Ex-Player Watch Player Watch: Mousa Dembele

[Kendall]

90% positive with the usual suspects on here that cream their pants about literally anything that has a pulse. Others knew from ITK's etc that he was hardly a Modders replacement

There was no such thing as a Modric replacement. You do what you can. If there were accessible replacements for Modric, why do you think Madrid felt the need to buy him for £30m? He can do things most players can't, that;s just the way it is.

He was 2 years younger than Modric and had good attributes. He was a lot more influential on our side than Modric was when he first joined us.

Every transfer is a risk and you want people to kick on and reach their potential That hasn't happened with Dembele, sometimes it just doesn't.

 

[Ribble]

And Sandro probably misses our physio room.

Still can't believe we sold him to QPR. Even with the injuries I think he added more to the club than any of our current midfielders.

I know he's had his career damaged by the injury and hasn't exactly been influential (or able to complete many games) for QPR so far, and it probably was for the best to sell him, but I still miss him a fully fit Sandro would have been the ideal anchor, keeping the defence screened and just shuttling it to Mason to get the ball forward quickly. Playing Dembele there (to bring it back on-topic) is like trying to put a triangular peg in a round hole, might look like it's closer than a square one but it still won't work.

 

[Kiedis]

I'm probably the crazy one. I'm always looking for signs that he's getting back to the form he showed in 2012/2013 season, but apart from a game here and there, it's been unimpressive since.

His game at Sunderland was very good, but after that, it's been very "meh" indeed this season.

 

[Locotoro]

To say he should play ahead of Paulinho is not a glowing reference. That guy has been a statue for longer than I care to remember

There is no doubt that Dembele flatters to deceive and many have been had for far too long. Obviously you don't ship him out unless you have cover but we must be looking to move him on

I agree he isnt fulfilling his potential, but for what we have in the squad he is probably an average quality to what we have.
If we sell Paulinho, we're left with Capoue, Stambouli (who are fairly similar) and Dembele, Mason and Bentaleb. I think that is currently a good mix of style and gives us better balance than bringing back someone like Carroll for example.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

I seem to remember it was 90%+ positivity when Dembele was linked/signed for us.

Funny how it's the club's fault now that you all have the luxury of hindsight.

Not all of us. I lay my bollocks on the line and call it how I see it. Been saying Dembele is shit for well over a year, and I'll say it now, Capoue is shit too, as is Soldado.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Not all of us. I lay my bollocks on the line and call it how I see it. Been saying Dembele is shit for well over a year, and I'll say it now, Capoue is shit too, as is Soldado.

What about Lamela? Is the jury still out or are we starting to shit ourselves over the money we paid for him!!

 

[SteveH]

What about Lamela? Is the jury still out or are we starting to shit ourselves over the money we paid for him!!

How much is currently worth?

€10m?

I dont know.

 

[thinktank]

How much is currently worth?

€10m?

I dont know.

£12/13m

 

[SteveH]

£12/13m

Would 'you' take that?

I think I would.....

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

What about Lamela? Is the jury still out or are we starting to shit ourselves over the money we paid for him!!

He's playing shit, but there's no doubt there is talent there. My only worry is that will we actually get something decent out of him before his contract expires, 1 and a half years in and we've had nothing.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

What about Lamela? Is the jury still out or are we starting to shit ourselves over the money we paid for him!!

That is a sunk cost - no matter what we paid for him, the question becomes is he one of the best XI, can he improve? I think the answer is yes to both.

He is not a £30m player - but so what?

 

[SteveH]

My bigger dog will be happier when I'm no longer venting my spleen at the lad, I scare the shit out of him.

 

[SteveH]

That is a sunk cost - no matter what we paid for him, the question becomes is he one of the best XI, can he improve? I think the answer is yes to both.

He is not a £30m player - but so what?

I was watching the Milan derby last night, and I'm now changing my mind that Erik would be better off back in Italy as they even challenge for the ball there. Something Erik is incapable of.

EDIT Just think this is so far off topic [Dembele] I must have a flat tyre, metaphorically speaking.

 

[Mullers]

There was no such thing as a Modric replacement. You do what you can. If there were accessible replacements for Modric, why do you think Madrid felt the need to buy him for £30m? He can do things most players can't, that;s just the way it is.

He was 2 years younger than Modric and had good attributes. He was a lot more influential on our side than Modric was when he first joined us.

Every transfer is a risk and you want people to kick on and reach their potential That hasn't happened with Dembele, sometimes it just doesn't.

When transfers do work people heap praise on Levy, when it doesn't work out, it's just one of those things.

 

[chinaman]

The one thing he looks good is beating the same opponents 3 times within the area of a sixpence in half a minute.

 

[SteveH]

When transfers do work people heap praise on Levy, when it doesn't work out, it's just one of those things.

I can't remember that happening.

If we buy a good player it just a group hurrah and then sell him Real!

 

[Kendall]

When transfers do work people heap praise on Levy, when it doesn't work out, it's just one of those things.

Do they?

Apart from maybe Modric, where he was pictured there himself, I don't think many people have given him direct credit for any transfer.

 

[tiger666]

When transfers do work people heap praise on Levy, when it doesn't work out, it's just one of those things.

Keep banging that drum in every single thread Mullers.

 

[Mullers]

I can't remember that happening.

If we buy a good player it just a group hurrah and then sell him Real!

It doesn't surprise me that you don't remember.

 

[Kendall]

Not all of us. I lay my bollocks on the line and call it how I see it. Been saying Dembele is shit for well over a year, and I'll say it now, Capoue is shit too, as is Soldado.

Dembele has been with us for 2 and a half years. Were you saying he was shit in his first season?

If you were, fair enough, but I'd still disagree with that. I thought he was very good in his first season.