InterTim on Dembélé

[StartingPrice]

Just thought I'd share this from the OS - Sherwood on Mousa. Particularly interesting, given that just about everyone has commented on MB having started as a striker and having everything to drive at/through defences and to fire shots in, and yet seeming incredibly reluctant to do so. Maybe that was based on specific instructions. Sherwood says he will be actively encouraging him to get further forward and look to shoot or create. Yes please.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/timand39s-praise-for-mousa-220114/?


TIM'S PRAISE FOR 50-UP MOUSA
Posted by Tottenham Hotspur on 22 January 2014 - 13:15

Tim Sherwood paid tribute to Mousa Dembele after the midfielder clocked up 50 appearances for us in the Premier League in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Swansea.

Mousa , who joined us from Fulham in August 2012, has featured in 32 of our 34 matches in all competitions this season.

Head Coach Tim, a central midfielder in his playing days, capped three times by England and skipper of Blackburn’s title-winning team in 1995, underlined the difficulty of playing against the Belgian international in those central areas.

“Mousa’s a nightmare to play against because he can drop his shoulder and leave you on your backside!” said Tim, who played 118 times for between 1999-2003.

“Opponents can’t get the better of him physically either. He’s such a strong man, he gets away from players. He’s a real top talent.

“We’re trying to get him further forward to play in and around the penalty area because he has the capability of creating and perhaps scoring more goals. We’re getting him into the areas to achieve that.

“He’s very well respected within the group. The lads know the quality he possesses and treat him with the respect he deserves.”

 

[Mr Pink]

Absolutely fantastic this.

Being saying for months that this guy needs to be let off the leash - like Yaya does for City.

Sherwood clearly gets it, but we'll finally see this guy deliver what he's capable of doing so if Sherwood frees him up more. He has everything you need to be grabbing games by the ball bag by driving forward to great affect.

Very encouraging to hear this.

 

[SlunkSoma]

Interesting. Mousa certainly commands more respect with fellow players than he does with the fans.

 

[hodsgod]

Interesting. Mousa certainly commands more respect with fellow players than he does with the fans.

I really like him, I think we miss him when he doesn't play. However I always feel he should be scoring more goals.

 

[SteveH]

Tim sees things like I do - I like Tim. Keeps things simple and tells it straight. Pleasing.

PS Mousa ant bad ever'

 

[Bobbins]

Pleasing to read the comments about respect - unusual for the OS but nice to see.

 

[hugrr]

He could have the power of fat Ronaldo with the grace of Thierry Henry, or am I asking to much?

 

[van_Pommel]

There is clearly not room in the first XI for Sandro, Paulinho and Mousa. They are all great players who we are very lucky to have, so it's a very good thing to have that level of competition. I'm sure Moyes is looking over with green eyes. But for me Mousa and Sandro are the strongest partnership. I have always liked Mousa, and I do feel the goals will come as he develops.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

There is clearly not room in the first XI for Sandro, Paulinho and Mousa. They are all great players who we are very lucky to have, so it's a very good thing to have that level of competition. I'm sure Moyes is looking over with green eyes. But for me Mousa and Sandro are the strongest partnership. I have always liked Mousa, and I do feel the goals will come as he develops.

I like Moussa but I think Paulinho offers infinitely more of a goal threat. I just hope that Tim is not Harry-lite in his rotation policy...

 

[chinaman]

Absolutely fantastic this.

Being saying for months that this guy needs to be let off the leash - like Yaya does for City.

Sherwood clearly gets it, but we'll finally see this guy deliver what he's capable of doing so if Sherwood frees him up more. He has everything you need to be grabbing games by the ball bag by driving forward to great affect.

Very encouraging to hear this.

Perhaps that's the reason behind playing Bentaleb as he's just starting out and willing to keep the discipline to play deep.

 

[Mr Pink]

a 4-3-3....

with Sandro/Capoue sitting in front of the back four, and Paulinho and Dembele ahead with more licence to get forward...

That's the way I'd go for a lot of the bigger games.

 

[Mr Pink]

Perhaps that's the reason behind playing Bentaleb as he's just starting out and willing to keep the discipline to play deep.

Indeed, perhaps.

I think we have a fabulous set of midfield options. Should give us tremendous flexibility in how we approach different kinds of games. Bentaleb has certainly added to these options, that's for sure.

 

[Shea]

I recall the Huddlestone quote asking the fans to give time to the team to start performing because they had to get used to playing with shackles under AVB http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4632863/Tom-Huddlestone-Give-us-time.html

I think Dembele and indeed others may start to show a lot more what they can do under Sherwood than AVB as they get more licence to play and express themselves rather than being overloaded with tactical instructions and playing shackled to suit a rigid format for how the manager wanted the team as a whole to play

Dembele clearly has so much more to his game than he's really shown us on a regular basis and if we can unlock his potential as he starts to enter his prime I really think he can become a high level of player and serve like a new top quality signing

 

[Bobishism]

“Mousa’s a nightmare to play against because he can drop his shoulder and leave you on your backside!” said Tim, who played 118 times for between 1999-2003.

what?

 

[Shea]

“Mousa’s a nightmare to play against because he can drop his shoulder and leave you on your backside!” said Tim, who played 118 times for between 1999-2003.

what?

just missing the word US

as in

Tim Played 118 times for us between 1999-2003

 

[CowInAComa]

Tim sees things like I do - I like Tim. Keeps things simple and tells it straight. Pleasing.

PS Mousa ant bad ever'

There is certainly alot to admire in the way he comes across in his interviews, its hard not to warm to the guy and his total lack of bullshit.

 

[dagraham]

I have to disagree about Dembele playing further forward. As Sherwood says, his strength lies in his ability to beat his man and retaining posession by keeping the ball away from opponents.

To play further forward he would need to play with his head up, something he has never really done as demonstrated by his miss against Swansea. His general passing ability is also limited imo. He can't really switch the play, nor does he play incisive passes splitting the opponents midfield or between full back and CB either.

So even if he can get back to driving forward, if he can't really do anything with it then it becomes a bit redundant in the final third. Lennon gets critised for lack of end product but Dembele's is even less.

IMO if Dembele plays then it should be in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Sandro, where Sandro can be the destroyer, Dembele can retain posession and make the space. But he must have creative types in front of him and learn to release the ball quickly to them.

Maybe Sandro and Dembele with Eriksen, Lamela and Lennon behind Ade.

Problem is, this means no place for Paulihno, who I could think could really thrive under Sherwood's less restrictive tactics.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Absolutely fantastic this.

Being saying for months that this guy needs to be let off the leash - like Yaya does for City.

Sherwood clearly gets it, but we'll finally see this guy deliver what he's capable of doing so if Sherwood frees him up more. He has everything you need to be grabbing games by the ball bag by driving forward to great affect.

Very encouraging to hear this.

100% agree, if we can get a strong goal/assists return we will have an absolute worldy on our hands. Said to a work colleague earlier he could be the closest thing in the league to Yaya, with better dribbling!

Le Arse managed to unlock the goals in Ramsey, we need to do the same with Mousa...

I personally think Dembele and Paulinho with attacking freedom in front of a holder (Sandro/Capoue as destroyer or Bentaleb as a deep-lying playmaker) could be an incredible set up for us.
With Eriksen drifting around from LM and Ade lone striker, full backs providing width where necessary.

 

[Mr Pink]

I have to disagree about Dembele playing further forward. As Sherwood says, his strength lies in his ability to beat his man and retaining posession by keeping the ball away from opponents.

To play further forward he would need to play with his head up, something he has never really done as demonstrated by his miss against Swansea. His general passing ability is also limited imo. He can't really switch the play, nor does he play incisive passes splitting the opponents midfield or between full back and CB either.

So even if he can get back to driving forward, if he can't really do anything with it then it becomes a bit redundant in the final third. Lennon gets critised for lack of end product but Dembele's is even less.

IMO if Dembele plays then it should be in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Sandro, where Sandro can be the destroyer, Dembele can retain posession and make the space. But he must have creative types in front of him and learn to release the ball quickly to them.

Maybe Sandro and Dembele with Eriksen, Lamela and Lennon behind Ade.

Problem is, this means no place for Paulihno, who I could think could really thrive under Sherwood's less restrictive tactics.

If you watched Dembele play at Fulham he could certainly be very effective in the final third. I know he's not the type to who indulges in intricate interplay as such, with quick incisive passing....but his ability to drop the shoulder and to past someone in central positions can open up space as it affects the opponents shape.

In a 4-3-3 I see no reason why Sandro couldn't protect and shield, with Dembele and Paulinho both having licence to get forward. Paulinho would do it more naturally and brings a completely different threat but I don't see why, particularly in the bigger games, it wouldn't be a viable option.

Plus he has a shot on him, like his goal against Stoke, and needs to be in those good shooting positions more often to increase his goal count.

 

[Mr Pink]

100% agree, if we can get a strong goal/assists return we will have an absolute worldy on our hands. Said to a work colleague earlier he could be the closest thing in the league to Yaya, with better dribbling!

Le Arse managed to unlock the goals in Ramsey, we need to do the same with Mousa...

I personally think Dembele and Paulinho with attacking freedom in front of a holder (Sandro/Capoue as destroyer or Bentaleb as a deep-lying playmaker) could be an incredible set up for us.
With Eriksen drifting around from LM and Ade lone striker, full backs providing width where necessary.

Bingo!

Absolutely agree 100%.

Playing that 4-3-3 way, I'd pick Dembele and Paulinho most of the time for the two midfielders who have licence to drive forward. Sandro shielding the back four in the tougher games and when the onus is more on us Bentaleb as a deeper lying play maker.

Eriksen drifting in from the left, pace of Lennon down the right and Adebayor through the middle obviously. Width from the full backs, particularly important from the left.

Think Paulinho would score for fun in that set up and with Dembele being the one to truly grab the game by the scruff by driving us forward.