- Aug 31, 2008
- 6,652
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How many box to box mids can beat players and dribble round them like they're cones from a standing start? He's unique in a way that he doesn't stand out as a typical CM would however he has his own traits which are unique that not many top CM's have so the trade off with not being able to thread a defense splitting pass is being able to float pass players as if they're not there. Maybe he shouldn't been compared to other players as a top CM, maybe we just need to realise that he's playing for a top side in Europe and is still recognises as many as one of the best midfielders in the league, that should tell you enough.
He is definitely unique, but to me the most important thing about a player is that are you playing your role well. he's really good at dribbling but if he doesnt release the ball quick enough to surge the attack forward, i rather have someone that doesnt dribble, yet is able to surge to ball forward quicker with a pass. we have to remember what is the reason for dribbling. is it purely to beat a man so we can enjoy the beauty of beating a man? or is it to push the ball forward so we get an extra person in attack before the opponent gets back into position? alot of the times dembele dribbles too much, to the point where that golden passing opportunity slips away.
its the same as if i have a centreback. if his primary job is to defend, then his ability to dribble or shoot is only a bonus. if he cant defend but can attack well, then his attacking prowess better be so damn good where i can see past that flaw.
as of now dembele to me is a good player. he can defend quite well, dribble quite well, pass quite well, but i dont see the attribute that makes him a top class player. hes like a swiss army knife that does kinda everything, just that in my opinion, he's not a top tier swiss army knife.
the argument of dembele can defend better than most cm except dm, he can push the team forward better than most cm except attacking cm, can pass better than more cm except playmakers, is exactly the same as, dembele cant defend as well as a dm, cant dribble as well as an attacking cm, cant pass better than a playmaker. theres 2 side to each argument.
to me a top class player needs a very distinct attribute that makes them irreplaceable in their role, eg pirlo's passing, rudd.v's positioning/finishing. if he doesnt have a 10/10 quality somewhere then he better be 8/10 at everything in order to be a top class swiss army knife. to me dembele is a 9/10 at dribbling, but 7 at everything else. please remember i like demble alot as a player, except i dont think he's top class, and we need someone thats better than him if we want to win the title.
he in my opinion is not someone who can take us there. an absolutely amazing option off the bench though
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