Let's see if you still think this at the end of next season. The two players are not the same and work differently so I don't see the 'solar system' gap that you do.
Dembele and Sandro was an extremely effective pairing, but the Belgian didn't link up that well with Parker and then suffered a series of injury problems. I think that he's got a lot to contribute next season, but we might be better off using him in a few different roles and playing a real playmaker in the centre. Carroll isn't ready to step up and play there every week and Huddlestone's too immobile and slows the game down too much, so I'm hoping for a big signing in that role. We basically didn't replace Modric, in my opinion. We've got a variety of players that can fill the role that van der Vaart vacated, but there are problems with each of our choices, unfortunately. The most obvious selection is Bale but then we have a gap down the left. Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Dembele and Holtby are the next in line, but each of them have failed to make the grade so far. This leaves us with a variety of decent players but who don't seem to fit naturally into any specific system and particularly the one that we use.
Dembele's ability to move forward holding the ball and bulldozing through defenders looks very dangerous when around the penalty area*. I would like to see him played in a more forward position. *For Spurs fans who are unfamiliar with the term Penalty Area it's where Bale get's booked for diving.
Yeah, I've said that for quite a while now too, Spurf. He beats players with ease but then often runs into a pack of defenders. That's not a problem if he's attacking the back line. His reluctance to shoot might present a problem in that role though, unfortunately. It also moves Bale back out wide, though that can be addressed by giving the players in the 3 more freedom.
Ok, we'll try that approach first during pre-season ;o) Dembele's first season for Fulham or us? Can't see how this has any relation at all. Modric's first season in the EPL was way better than Dembele's first for us and I can't see him improving much based on previous seasons.
Dembele's last season for Fulham was the reason why he was plan Z the fall-back to our transfer dealings imploding, as was Dempsey's Both needed to have similar seasons this season to retain a place in the starting line up/squad next season IF we had attained CL status. Alas, as is, Dembele's probably done enough to match our limited ambitions, and Dempsey's a nice fella for a yank so he'll be ok here to stay here and keep Friedel company too.
Yes I agree he would be better suited playing more forward with a real quality playmaker behind him. His position has been central midfield and this is why I compare him to Modric. He may excel if there was Mourtinho , Eriksen creating space for him but he has little influence in games in Modric's position. We would be a better team with Modric in the side than Dembele.
I don't doubt we would be better with Modric but if we find another creative midfielder (Moutinho?) then Dembele will be a very useful addition and we will be a better team than the Spurs team Modric played in. We are already more resiliant and I would argue a lot more determined and organised.
Sorry Spurf I disagree. In season 2011-2012 we scored the same number of goals as this season; 66 yet we shipped 5 more goals this season. So does that mean we're more resilient? Not for me. Based on performances, we managed to scrape through some results with the help of Bale being on scintillating form to get us out of trouble numerous times - thats not collective resilience, that's individual brilliance. We failed to break down teams we should have beaten and frankly our home form is worse than last season. We finished 5th instead of 4th so that's going backward. I feel this isn't down to the boss though... I just feel our squad is simply inferior to last year and our finishing position reflects that. He should have been backed by better signings yet he wasn't and Levy has to accept responsibility for that. I truly feel AVB did the best he could with that squad and I doubt any other manager would have done much better.
Dembélé is not a playmaker. So we didn't replace either our playmaker or VDV, our creative attacking player. The fact we got more points than last year is a tribute to a team that tried hard and improvised well, and, to be fair, is a talented collection of mismatched parts, if you want to call it a collection of mismatched parts. Dembélé was the player we missed most over the course of the year (in terms of record). I agree he was much better earlier in the year/with Sandro. But even the poorer version still managed to be on the field for a lot of wins and not too many dropped points, and I don't think it's a coincidence. I think he was very good for us this year overall. But whatever you may think of him, what we really need IMO is a playmaker. Dembélé, Sandro plus (first rate playmaker), with Bale, Lennon and (Defoe/Ade/?striker) would be a very strong team, I think. Though of course, the devil is in the (first rate playmaker??) and (Defoe/Ade/?striker). The fact remains we didn't drop many points when we had a squad that was mostly healthy and present. I'm keeping this in mind before I advocate major overhauls. If we could play Beni Kaboul Jan Walker Dembélé Sandro Lennon Bale Gylfi Ade/Defoe do you really think we'd drop that many points? I don't.
I tend not to base my arguments on stats Fla just my observations. My perception, subjective as it is, is that we are more organised, in fact I think this has lead to our far less exciting performances than those we enjoyed under Harry. The detimination thought is based on the number of late results we achieved whereas before we seemed to be hanging on to a lead and looking vunerable, this season we have more been looking for the goal to win. As I say it's perception, style of play, players appearing to follow a plan, AVB consulting his notes or drawing them. We will agree that we have not played in the same way as last season, although we achieved very similar results and that's my view of what is different. The 5th/4th thing dosen't wash with me because the differences are so small, the effect of course is not small but all in all I don't see us as having gone backward. I would say we have stabilised with a plan to move forward, we will have a much clearer view of AVB in the coming season because he will start with more confidence and hopefully a few more players that he has chosen.
Good points RWAEB the fact that we never fielded our strongest 11 during the whole season should not be forgotten. Kaboul & Sandro will arrive like two top draw signings.
Sandro was the outstanding player of the first half of the season. We.would not have dropped stupid points (Everton, Liverpool away Fulham at home) had he been playing.When he is back Dembele will be more effective. I could hardly believe that he had an ACL when he walked off the pitch unlike some of those wimps who needed oxygen and a stretcher
That is what I am banking on/hoping for/begging for (delete as appropriate). Any lack of transfer activity of note will give me the serious hump next season and my angst won't be aimed at AVB.
