InterTim on Dembélé

[Shadydan]

Been saying this since we signed him, this guy is an absolute bulldozer, he can be so affective around the box if given license to go forward - it just makes too much sense for him to be given a forward role.

 

[SpartanSpur]

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.

That Paulinho performance v Stoke was very promising, and its great to see him back training. Gives us a lot more options.

Vs park the bus teams we could drop one of the midfield 3 for Eriksen (bringing in a winger) or even Soldado in a switch to 4-4-2.

Really hope we can make progress on Dembele's attacking, as it would be massive for us. Just great to hear its something Sherwood is looking at...

 

[NEVILLEB]

Used to be one of the top dribblers in the league.

He's got to be more direct and aggressive.

 

[dagraham]

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.

Well its all about opinions. I just don't think I'm a fan of 4-3-3 and I think if you play that way you need someone in the middle who is adept at passing the ball. Bentelab is no Modric but I've been impressed with his incisive passing and he seems to release the ball quickly when needed. Reminds me a little of Carrick actually.

I just can't quite work out Dembele after being initially impressed with him in his first few months at Spurs. Maybe his nagging hip injury is hampering him and if that's the case we've certainly got the depth for him to just have an operation to sort it out. Although with the World Cup coming he is unlikely do that in fairness.

 

[Mr Pink]

That Paulinho performance v Stoke was very promising, and its great to see him back training. Gives us a lot more options.

Vs park the bus teams we could drop one of the midfield 3 for Eriksen (bringing in a winger) or even Soldado in a switch to 4-4-2.

Really hope we can make progress on Dembele's attacking, as it would be massive for us. Just great to hear its something Sherwood is looking at...

Yeah I think the bottom line is that we have serious options to consider in terms of how we set up for any one game now. If Tim can master when to really go for it and then when to compact it a little more without losing our attacking threat he'll be on to real winner.

But yes I agree, its very encouraging to hear these sort of things and clearly shows he's continuing to seek improvement. Not a dig at AVB in any way, but you'd never of heard this from him.

 

[SpartanSpur]

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.

Agree with what you are saying but I'm looking at these quotes differently.

I think the suggestion is for him to get forward more from his current position rather than play further forward (i.e. #10 which I agree doesn't suit him).

It's also about trying to improve his final ball and unlock his attacking potential, rather than suggesting his current skill set dictates him being suited further up the pitch...

 

[Mr Pink]

Well its all about opinions. I just don't think I'm a fan of 4-3-3 and I think if you play that way you need someone in the middle who is adept at passing the ball. Bentelab is no Modric but I've been impressed with his incisive passing and he seems to release the ball quickly when needed. Reminds me a little of Carrick actually.

I just can't quite work out Dembele after being initially impressed with him in his first few months at Spurs. Maybe his nagging hip injury is hampering him and if that's the case we've certainly got the depth for him to just have an operation to sort it out. Although with the World Cup coming he is unlikely do that in fairness.

I'm less concerned about the formation as such, more about the attitude and mind set of the players for me. Its obviously very relevant and different games bring different challenges but the instructions and mind set you give the players are all important.

I love the look of Bentaleb and I'd be playing him a lot. We have great options but Dembele has been playing within himself. You're quite right, the niggly on going hip injury could be something to do with that but if Sherwood think's we could get more out of him and the team by giving him more licence to get forward I'd be in agreement with that.

I remember he did it against United the season before last, at WHL, and they couldn't live with him - we were looking very dangerous as a result of it.

Absolute monster of a player waiting to come out IMO.

 

[Mr Pink]

Agree with what you are saying but I'm looking at these quotes differently.

I think the suggestion is for him to get forward more from his current position rather than play further forward (i.e. #10 which I agree doesn't suit him).

It's also about trying to improve his final ball and unlock his attacking potential, rather than suggesting his current skill set dictates him being suited further up the pitch...

Yes, that might be the confusion. I don't want him playing off Adebayor. I want him to get forward more from his current position. Glad you pointed that out because there's a massive difference.

His strength for me is being able to glide past people using his strength and dribbling ability. That can open up space and disrupt the opponents shape. This is what he needs to do more and what Sherwood has obviously recognised. Powerful midfield runs from slightly deeper positions can cause havoc. Not many possess the traits to do it regularly but Dembele certainly does.

 

[sim0n]

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

maybe since the pundits made such a big deal out of Dembele NOT passing to Adebayor on that break away, then threw a strop (during and after match over it)... just a way to diffuse any continuing situation?

 

[dagraham]

I'm less concerned about the formation as such, more about the attitude and mind set of the players for me. Its obviously very relevant and different games bring different challenges but the instructions and mind set you give the players are all important.

I love the look of Bentaleb and I'd be playing him a lot. We have great options but Dembele has been playing within himself. You're quite right, the niggly on going hip injury could be something to do with that but if Sherwood think's we could get more out of him and the team by giving him more licence to get forward I'd be in agreement with that.

I remember he did it against United the season before last, at WHL, and they couldn't live with him - we were looking very dangerous as a result of it.

Absolute monster of a player waiting to come out IMO.

Yeah maybe a lot of it is mental. I remember that game against Utd and he was also the best player on the pitch at home to Chelsea this season (at least in the 1st half).

He's got to stamp his authority on games more often though if he's playing in the heart of midfield. Maybe Sherwood can get the mental side of his game more switched on.

 

[Mr Pink]

Yeah maybe a lot of it is mental. I remember that game against Utd and he was also the best player on the pitch at home to Chelsea this season (at least in the 1st half).

He's got to stamp his authority on games more often though if he's playing in the heart of midfield. Maybe Sherwood can get the mental side of his game more switched on.

See my post above mate - was just saying I didn't want his actual position to be playing off the forward.. just to get forward from his current position more.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Yeah maybe a lot of it is mental. I remember that game against Utd and he was also the best player on the pitch at home to Chelsea this season (at least in the 1st half).

He's got to stamp his authority on games more often though if he's playing in the heart of midfield. Maybe Sherwood can get the mental side of his game more switched on.

Definitely seems to have his fair share of 'off days'. Probably a combination of the hip complaint and mental issues. Hopefully removing the shackles will solve the latter.

 

[marvel]

There's not really anyone in world football who can glide past a player like him. If he added deadly end product he'd be up there with most in the world imo

 

[The Scarecrow]

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.

I was especially impressed when he admitted that Young should've had a penalty at Old Trafford. So few managers would've done the same.

 

[Syn_13]

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.

Only if Eriksen is played as the left wing forward. We really need his guile in the squad as that midfield lacks a bit of creativity. Leaves the right side open for Townsend or Lamela, depending who is in form.

 

[worcestersauce]

maybe since the pundits made such a big deal out of Dembele NOT passing to Adebayor on that break away, then threw a strop (during and after match over it)... just a way to diffuse any continuing situation?

Maybe that's why he didn't pass in the first place because he'd been told to get forward and score more goals himself.

 

[Mr Pink]

Only if Eriksen is played as the left wing forward. We really need his guile in the squad as that midfield lacks a bit of creativity. Leaves the right side open for Townsend or Lamela, depending who is in form.

Yeah Eriksen from the left was a given

 

[LiamJM10]

Struggle to think of any central midfielders with as much strength and agility as he has. It's such a rare breed. Unfortunately, Dembele so far does great, but doesn't do his best imo. In terms of his potential. The guy has the ability to score regularly with ease and dominate every game.

 

[hybridsoldier]

When he can be bothered he is maybe the best player in the Belgian national team, and this is the opinion of many of the Belgians I work with.

He has always had an issue with consistency, at the top of his game he is absolutely unplayable. His shooting is not very good but I definitely think in the final third he could go past a man and create problems

 

[spurs9]

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.

IMO, We would be making the best of the talent we have if we played with a mid 3 of a Defensive player (Sandro or Capoue) a Deep lying playmake/support mid (Bentaleb, Carroll, Holtby or Capoue) and a Box to Box type (Paulinho, Dembele, Holby or Bentaleb) behind two players with free roles, one slightly deeper than the other (Eriksen, Chadli or Townsend) and one who pushes up more (Lamela, Chadli, Sigg or Kane) behind the striker.