If you had to sell one CM...

[Everlasting Seconds]

http://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/calc...dro-while-roma-is-after-paulinho-and-dembele/

DiMarzio is reporting that all of Paulinho, Capoue, Sandro & Dembele are hot prospect for European clubs, especially in Italy.

Pochettino loves his defensive midfielders. In that perspective, which one of these four would you sell?
Between all the replies, I'm sure there will be great arguments for keeping everyone of them. I sure wouldn't be unhappy if Spurs kept all of them. But ask yourself this, which is the least good fit in Pochettino's system?

I understand the criticism about Paulinho. At the end of the day though, he scores goals. Quite a substantial amount of goals for a midfielder. As far as I'm concerned, we can't afford to sell the most-scoring of these four.

Sandro I think has a great understanding of what is Spurs and what makes a Spurs-fan tick. Before his injury he was one of the best CM's in the league, certainly the best in his role. I wouldn't sell a Brazilian yid.

Capoue could be a dark horse in Pochettinos set-up; fighter, interceptor, disrupter, high energy which fits with energy-demanding high pressure. I'd give him a season under Pochettino and THEN judge him.

Which leaves, I suppose, Dembele. He is the oldest of these players. He is best at dribbling, but in Pochettino's system other players will take care of that bit. He is hardly ever within the box and he has surprisingly few assists. Spurs actually also paid quite a lot of money for him, money which can be retained if he has a decent WC. I fear that Dembele faces yet another season of discontent from not being the first choice, and that he is the least suited to carve out a role in Pochettino's system. If I had to, I'd sell him.

Who is your choice?

 

[raf18]

Great post, agreed with all of it. I don't really want Dembele out but he would be the one if I had to make a choice. He's great at what he does but he doesn't seem have enough defensively or offensively. It's somewhere in the middle.

 

[Col_M]

Sandro for me. Lovely chap and all that, but ultimately the other 3 ALL to what Sandro does AND score goals.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Dembele all day long. Regardless of the system or the manager/coach. He's got some very good qualities but as a CM he dawdles way too much on the ball. I could make a case for keeping as an attacking, more advanced player but even then his actual productivity is pretty meagre.

I agree with the case for Paulinho. For a first season in a new league I don't think he had a bad season at all. He's not the uber player people were expecting maybe, but he does a bit of everything reasonably well and wades in with goals, which is invaluable from a CM.

I personally think Capoue will benefit from Pochettino's arrival and Sandro definitely has his uses as a pure DM.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Sandro for me. Lovely chap and all that, but ultimately the other 3 ALL to what Sandro does AND score goals.

How do the other 3 all do what Sandro does? Sandro is far and away the best defensive player of the three when he is fit (which would be a better argument to let him go). His tackling and control of the area in front of the defence have been key to our success over previous seasons and he has been one of the most important players we've had until injuries struck.

 

[Coyboy]

Sandro for me. Lovely chap and all that, but ultimately the other 3 ALL to what Sandro does AND score goals.

No none of them does what Sandro does.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Unfortunately for all his talent Dembele is the odd one out in this instance. He has a unique set of qualities that I just can't see fitting into the Poch's hard pressing quick passing philosophy.

 

[Nocando]

Unfortunately for all his talent Dembele is the odd one out in this instance. He has a unique set of qualities that I just can't see fitting into the Poch's hard pressing quick passing philosophy.

And you think Capoue would? Or would you expect a different role for this system as a dm?

 

[Shadydan]

I would sell Dembele, nice player - aesthetically pleasing on the eye and all that jazz but doesn't really have an end product. Never ever been a regista or a forward who can play between the lines.

Wouldn't mind going for Banega to replace him.

 

[CornerPinDreamer]

We also have Holtby, Bentelab and Velks competing for those 2 positions in a 4231. The three younger players could be the foundation for years ahead.

Given Poch's teams 'go looking for the opposition' Sandro has to stay. He seems to excel in breaking tackles while pressing forward. Which leaves Pauli, Capoue and Dembele. Moose is one of my favourite players, I hope he shows his true talent at the WC. Pauli will kill the WC given home field advantage. Capoue could become as good as Viera given the right conditions.


Just to make it more difficult

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

And you think Capoue would? Or would you expect a different role for this system as a dm?

I think Capoue would suit the system as passing and positioning are two of his strengths. In Pochs system he would play as a pure DM and have the license to hit long diagonals(another strength he possesses) behind the full back when required.

 

[E17yid]

To be honest, none of them. If I was forced to choose I would lean towards Capoue. Moussa looks after the ball a lot better IMO (but I admit I've seen a lot more of Moussa than Capoue)

I like my CMF to beat a man and look after the ball well. Both areas I think Dembele is better than Capoue on. Don't think there is much in their passing either.

Don't want Capoue to go though. It's a tough one

 

[Geyzer Soze]

I don't have an idea yet what Poch's system is, and how he will play anyone, but in my view Dembele is the least valuable of the 4 to us and I would reluctantly let him go.

Would be a good move for him to Italy where they style of play is more suited to him than the PL IMO. The 'Trequartista', which is probably what he is mostly, is kind of out of Vogue here, but in Serie A he could eat them up.

 

[Nocando]

I think Capoue would suit the system as passing and positioning are two of his strengths. In Pochs system he would play as a pure DM and have the license to hit long diagonals(another strength he possesses) behind the full back when required.

I don't disagree entirely but to single out Dembele for his lack of energy and ignore Capoue's at the same time is a little contradictory. Not considering the fact that if sandro stays fit, I can only see capoue as a back up.

I like Capoue but I think he will be further from the first team than the others. Not to mention the others are more established International players.

Will be interestign to revisit this thread in 8 months time to see how it's panning out.

 

[dagraham]

Sandro for me. Lovely chap and all that, but ultimately the other 3 ALL to what Sandro does AND score goals.

Er, how exactly? The only player who you could make a case for in that regard is Capoue and I haven't seen enough of him yet to suggest he is a better DM than Sandro.

Like most people if I had to choose one it would be Dembele. Although, if we were to get a huge offer for Paulinho which allowed us the funds to strengthen the first 11 in other areas then I'd seriously consider it.

 

[Mr-T]

I'd keep all 4 and sell Livermore, Carroll and one of Holtby, Siggurdsen or Bentaleb.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

I would sell Sandro, Holtby, Dembele , Bentaleb, Carroll, Livermore and possibly Capoue. They cannot take us forward. Need to cash in and buy.

 

[Donki]

Very tough to call, I dont want any of them sold until Poch gets to work with them all and see how they do in training... having said that with the WC and players coming back later he might not get the chance.

Capoue, I think is a good player, but IMO he gets a bit too much love having only played 13 games for us. Sandro hasn't been the player he was for us and really needs to get back to full fitness for the start of the season. Dembelle I am convinced has been carrying an injury of some sort, he always looks absolutely bluttered (excited to see how he performs for Belguim). Pauli, I think he will improve alot next year but time will tell.

 

[E17yid]

I would sell Sandro, Holtby, Dembele , Bentaleb, Carroll, Livermore and possibly Capoue. They cannot take us forward. Need to cash in and buy.

Bit drastic, no? Who would you replace them with?

 

[carpediem991]

Keep: sandro, paulinho, bentaleb, capoue, holtby
Loan: velks
Sell: livermore, dembele, carroll, sig