Mousa Dembele – Tottenham’s Irreplaceable Enigma

[mawspurs]

A game-changing substitute performance against Fulham provided a reminder of Dembele’s undeniable quality.

Source: Last Word on Football

 

[parj]

I love the moose

 

[dannythomas]

Good article, all so true.

 

[DCSPUR]

love him
only thing to point on this article is we have offered a new deal, he just wants longer....fair enough....the GOAT will leave with our gratitude (but perhaps one more brilliant season first!)

 

[JCRD]

My favourite Tottenham player ever and my favourite player ever overtaking Mendieta (who I kinda digged)

When we first got Dembele in to replace Modric I thought what the fuck, then he scored on his debut I think against Norwich.

Man, I wish he was a few years younger.

 

[Chedozie]

The closest you’ll get to Dembele in world football, is Onomah. We’ve just got to wait a season or two.

 

[newbie]

i love Demeble more than my wife!

I dont think i could handle watching him and Toby play for another team.

 

[Insomnia]

He never gives the ball away

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

If Dembele scored even 10 a season, he'd be getting accolades left right and centre.

He's an absolute joy to watch with a football.
I know it's not my money, but if he knocked on my door and said "I wanna stay but I'd like £100k a week for 4 years" I'd give it to him, even if I thought I'd only get 2 years out of him. EVEN if I thought I'd have to pay him for 2 more years where he's not up to it anymore.

It'll cost a huge sum of many tens of millions go buy a ready made replacement. Let's use him while we've got him. He could be hugely influential in helping Winks and others realise their potential.

 

[Roynie]

What a game changer that could be, a fresh Moose coming on at 60 - 65 minutes when the other side are starting to tire. He's difficult to play against at the start of the match, leave alone when they are starting to lose the edge and he's fresh!

 

[Jenko]

He never gives the ball away

He did against juventus

 

[Cinemattis]

There is no doubt that Dembele is in his autumn years as a PL footballer. An dwith his injury woes there is little debate that he cannot be at his very best for 38 x 90 minutes (plus national and international cups). Though many of us may have rose tinted glasses on, there seems to be a general consenus (of sorts) that he could still be a very useful member of the squad for at least a couple of seasons more (think Carrick in Manchester United for the last 3-4 seasons). As a role model and a cultural carrier within the squad, as an impact sub and starter for selected matches he can, IMHO, still be a very important player for us for 1-2 seasons after the current one.

In the long run we would definitely need to replace him. Personally I´m a fan of the concept of tutoring and walking next to the guy you´re replacing. We already have Harry Winks within our ranks that in glimpses have shown he can be our future man in the middle of the park. Injuries have kept him from showing us all for a whole season if he has what it takes (we all remeber how he bossed the midfield against Real Madrid and we remember fondly his England appearances as well). Some still believe Josh Onomah could take the step up too, but so far there seems to be little evidence Poch share this belief. Other youngsters like Amos and Skipp may also prove to be future heroes in lillywhite. This season may very well give some answers in that aspect (especially for Amos).

But what if we need to get someone in? What if Winks is a bit fragile, what if Onomah never makes the necessary steps, nor Amos og Skipp? Should we go for a young talent, or a proven international? Poch has stated that he wished he´d trained Dembele at a younger age (or maybe that Dembele was younger and even more moldable). We were loosely linked to Norwegian international Sander Berge of Genk this transfer window, and even more loosely linked to Kovacic (RM - on loan at Chelsea).

Berge have many of the same treats as the Moose, but have almost all of his career in front of him. He would most likely not come with an astronomic price tag on him, and whe would fit in very nicely in what we fans perceive is a "Poch signing": loads of talent, possible to form and mold into the "Poch way of football".

Kovacic on the other hand is an international household name, and would most likely be pricey. And many signals are saying he´s at some sorts of crossroads; will he sign up for Chelsea at the end of the season, will he return to a RM with an even older and more replaceable Modric, or are there other possibilities? Early signs have already shown he can make an impact in the PL. The season will show if he has what it takes. Me personally: I fear he will be a monster for Chelsea this season.

It will be a very interesting story to follow during the season and into the next one or two: will the young talents we already have in the squad be the heirs to the Moose? Or some of the even younger prospects coming up from the academy? If we are getting someone from the outside - what will we get; a proven talent that still has a room for development, or a seasoned pro?

 

[onthetwo]

He was the 'Super Sub' in the 5-3 match against Chelsea which i felt was something of a water-shed for Poch and the current team. Glad to see he still has it in him. Unique talent IMO....dont think Ive seen a player like him in a Spurs shirt.

 

[Gassin's finest]

You can't replace a player like him. He's a genuine genius.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

He did against juventus

He utterly bossed the 2-2 away game and, IIRC, Sanchez was all at sea for at least 1 of the goals at Wembley.

 

[gloryglory]

You can't replace a player like him. He's a genuine genius.

... is what we said about Modric.

 

[double0]

He utterly bossed the 2-2 away game and, IIRC, Sanchez was all at sea for at least 1 of the goals at Wembley.

What has Sanchez got to do with your accolade of Dembele?

 

[Johnny J]

... is what we said about Modric.

He really is a genius. Dembele is fantastic at what he does, it's just unfortunate that what he does isn't playing incisive passes quickly.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

What has Sanchez got to do with your accolade of Dembele?

@jenko had said Dembele gave the ball away leading to one of the goal conceded against Juve.
I pointed out that he also controlled the majority of 1 of the matches and every one's current fave, Sanchez was hugely caught out for a goal too.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

He really is a genius. Dembele is fantastic at what he does, it's just unfortunate that what he does isn't playing incisive passes quickly.

That works to his and our benefit a lot of the time though.
Whereas it is good sometimes to play the ball forward quickly, it can cut our own players out of the game as well as the opposition players. Stick it through quickly to Kane who is up top on his own with 3 markers and our nearest player is huffing to get out of our own half and catch up with play?
Or... get hold of the ball, protect it for a few seconds, let Dele and Sonny catch up with Kane, then give the ball to Erikson, who himself is now in the oppo's half of the centre circle, who himself can now play the pass to one of the other 3.

It's what was going so wrong against Fulham IMO, we had lost the ability to keep the ball in the middle of the pitch. Dembele regained control.