his usual strong self, but also looked to move the ball forward quickly when in possession. His complete performance can be summed up with his passing accuracy rate of 89%, whilst he won 100% of his aerial duels.

8 bit generous, did ok, nothing spectacular

Leinstersqspur

Hatch99 wrote: »

8 bit generous, did ok, nothing spectacular

Dude can't catch a break!:D

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

Dude can't catch a break!:D

GS11

Played in his best postion and had a much better game.

Dublin Spur

quality player IMO

Hatch99

still struggling for me, if ever we needed a performance from him, it's tomorrow

mickman

Hatch99 wrote: »

still struggling for me, if ever we needed a performance from him, it's tomorrow

He prob won't start

Leinstersqspur

I'd like to see him start in an advanced position but as you said, unlikely to start after starting on Thursday. Sandro and Paulinho likely to get the shout. Paulinho needs to deliver!

KingdomYid

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

I'd like to see him start in an advanced position but as you said, unlikely to start after starting on Thursday. Sandro and Paulinho likely to get the shout. Paulinho needs to deliver!

Oh please not Paulinho, would rather see Dembele start even though he played Thursday night.

White Heart Loon

KingdomYid wrote: »

Oh please not Paulinho, would rather see Dembele start even though he played Thursday night.

Dembele does well against United, would like to see him no 10 to see how he copes

Leinstersqspur

White Heart Loon wrote: »

Dembele does well against United, would like to see him no 10 to see how he copes

I agree but unlikely to start as he started Thursday. On form, Siggy should be playing 10, he played well v Tromso and has goals in him..

Sugarlumps

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

I agree but unlikely to start as he started Thursday. On form, Siggy should be playing 10, he played well v Tromso and has goals in him..

Absolute waste playing him out on the wings.

Hatch99

Starts, stand up and show some balls

Hatch99

Still not doing it for me, some saying he's a class player, one good performance in 6/7/8 games doesn't do it for me. Maybe the new manager will get more from him.

Leinstersqspur

Hatch99 wrote: »

Still not doing it for me, some saying he's a class player, one good performance in 6/7/8 games doesn't do it for me. Maybe the new manager will get more from him.

Another reason I think AVB got the bullet, playing Dembele as a defensive midfielder and consistently playing Vertonghen out of position too. The Belgian contingent not happy.

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

Another reason I think AVB got the bullet, playing Dembele as a defensive midfielder and consistently playing Vertonghen out of position too. The Belgian contingent not happy.

But even when he played further forward, he rarely impressed. I agree on Vert but he had no other option. Naughton is not up to it.

curraghyid

I think he needs to be played in a forward midfield role, he is our best option for Central attacking midfielder until eriksen, lamella or whoever else wants to make the position there own comes to the front of the queue.

Leinstersqspur

Hatch99 wrote: »

But even when he played further forward, he rarely impressed. I agree on Vert but he had no other option. Naughton is not up to it.

Fryers should have been blooded at left back in the Europa League. He's a natural left back. He should start tomorrow if Rose doesn't make it.

2nd Row Donkey

I think Dembele has suffered in much the way Parker did last season under AVB. He's been played out of position and expected to do things not suited to his game. Parker may not be the player he was a couple of years ago but you don't go from player of the season to useless in the space of a few months.

Dembele is the closest player we have had since Modric who can put his foot on the ball and keep position when our midfield is under pressure. He'll be a pivotal player under the right manager.

Sugarlumps

He was wasted under AVB, I'd expect him to excel for the remainder of the season, class player.

davycc

like i always say he is our yaya toure!

Hatch99

Where was he tonight ?

Leinstersqspur

Hatch99 wrote: »

Where was he tonight ?

Holding the midfield on his own.

Kiith

I just don't see him magically getting great with a new manager. He had plenty of opportunities to get forward, even when in a defensive midfield position. He has some great games, and then just disappears for a few more. Obviously, i'd love him to succeed, but he's certainly not going to become the main man in midfield.

We still need someone like Modric or VDV, with a killer pass.

Hatch99

Leinstersqspur wrote: »

Holding the midfield on his own.

Not good enough for me mate , most of you think I'm being harsh, maybe I am, I just expect a lot more from him, doesn't have the heart to be top player for me

billy2012

Liverpool fan here - I have always loved Dembele, quality player on his day.

Hatch99

billy2012 wrote: »

Liverpool fan here - I have always loved Dembele, quality player on his day.

On his day is not good enough though , should be producing much more often than he is

curraghyid

Hatch99 wrote: »

Not good enough for me mate , most of you think I'm being harsh, maybe I am, I just expect a lot more from him, doesn't have the heart to be top player for me

He is the best we have there at the moment ,unless eriksen starts to play, paulinho is too defensive his instinct is always to pass sideways or back. Could Townsend play in that position??. We need a stop gap like Pirlo until maybe Tom Carroll fills the role.