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Moussa Dembele

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
Have quite come to like the guy after his performances last season after being so adamantly opposed to him being included whatsoever until then. Not sure what clicked in him (maybe his hip into cooperating), but he just became a monster last year and a real foundation for how the teams were asked to play.

However, while his contributions are still well-valued (thoroughly enjoyed watching him and Wanyama utterly dominate that pitch last week), I don't think he's as essential as he was last year. Wanyama provides much of what Dembele does in providing a foundation, and Winks provides much of the forward thrust (with more creativity and incision, albeit with a loss of pitch control). I can definitely see us keeping hold of Dembele for the remainder of this season, Poch continuing to prime Winks, and making the sale in the summer. That would be a lot of money for a guy of this age with fitness concerns, and I think the squad, in light of its recent development, could manage the loss.
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
13,998
20,756
Would hate to get rid of Dembele. Irreplaceable
Every player gets replaced.

He needs to think about life after football and Spurs need to think about life after him, and when is the right time to part ways. There will come a time when he's not up to it. Not yet, but almost certainly within the next 2.5yrs (he'll be 32..)

Anyway, the article is in the wake of Witsel and he's just talking generally. The notion that 5 Belgians have offers is not really developed. Not sure this even counts as a transfer rumour.
 

mickdale

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2016
1,069
1,409
Have quite come to like the guy after his performances last season after being so adamantly opposed to him being included whatsoever until then. Not sure what clicked in him (maybe his hip into cooperating), but he just became a monster last year and a real foundation for how the teams were asked to play.

However, while his contributions are still well-valued (thoroughly enjoyed watching him and Wanyama utterly dominate that pitch last week), I don't think he's as essential as he was last year. Wanyama provides much of what Dembele does in providing a foundation, and Winks provides much of the forward thrust (with more creativity and incision, albeit with a loss of pitch control). I can definitely see us keeping hold of Dembele for the remainder of this season, Poch continuing to prime Winks, and making the sale in the summer. That would be a lot of money for a guy of this age with fitness concerns, and I think the squad, in light of its recent development, could manage the loss.
i think one of the reasons we beat Chelsea last week was Dembeles strength in the middle. Yes Wanyama is also strong but it doesnt mean we didnt need mousa there. Winks is a great passer and one for the future but i think it would be folly to let mousa go for 30 m (a lot of money but we would have trouble replacing him for that - we are not a selling club?). Why sell him because we can? - i think we should keep him for another 18 months as with all the games we play we are definitly are stronger with him. The squad would be poorer without him.

hypothetical question : Would you take 30 mil and have 2 points less in the league at the end of the season?
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
i think one of the reasons we beat Chelsea last week was Dembeles strength in the middle. Yes Wanyama is also strong but it doesnt mean we didnt need mousa there. Winks is a great passer and one for the future but i think it would be folly to let mousa go for 30 m (a lot of money but we would have trouble replacing him for that - we are not a selling club?). Why sell him because we can? - i think we should keep him for another 18 months as with all the games we play we are definitly are stronger with him. The squad would be poorer without him.

hypothetical question : Would you take 30 mil and have 2 points less in the league at the end of the season?

No I wouldn't, but that's my point, I think given the development trend of late that I'm not sure we would actually lose those points. Furthermore, I propose that we could actually pick up a few more if that money were to be reinvested correctly.
 

Clark28

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2016
2,269
13,040
If they offered silly money in the summer I'd probably take it.

He'd be 30, and one bad hip injury would have him cooked for good I think.
 

mickdale

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2016
1,069
1,409
If they offered silly money in the summer I'd probably take it.

He'd be 30, and one bad hip injury would have him cooked for good I think.

depends on what silly money is - 20m, 30m, 40m?

if we had let all players go at 30 years old with a history of injuries, King and Woodgate wouldnt have played in the carling cup final win over the moneylaundering scum rent boys
 

FreddieYid

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2011
1,369
4,020
Sometimes a players value to the team and their transfer market value don't correlate.

Personally, I'd rather squeeze the life out of Mousa over the next couple of seasons than take the hyperthetical £30m.
 

SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
12,552
43,063
Just a small point to add to this too, I remember seeing some rumours of Vertonghen being a bit home sick recently (from his mother maybe) and him mentioning he has no great friends in football aside from Dembele, so losing Mousa could have a knock on effect there.

That said I think we should keep him on as he's a quality player and whilst he's not as vital as last year and more covered he is very very handy player to have the squad, and we need to keep building ours.
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
Interesting that Winks said that Dembele is the best player at the club, I don't think he's the first guy that's said that either. I think in training Dembele must be a nightmare to play against with his close control and body feints. It's just his final ball that is often lacking in games. Great player to have though. But I can see him ending up in China if the right offer comes along in the summer. Or at the end of next season.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,646
16,809
Would rather see him here until he retires than cash in on him. Against Chelsea showed exactly what he has. I noticed he was playing a little further forward at times against the chavs and seemed to be coming in from wide in a lot of our good moves. Nobody in the team can transition from Defence to Attack and break lines like he can, and i don't know of many players in the world with his strength and ability to dribble and move past players. Possibly Ronaldo for strength and dribbling. Can't see him declining any time soon as he reminds me of Gazza who even with alcohol problems could still beat a man and turn in a performance.
 

samsonlevi

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2005
962
3,539
He's a player who breeds confidence amongst our young players

You just have to listen to a number of them say that he is the best player at the club.

That belief and the confidence it must bring them when he's in and around the team is vital to the continued growth of our young team.

There will however become a tipping point when he no longer has this influence. It's up to Poch and co to identify when this time is and sell then.

I still believe he has a big part to play!!
 

onlyonekeano

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
198
283
Interesting that Winks said that Dembele is the best player at the club, I don't think he's the first guy that's said that either. I think in training Dembele must be a nightmare to play against with his close control and body feints.

This has been confirmed by Kevin De Bruyne, who called Mousa 'the best player in the world' in five-a-side - and he's played with some of the best. See the full article here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ero-Belgian-s-dream-outfit.html#ixzz4VSV2ZFnA
 

Rod101

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2014
180
349
One of the best midfielders in Europe, so wouldn't sell. Only circumstances under which IMO I'd let him go is if he felt that his body was no longer up to it and he wanted to leave as a result. And I'd hope that the club would still try to convince him to stay.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,776
99,340
30 million is nothing in this climate for a player of his ability, but the hip problem is obviously back and hindering him this season.

I suppose we have to wait and see but it's always plagued him and prevented him from hitting long consistent streaks of form.

One of my favourite players at his best and I know most opposition fans seriously rate him.

If he hits the heights of last season in the second half of this season, we could win the league.

No way would I be selling him though, unless the injury was to get worse.
 

Snuzzy

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2005
2,281
2,659
The trouble is that he patently cannot really play more than one game a week - and even then he is by far our most subbed player. Makes him less able to be the linchpin that his quality might otherwise make him in the side.
 

ebzrascal

Well-Known Member
Sep 13, 2009
2,635
4,670
I suspect Dembele will go to China if he and the club get a massive offer. With say £40 million spent wisely we could replace him.
 
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