What's new

Ex-Player Watch Player Watch: Mousa Dembele

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
It's impossible to judge like that though really, one of our other great performances was United at home and he was there for that, plus he was immense at home to Arsenal too and we lost to WBA without him. Not that they reveal whether we're better or not with or without him but I'm just saying it's hard to come to a conclusion with such thinking based off few examples.

I'm not sure I believe that replacing Dembele will all of a sudden speed up our play, there are others in the team who don't move the ball quickly enough either.
I'm not trying to say its a certain we play better without him just wanted to throwout that we've shown that we can be successful without him as well.

I don't disagree that others move the ball slowly, looking at you Dele, but the CM position IMO should be a player known for his passing ability. The all time great CM's are tremendous passers. I'm not saying we're going to get an all time great but we should want a pass first player there not a dribbler.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
I'm not trying to say its a certain we play better without him just wanted to throwout that we've shown that we can be successful without him as well.

I don't disagree that others move the ball slowly, looking at you Dele, but the CM position IMO should be a player known for his passing ability. The all time great CM's are tremendous passers. I'm not saying we're going to get an all time great but we should want a pass first player there not a dribbler.

I get you :) I just think we've shown a fair amount that we can be successful without any single player in the team apart from Eriksen to be fair.

Yeah Dele in particular was who I had in mind also! I do agree though, I think I'd be looking forward to seeing someone with more a range of passing and some vision there than anything else. I just think in terms of speed of play, the team as a whole needs to up the tempo a bit. Thing is the whole passing around the back and deep in midfield I think helps us control games a lot of the time but it can also set a slow tempo to our play.
 

yanno

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2003
5,857
2,877
I don't disagree that others move the ball slowly, looking at you Dele, but the CM position IMO should be a player known for his passing ability. The all time great CM's are tremendous passers. I'm not saying we're going to get an all time great but we should want a pass first player there not a dribbler.

Dembele is fantastic at receiving and keeping possession of the ball. His problem has always been that he doesn't get his head up early enough to look for a pass.

My suspicion is that this is what Poch meant by saying he wished he'd been able to coach Dembele when he was younger.

The technique & ability to receive the ball in tight situations is priceless, and can't really be coached. Modric is fantastic at it too. But having controlled and protected the ball, Luka would then immediately move play on, making a quick forward pass, which is why ultimately he is a more effective player than the Moose.

Grealish has the ability to receive the ball in congested central areas, but he also gets his head up. I believe Poch thinks Grealish has lots of upside, and will look to coach him to link play rapidly in transition situations as well as seeking to improve his defensive positioning.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
I get you :) I just think we've shown a fair amount that we can be successful without any single player in the team apart from Eriksen to be fair.

Yeah Dele in particular was who I had in mind also! I do agree though, I think I'd be looking forward to seeing someone with more a range of passing and some vision there than anything else. I just think in terms of speed of play, the team as a whole needs to up the tempo a bit. Thing is the whole passing around the back and deep in midfield I think helps us control games a lot of the time but it can also set a slow tempo to our play.
Agreed, Dele can certainly pick a great pass but he isn't consistent at it and can really slow play down at times. Maybe he won't dribble as much when Dembele leaves like he's trying to replicate him or something.
 

ShelfSideSpurs

Can't smile without you...
Sep 5, 2017
45
172
Such a shame that he will leave Spurs with nothing to show for his time with us, aside from some spell-binding performances and moments of sheer brilliance. Watching him evolve under Poch into the player he has become over the past two/three seasons has been an utter joy. On his day he has been completely unplayable.

The only regret would be the FA Cup semi-final last season. A huge opportunity missed and in truth it wasn't Mousa's best display, although nobody can argue with his overall contribution to the Club. I'll never forget Stamford Bridge in 2016. Thank you Mousa for helping change the face of Spurs from soft pushovers into battle hardened competitors.
 

yanno

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2003
5,857
2,877
I thought all that China malarkey was knocked on the head with the 100% tax anyway?

The article, in googlish, claims the Chinese club has actually had to stump up £60m.

Perhaps some of the £30m taxes end up in local hands, as per the Mamic cut in Dinamo Zagreb transfers.....

----------------------------------------

Head to China next season for Mousa Dembélé? In any case, Tottenham has a financial agreement with a Chinese club for the Belgian international. An offer of 60 million pounds (not including taxes deducted in the Chinese state), which equals 30 million pounds (or 34 million euros), arrived on the table Spurs at the beginning of summer mercato.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
The article, in googlish, claims the Chinese club has actually had to stump up £60m.

Perhaps some of the £30m taxes end up in local hands, as per the Mamic cut in Dinamo Zagreb transfers.....

----------------------------------------

Head to China next season for Mousa Dembélé? In any case, Tottenham has a financial agreement with a Chinese club for the Belgian international. An offer of 60 million pounds (not including taxes deducted in the Chinese state), which equals 30 million pounds (or 34 million euros), arrived on the table Spurs at the beginning of summer mercato.
I don't see how that would possibly be worth it to that Chinese club.
 

Hazelton

Unknown Member
Jul 11, 2011
5,527
19,291
I would love for him to end up in Serie A because I think that league and the style of football would be perfect for him.

Ideally we need him to have a very good World Cup and really catch the eye, which is very possible considering the team he plays in and how entertaining his style of play can be at times. If that happens, perhaps his value and reputation increases and we can play clubs off against eachother to find the highest bidder.

He's my favourite player to watch and I'll be sad to lose him, but the time is right for both parties
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Be interesting to see how dier tries to handle him.
Seems unlikely to match up directly.

Setting aside the real chance that one or both don't start that match, Dier will be playing deeper, and not likely to run into Dembele often, who will presumably be playing deeper for Belgium, if he plays at all.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Seems unlikely to match up directly.

Setting aside the real chance that one or both don't start that match, Dier will be playing deeper, and not likely to run into Dembele often, who will presumably be playing deeper for Belgium, if he plays at all.

Have no idea about belgium, tbh have little idea about england these days. But wc time.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Have no idea about belgium, tbh have little idea about england these days. But wc time.
I think Belgium have been using a 343 - with de Bruyne and Witsel as the CMs behind a front 3.

I thought Dembele might have had a chance for starts with Nainggolan not selected, but it looks like Witsel is first choice.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,336
329,024
Seems unlikely to match up directly.

Setting aside the real chance that one or both don't start that match, Dier will be playing deeper, and not likely to run into Dembele often, who will presumably be playing deeper for Belgium, if he plays at all.

I don't think Dier will be first choice personally.
 
Top