- Oct 19, 2004
- 39,837
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Dembers obviously. CM is a lot about physicality, time and winning the right to play. Dembers has been the best CM in the premier league this season never mind our team
Sorry but i simply disagree. In three plus years with us Dembele has rarely played two "great" CM games consecutively, which is why in all that time it's only this season he's actually nailed a place down there more frequently, and then it's been mostly next to the ultra conservative Dier, with (when I last looked) the hardest working front four ahead and the best CB pairing behind.
Dembele isn't close to being complete. He moves the ball way to slowly and frenetic games like yesterday can easily pass him by in midfield.
The complete CM is an incredibly rare thing. The best central midfielder in the league this season for me has been Kante. He's been fucking outstanding, but I wouldn't call him complete. Last season it was Matic and he's probably the closest to a complete CM when on song in the EPL right now, followed maybe by Schniederlin. Both are in the Petit mould. Physique, athleticism, intelligence, tenacity, positional awareness, passing range.
I think playing a CM2 is one of, if not the, hardest jobs in football. You rarely find a player who has physical presence, tackles like a bastard, passes like a maestro, is dynamic, intelligent etc.