Ex-Player Watch Player Watch: Mousa Dembele

[Coneilly]

“It didn’t make sense because he’s the fine margins of winning you the Champions League final. That’s how good he was. He could have three players around him and you could give him the ball.''

 

[dontcallme]

Good to see some are taking the word of Trippier over the player himself.

 

[Coneilly]

“For me personally, selling Mousa Dembele,” Trippier said when asked why Spurs’ form dropped last term.
“You can ask anyone that’s played with him, he’s the best player I’ve ever played with. You can’t replace him
“We sold him in January. I personally feel, if we kept him for a further five months, we would have done a lot better. I think we would have won the final.”

“He is one of the unbelievable talents in the history of football,” Poch

“I don’t think people know how good Mousa is. You can ask every single player in the team and I don’t think you can describe how good Mousa is. You can only know if you play with him or against him, see him train for a couple of weeks, then you’ll find out.'' Vertonghen

“Have you not seen him play? Mousa’s just special, full stop" Dier

"So strong on the ball, you can never take it off him. Offensively and defensively [he’s] one of the best.” De Bruyne

"Mousa has the most qualities – it’s not normal how strong he is on the ball. I’ve seen him during training turn Kompany into a fool.” Wesley Snock

“He is one of the most difficult players that I’ve played against." Scott Parker

“In the middle of a match, I told him what I thought. ‘How do you do what you do? You front me up, I think I am going to tackle you and you manipulate the ball and move it so quickly.’ He was laughing.” Xhaka

 

[dontcallme]

“For me personally, selling Mousa Dembele,” Trippier said when asked why Spurs’ form dropped last term.
“You can ask anyone that’s played with him, he’s the best player I’ve ever played with. You can’t replace him
“We sold him in January. I personally feel, if we kept him for a further five months, we would have done a lot better. I think we would have won the final.”

“He is one of the unbelievable talents in the history of football,” Poch

“I don’t think people know how good Mousa is. You can ask every single player in the team and I don’t think you can describe how good Mousa is. You can only know if you play with him or against him, see him train for a couple of weeks, then you’ll find out.'' Vertonghen

“Have you not seen him play? Mousa’s just special, full stop" Dier

"So strong on the ball, you can never take it off him. Offensively and defensively [he’s] one of the best.” De Bruyne

"Mousa has the most qualities – it’s not normal how strong he is on the ball. I’ve seen him during training turn Kompany into a fool.” Wesley Snock

“He is one of the most difficult players that I’ve played against." Scott Parker

“In the middle of a match, I told him what I thought. ‘How do you do what you do? You front me up, I think I am going to tackle you and you manipulate the ball and move it so quickly.’ He was laughing.” Xhaka

No one doubts how good Dembele was at his best.

But Dembele had only played 10 games in his last half season with us. He'd just had another ankle injury which had kept him out for 2 months. He also spoke publicly about how he was struggling and couldn't handle the Prem anymore.

But by all means quote a different player. Why you think that is valid as to where Dembele was by the stage he left us is truly beyond me. The lengths some go to in order to criticise the board.

There are plenty of valid reasons to criticise Levy and ENIC. You don't need to rewrite history.

 

[dtxspurs]

What is the point of those quotes? He wasn't that player anymore, couldn't stay healthy, had lost his legs, got totally mugged in the semi final the year before by Pogba and wanted to leave.

I don't understand this argument at all. I'm all for dumping on ENIC for investment in the squad and decisions they've made but selling Dembele makes no sense.

 

[dontcallme]

What is the point of those quotes? He wasn't that player anymore, couldn't stay healthy, had lost his legs, got totally mugged in the semi final the year before by Pogba and wanted to leave.

I don't understand this argument at all. I'm all for dumping on ENIC for investment in the squad and decisions they've made but selling Dembele makes no sense.

I'm trying to work it out.

Vertonghen and Dier spoke of their team mate leaving and praised him as to how good he was in his prime.

The player himself said he couldn't physically handle the Prem anymore and readily moved to China.

But some want to criticise ENIC for this sale. Beggars belief to be honest.

 

[JayB]

The real problem was that we didn’t buy a CM to replace him in summer 2018 after the end of the 17-18 season had made it clear he was at the end of the line. That was where we fucked it, and with the exception of the miraculous run in the CL it’s been all downhill ever since.

 

[dontcallme]

The real problem was that we didn’t buy a CM to replace him in summer 2018 after the end of the 17-18 season had made it clear he was at the end of the line. That was where we fucked it, and with the exception of the miraculous run in the CL it’s been all downhill ever since.

Agree. There's talk that Poch didn't want Tielesmann. Seems like a good replacement.

 

[carpediem991]

Anyone else feel that it started going downhill after we sold him?

man, I miss seeing him completely dominate the midfield by himself. at times he was unplayable

He is the piece we could never replace. Selling at that time was not wrong though as he was pretty finished.
With Wanyama also being crocked we started to use Winks and Sissoko...it was and never will be a success.
Need to find someone like Moussa who is not hiding on the pitch, takes responsibility and a factor the opponent steps on the field with a bit of fear.

 

[Shadydan]

Anyone else feel that it started going downhill after we sold him?

man, I miss seeing him completely dominate the midfield by himself. at times he was unplayable

This is probably why there is so much revisionism about him because he represents the last days when we actually looked like a team. Truth is we were on our way down even when he was in the team and we sold him at the right time, the summer before we sold him should have been when we resigned his replacement.

 

[spids]

Dembele was sold as he was no longer able to play top flight football due to a long term ankle injury. If we had not sold him he would not have played at all.

 

[bubble07]

Some players will inevitably move on, especially if they have a chance at more money and more success.

The problem wasn't selling Walker, the error was not adequately replacing him.

Still not Walker but Maybe having Trippier was one of our better back up options!

Our signings have been shocking, no one imo, has met the huge price tag payed.

Dembele, Eriksen, Jan, Trippier have not been successfully replaced. Adding the players that have dropped off. Poor Lon term management

This is where we need to better model Leicester, their signings have been planned, progressive and excellent.

With Walker it felt like we were pushing him out which was ridiculous

 

[Coneilly]

No one doubts how good Dembele was at his best.

But Dembele had only played 10 games in his last half season with us. He'd just had another ankle injury which had kept him out for 2 months. He also spoke publicly about how he was struggling and couldn't handle the Prem anymore.

But by all means quote a different player. Why you think that is valid as to where Dembele was by the stage he left us is truly beyond me. The lengths some go to in order to criticise the board.

There are plenty of valid reasons to criticise Levy and ENIC. You don't need to rewrite history.

You are thinking of a different person chap. I have not criticised Enic or Levy here.

I didn't begrudge the sale. Dembele had clearly been playing through injury for the last few years and had earnt the right to take his money in China and call it a day.

The only point I have made is that if Dembele and Poch had a crystal ball and knew we would have ended up in a CL final, I have no doubt both would have come to conclusion that they could nurse him through an extra few months in order to play in the biggest game of his career and our recent history.

He had played a similar amount of games in the previous season before when everyone though he was finished, and then he bossed Arsenal, United, Juve & Liverpool in the space of a few weeks. Of course he was coming to the end, but with the carrot of a CL final being dangled in front of him, it doesn't seem a stretch to me to think he could have managed his body and fitness for another few months, seeing as that's what he had been doing for years.


Those quotes are more directed at the bollocks being talked about revisionism. There were lots of us who knew how important he was at the time.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

You are thinking of a different person chap. I have not criticised Enic or Levy here.

I didn't begrudge the sale. Dembele had clearly been playing through injury for the last few years and had earnt the right to take his money in China and call it a day.

The only point I have made is that if Dembele and Poch had a crystal ball and knew we would have ended up in a CL final, I have no doubt both would have come to conclusion that they could nurse him through an extra few months in order to play in the biggest game of his career and our recent history.

He had played a similar amount of games in the previous season before when everyone though he was finished, and then he bossed Arsenal, United, Juve & Liverpool in the space of a few weeks. Of course he was coming to the end, but with the carrot of a CL final being dangled in front of him, it doesn't seem a stretch to me to think he could have managed his body and fitness for another few months, seeing as that's what he had been doing for years.


Those quotes are more directed at the bollocks being talked about revisionism. There were lots of us who knew how important he was at the time.

So, in all reality. What you're really angry about, is the fact that none of Dembele, Poch or Levy had a crystal ball that could tell them that they'd be in a Champions League Final 5 months after they all came to an agreement that he could leave.

Dembeles last performance for us was in early November 2018 against Wolves, in which he picked up the long term ankle injury, a month after Barcelona had stuffed us 4-2 at our ground (Wembley), and a fortnight after PSV had held us to a 2-2 draw at their ground.

We were as good as dead & buried in the group. With games against PSV, Inter & Barcelona still to come. I don't think there was a person on the planet who thought we were getting out of that group at that time. Let alone making it all the way to the final.

The club did nothing wrong by letting him go.

 

[Coneilly]

So, in all reality. What you're really angry about, is the fact that none of Dembele, Poch or Levy had a crystal ball that could tell them that they'd be in a Champions League Final 5 months after they all came to an agreement that he could leave.

Dembeles last performance for us was in early November 2018 against Wolves, in which he picked up the long term ankle injury, a month after Barcelona had stuffed us 4-2 at our ground (Wembley), and a fortnight after PSV had held us to a 2-2 draw at their ground.

We were as good as dead & buried in the group. With games against PSV, Inter & Barcelona still to come. I don't think there was a person on the planet who thought we were getting out of that group at that time. Let alone making it all the way to the final.

The club did nothing wrong by letting him go.

Stopped reading at this point


So what youre saying is dembele is shit and sissoko is twice the player he is???

See, we can both do that

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Stopped reading at this point

Congratulations.

 

[Shadydan]

You are thinking of a different person chap. I have not criticised Enic or Levy here.

I didn't begrudge the sale. Dembele had clearly been playing through injury for the last few years and had earnt the right to take his money in China and call it a day.

The only point I have made is that if Dembele and Poch had a crystal ball and knew we would have ended up in a CL final, I have no doubt both would have come to conclusion that they could nurse him through an extra few months in order to play in the biggest game of his career and our recent history.

He had played a similar amount of games in the previous season before when everyone though he was finished, and then he bossed Arsenal, United, Juve & Liverpool in the space of a few weeks. Of course he was coming to the end, but with the carrot of a CL final being dangled in front of him, it doesn't seem a stretch to me to think he could have managed his body and fitness for another few months, seeing as that's what he had been doing for years.


Those quotes are more directed at the bollocks being talked about revisionism. There were lots of us who knew how important he was at the time.

You're reaching if you think that Dembele would have made a difference in that final especially since we reached the final without him with Winks/Sissoko/Dele and a broken Wanyama playing in those positions nonetheless, the truth is no-one knows how it would have turned out if he stayed on but one thing I know is that it was definitely the right time to move him on in fact he looked pretty broken to me towards the end of the previous season and then in the World Cup with Belgium, the issue is that we should have replaced him the previous transfer window before he was sold.

 

[muppetman]

Even by the standards of this site, this has been a really pointless read about what might have been if the stars had aligned differently.

 

[HodisGawd]

Selling Dembele was the right decision at the time and remains the right decision at that time. If you're saying otherwise it's because you weren't watching Spurs that season.

Getting £8m for an unfortunately crocked player was great business by Levy.

The mistake was not buying Tielemans to replace him, which by all accounts was Poch's decision.

That may not fit your agenda, but it is the truth.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Stopped reading at this point


So what youre saying is dembele is shit and sissoko is twice the player he is???

See, we can both do that

Umm, no! But kudos for editing your post after I'd responded.

You literally said,

"The only point I have made is that if Dembele and Poch had a crystal ball and knew we would have ended up in a CL final, I have no doubt both would have come to conclusion that they could nurse him through an extra few months in order to play in the biggest game of his career and our recent history."

To which I responded thus

So, in all reality. What you're really angry about, is the fact that none of Dembele, Poch or Levy had a crystal ball that could tell them that they'd be in a Champions League Final 5 months after they all came to an agreement that he could leave.

Dembeles last performance for us was in early November 2018 against Wolves, in which he picked up the long term ankle injury, a month after Barcelona had stuffed us 4-2 at our ground (Wembley), and a fortnight after PSV had held us to a 2-2 draw at their ground.

We were as good as dead & buried in the group. With games against PSV, Inter & Barcelona still to come. I don't think there was a person on the planet who thought we were getting out of that group at that time. Let alone making it all the way to the final.

The club did nothing wrong by letting him go.

But, yeah. I said Dembele is shit & Sissoko is twice the player, even though I never mentioned Sissoko or his unquestionable footballing ability.

You're a bit strange.