Ex-Player Watch Player Watch: Mousa Dembele

[JonnySpurs]

I think Rob said terms wouldn’t be an issue

You're absolutely right, apologies. I mis-read.

I stand by what I said about Gards though.

 

[spursfan77]

I predict we ill mess up getting a replacement in for him if he goes.

 

[spursfan77]

Brozovic ?

I not think theres anything in the links to him. We've been linked to him for about 3 summers on the trot.

 

[tommo84]

If its Man City then I don't think Dembele improves them at all but it severely weakens us, even if we bring in a couple of young prospects to fill the void.

I've remained totally calm all summer, but the apparent developments with Dembele is starting to fill me with a foreboding that this summer will be our version of Liverpool's in 2009, when all they lost was Xabi Alonso but didn't replace him and the team that Rafa Benitez had been building for a while came unglued, despite still having other top players in Gerrard and Torres at the time.

I just don't understand the approach we've taken this summer at all, and can't be all down to Daniel Levy. There is time to change it but only just.

 

[spursfan77]

Wishing I'd never mentioned Man City earlier now.

It won't be them.

 

[tiger666]

He has 12 months left on his contract, is deteriorating and taking up a non-homegrown slot. We'd be mad to pass up on a decent fee for him.

 

[DanielCHillier]

If its Man City then I don't think Dembele improves them at all but it severely weakens us, even if we bring in a couple of young prospects to fill the void.

I've remained totally calm all summer, but the apparent developments with Dembele is starting to fill me with a foreboding that this summer will be our version of Liverpool's in 2009, when all they lost was Xabi Alonso but didn't replace him and the team that Rafa Benitez had been building for a while came unglued, despite still having other top players in Gerrard and Torres at the time.

I just don't understand the approach we've taken this summer at all, and can't be all down to Daniel Levy. There is time to change it but only just.

We've already got his replacement in Winks, we just need cover due to his injury issues. Also Onomah has shown he has the ability, although hasn't been trusted in that position for us thus far in his young career.

 

[King of Otters]

I'd love him to stay as a squad player, with us bringing in Grealish and A N Other to take the weight off his shoulders.

 

[kremlyn]

I wouldn't be surprised if the club turned out to be Man United. It sounds like they could be losing Pogba and Mousa has always played well against them. Plus he's exactly the physical controlled presence Mourinho likes.

 

[allatsea]

People need to get it out their heads that dembele can be a rotatation player. He needs 5/6 games to get going.

As shown by his performances in the World Cup. he was to be polite very rusty.

 

[Mr Pink]

Could it be United? With them being more about Martial, if they get two of our players?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Rob just said that personal terms might be an issue so it can't be city.

Gards needs to chill out. He's been knocking on the door of being part of the Levy Out brigade this summer and I feel like a lot of opinion tweets are getting misconstrued as ITK.

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/ind...-thread-8th-august.133974/page-7#post-5994094

Rob said the opposite I’m afraid.

Agreed on gards.

Passing and possession play isn't Dele's best asset IMO. He is better further up the pitch, linking up with Kane, finding space and getting on the end of crosses.

That’s the beauty of the three man midfield. Lampard is one of the premier league’s top scores playing as the spare man in a midfield 3 and breaking to where he was most needed. He didn’t really learn how to take care of the ball until his late 20s. The parallels with Dele are striking.

 

[King of Otters]

We can't sell Mousse to a rival, he's too damn handsome.

 

[brendanb50]

He has 12 months left on his contract, is deteriorating and taking up a non-homegrown slot. We'd be mad to pass up on a decent fee for him.

Agreed but (it's probably been said x100 already) i think he's one player we definitely need to replace with a top quality option. If nothing else to bolster our injury hit options in CM.

As much as he's playing less football for us, he's still been influential on his day - replacing his quality, not necessarily his skill-set would be priority for me. Well it has been all summer in my view but here we are

 

[coy-spurs1882]

didn't trix mention that we are interested in lewis cook? more realistic compared to kovacic or ndombele

 

[Colonel Dax]

That’s the beauty of the three man midfield. Lampard is one of the premier league’s top scores playing as the spare man in a midfield 3 and breaking to where he was most needed. He didn’t really learn how to take care of the ball until his late 20s. The parallels with Dele are striking.

You're right there are similarities, but I think they are overdone a bit. Dele is a touch more subtle than Lampard. He likes his flicks, back heels and one-twos around the edge of the box.

That said, I certainly think Dele can do a job in a 3 man midfield. However, if we're going down that route in my view we require someone more progressive than Dier at the base of the 3. Ideally someone who can recycle possession and give the ball quickly to the likes of Eriksen, Dele or anyone else.

 

[Johnny J]

If we can get in a positive midfielder who can play the ball quickly forward and has an eye for a pass, then I'm perfectly content with us selling Dembele rather than "nursing" him through another season. I'm not sure we can even afford to do that, if we are serious about trophies.

I'm sure I'll get neg ratings, but I really think Dembele stunts our attacking play. We don't need him AND a DM every game.

 

[zepstar]

My take on Dembele is that in the usually edgy, low scoring encounters against the rest of the top six, there is inevitably 20 minutes in a game where things need shoring up, or where you need to recapture possession for a final late surge. For the simple reason that every top midfielder of his generation has said he's the hardest they've come up against, it would be a coup to keep him. If only for that.

 

[Twizzle]

surely Fulham would be a better fit for him and they are cashed up,

he could offer plenty to a young team

 

[nedley]

He has 12 months left on his contract, is deteriorating and taking up a non-homegrown slot. We'd be mad to pass up on a decent fee for him.

I agree but only if we replace.

We have known this time was coming for bloody years.[/QUOTE]