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Ex-Player Watch Player Watch: Mousa Dembele

Zippy1980

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Mar 23, 2018
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JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
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I think this is bullshit. They can’t even get some facts right i.e Coco has two years left one his contract not one.
I'm almost certain Lamela, like many of our players, has a one-year extension option at the end of his contract that the club can (and will, even if we decide to sell him) exercise. So technically speaking it wouldn't be wrong to say that he has one year left on his contract, even though he effectively has two.

The rest of the article rings true to me. It would be a shame to lose Dembele given the form he's been in at times this season, but I can understand why he would be considering a move to a less physically-demanding league. He could prolong his career, and therefore his earning potential, by years by moving to China or Italy. The fact that he and the club sat down and discussed the fact that he would need to make a decision at the end of the season as to whether his fitness levels would allow him to carry on playing for Poch also jibes with Hercules' ITK that it has all been very amicable.

While it isn't something that the article touches upon, I can also see from the club's perspective why we would be hesitant to give big wages on a multiple-year long contract (as it has been reported that Dembele is demanding) to a player in his 30's with Dembele's fitness record. Even with the new stadium we aren't really in a position to be on the hook for years worth of 100k/w+ wages to a player who may not be able to keep up with the demands of Poch's system much longer.

All that being said we better get the replacement signing spot on. We rely on Dembele massively and the likes of Cristante and especially Gomes do not fill me with optimism. It's absolutely imperative if Dembele does go that we get a CL-quality replacement who can slot right into the first XI.
 

kaz Hirai

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2008
17,692
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Dembele would actually be amazing in serie A . He'd glide through midfields for fun, more so

But don't want him to go, nor do I think he wants to.
He's has to do more this season season winks has had a fitness nightmare
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
Dembele would actually be amazing in serie A . He'd glide through midfields for fun, more so

But don't want him to go, nor do I think he wants to.
He's has to do more this season season winks has had a fitness nightmare
Agree with that and he could play for even longer in Italy, Juventus must have been impressed so if Italy is a serious option going there is worth a punt.
It'd be a shame if he left and I'm always sceptical when a player gives a reason that isn't "I want more money" but I can actually believe that Dembele would consider a move if he felt he could no longer give his best in the Premier league.
 

FreddieYid

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Aug 1, 2011
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A move to Juventus makes a lot of sense for him, especially if he feels his body can’t cope with the rigour of the premier league week in week out.

No doubt they would have been impressed. He completed more passes in the Juventus half in the first leg, than the entire Juventus team made in ours.

He’d probably extend his career by a couple of years playing in Serie A and to do it at one of the true European giants must be tempting.

Personally I’d keep him and run him into the ground, because I love Dembele and would rather we rang every last drop out of him than to let him go.
 

chinaman

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2003
17,974
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Dembele would actually be amazing in serie A . He'd glide through midfields for fun, more so

But don't want him to go, nor do I think he wants to.
He's has to do more this season season winks has had a fitness nightmare

If he really thinks that he's no longer fit enough for the PL he should go to China where the game is even slower than Italy. He can probably double what he earns at Spurs and play for another 3 years.
 

Montalbano

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2018
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Moussa wants to stay on right terms. Both parties being honest and open on everything. All very, very amicable :)
Thank you for the ITK as always, Herc. Keeps me from sweating over these sorts of things.
Dembele is such a classy lad. I really hope we can strike an agreement with his camp.. I'll be truly disappointed if we decide to let him go. I can imagine his departure would disgruntle the squad as well, with them all pretty much viewing him as the GOAT. I hope we have a spectacular replacement lined up (Ndombele, Kovacic, Aourar, etc) that can fill the void in midfield and help reassure the club's ambition to the lads.. In my ideal world he signs, plays out another year at the new stadium (that he had such an enormous role in establishing) and helps mentor a new young CM. Then he can make a career move to China or Italy if he would like :)
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
I
If he really thinks that he's no longer fit enough for the PL he should go to China where the game is even slower than Italy. He can probably double what he earns at Spurs and play for another 3 years.
I'm not convinced that would be his driver, he has family business interests in Belgium so I don't think he'd want to be so far away.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
Jack Pitt-Brooke at the Independent reporting Dembele flirting with the idea of going to Italy or China this summer citing his own concerns he is no longer fit enough to play at the level the PL and Spurs need.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...y-a8308736.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true

They’ve all been briefed by someone as it’s all the main paper journalists who cover us. Whether that’s the agent or the club is another thing. The mirror guy (darren lewis) is on 5 live at 7 this evening so we might find out a bit more as apparently he will be talking about it.

edit: I just listened to it. Ignore what lewis says, he’s just spinning the players leaving spurs narrative. Nothing more.
 
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Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
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Thank you for the ITK as always, Herc. Keeps me from sweating over these sorts of things.
Dembele is such a classy lad. I really hope we can strike an agreement with his camp.. I'll be truly disappointed if we decide to let him go. I can imagine his departure would disgruntle the squad as well, with them all pretty much viewing him as the GOAT. I hope we have a spectacular replacement lined up (Ndombele, Kovacic, Aourar, etc) that can fill the void in midfield and help reassure the club's ambition to the lads.. In my ideal world he signs, plays out another year at the new stadium (that he had such an enormous role in establishing) and helps mentor a new young CM. Then he can make a career move to China or Italy if he would like :)
Never said moving was not a possibility ?
 

Cravenspurs

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Jul 31, 2011
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If this means getting a player like Diawara in than please, do it. I know people will rake me over hot coals for this, but we can definitely improve on Dembele. He is an amazingly gifted player that has every tool in the shed, but he only pulls the shovel, the hoe, the spade and the rake out every now and then. He has one amazing game where he breaks up play, takes on everyone in sight and quickly moves the ball, but then he goes on a 3 game run where he just doesn't do it all.

Consistency and youth is what we need in the middle of the park and with a De Jong or Diawara in the middle we might not see the impact on day one, but we are going to see the difference by the end of the season.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
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If this means getting a player like Diawara in than please, do it. I know people will rake me over hot coals for this, but we can definitely improve on Dembele. He is an amazingly gifted player that has every tool in the shed, but he only pulls the shovel, the hoe, the spade and the rake out every now and then. He has one amazing game where he breaks up play, takes on everyone in sight and quickly moves the ball, but then he goes on a 3 game run where he just doesn't do it all.

Consistency and youth is what we need in the middle of the park and with a De Jong or Diawara in the middle we might not see the impact on day one, but we are going to see the difference by the end of the season.
I agree on we can upgrade on him but don't think that De Jon or Diawara does that right off the bat. Jorginho might be.
 

Cravenspurs

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Jul 31, 2011
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I agree on we can upgrade on him but don't think that De Jon or Diawara does that right off the bat. Jorginho might be.

We clearly don't agree on players, but yes we can improve on Dembele. He is a god in terms of physical ability, but he sure doesn't display it every day.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
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We clearly don't agree on players, but yes we can improve on Dembele. He is a god in terms of physical ability, but he sure doesn't display it every day.
I see that both could be better than Dembele but I don't think either are at this moment. That's all I'm saying and I don't know how anyone could definitely say a 20 year old who starts half the games for Napoli is better and a guy that plays CB at Ajax would be an immediate upgrade. I think both in the future can reach heights better than Dembele but not right now.
 

Cravenspurs

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Jul 31, 2011
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I see that both could be better than Dembele but I don't think either are at this moment. That's all I'm saying and I don't know how anyone could definitely say a 20 year old who starts half the games for Napoli is better and a guy that plays CB at Ajax would be an immediate upgrade. I think both in the future can reach heights better than Dembele but not right now.

I see that argument. Maybe I am too faithful, but I do think it is time we test the mettle of some players in tough situations. For me we wait far too long to give some a chance to prove themselves. That aside, I think Diawara specifically is ready to start every game for us in the center. While at Bologna he played 34 games for them per TransferMarket...at 18 yo. He is more than capable.
 

Donki

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May 14, 2007
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Honestly wouldn't be surprised, I think none of us comprehend how much effort Mousa has put in to even play the number of games he has for us in recent year managing what seems to be a chronic injury, I wonder how much love he has for the game right now. He has said before that once his career is done as a player he doesn't want to be involved with football, one or 2 years playing in China would be very lucarative for him. Hope he stays mind you,
 

dovahkiin

Damn you're ugly !
May 18, 2012
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hertyid: Dembele has been stalling on a new deal for months. He wants a big deal before he retires because he doesn't really care much for football. He's not going to hang around when he retires, he'll move away from the game. China will be there in a year though, I reckon he'll stay and see if he can win the league with us in the next two years, then move on.
 

bubble07

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Dec 27, 2004
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That play when lloris rolled it out to him with a Brighton player up his arse on the edge of our box.. what skill to get away
 
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