With all the discussion of the muted start to Spurs season I don't think we have payed proper attention to the signing of Dembele. This is potentially one of the best acquisitions for Spurs for a long time. I suspect he will more than make up for our loss of Modric. Dembele is described by many as a world class player and has perhaps not been noticed by many because he was playing for an unfashionable team. It will be hard not to have a fast slick passing midfield once he settles in and with the likes of Bale, Lennon, and Adebayor around him it's a mouth watering prospect. Not forgetting Dempsey with whom he already has an understanding. The players are there and I don't think it will be too long before we start to see the benefits of this fantastic signing. Thanks Martin Jol.
Having him at the club's probably good for Vertonghen too, as they've known each other since childhood. "I know Jan from when I was 10 years old. We played together then. I know him well. He's a great guy and he's said a lot of good things about this club." - MD Superb first goal and I think he's a very Tottenham player, if you know what I mean. It'll be interesting to see how he settles into the side and what role he's given.
Can't wait for all our new signings to really get going but Dembele's definitely the one I'm most excited about. I think he might be best suited to playing alongside Parker out of our defensive mids.
Fantastic player, been one of the best in the league over the past 12 months. For a guy who's over 6 foot, he has remarkably good agility of that an "Aaron Lennon-esque" player. A word on Dempsey too, a very smart piece of business from Levy there. £6m is an absolute steal for a goal scoring midfielder of fantastic versatility. Somehow we've manager to rob a London rival of their two best players and still have change left from the Modric sale. Massive from me. Providing AVB actually wants to attack and not play this dreadful formation with two DM's, we might get to see just how good they'll be alongside the likes of Bale/ Siggy/ Lennon/ Ade/ Defoe etc.
I know I am in danger of being a stuck record on this, but the idea of two DMs is to allow Dembele, Dempsey and Bale the freedom to ATTACK instead of wasting their skills on defensive duties. Give it time and we will look sensationally good in this line up!
He can sit deep and bring the ball forward. AVB has been slated for playing two DM's but who else have we had to fill Modric's position up until now?
That doesn't work. We've tried it a million times and it just means more defending for those players, as there's nobody providing quality balls for them. Didn't work for Holland in the Euros, stifled Brazil in the Olympic final and has now been a complete failure for two successive managers at WHL. It's an option to switch to during games, but as a starting strategy it's should by totally dead and buried.
We don't need two DM's! We never needed them last year and we certainly don't need them this year, by having two DM's it allows the opposition more freedom to attack as they have less to worry about from us and therefore the attacking players are doing more defending anyway! What's the point in having the very gifted attacking players we have when we're not going to be able to utilise all of them?!
The idea of 2 DM's is away at a top league side or away in a cup 1st leg, not much else imo. How are Dembele, Dempsey and Bale (presumably further up the pitch) supposed to attack with little, poor or no service? They have to be given the 'right' pass, atm Livermore and Sandro are not that player to give that pass...and neither is Parker before someone mentions that!
totally agree PNP. if we're going to be using this "4-2-3-1" formation, one of the "defensive" 2, cannot strictly be a defensive player. just as PNP says, the front 4 will get no service. Dembele could be the right person to be alongside Sandro in a "defensive 2" as he has the height and strength to help out when needed. But he's also the exact man that we need to run with the ball from our own half and take people on. If he's given a "free role", it might work out perfectly. just because on paper he'd be part of a "defensive 2", this doesn't necessarily need to be the case. i also think that Sig's game is being completely negated by livermore and sandro, as he's not getting balls played to him at the right time, in the right areas. - no creativity basically. for my own sanity, I need to see us line up something like this in our next game: Brad Walker Verts Caulker/Dawson/GallasBenny (don't know what to suggest at CB right now) Sandro Dembele Lennon Sig Bale Ade
I wonder if Dempsey's anywhere near match fit? He's off to play for the US, which might help, but he wasn't even training properly with Fulham.
He is a top top signing....just not salivated over by the rags as much as others...so people don't buy the hype this guy deserves....and Dempsey aswell. Martin Jol loves us and he showed it...shame we couldn't repay him the favour by sending the Hudd the other way to sort his fitness out. All our signings should be starting. Someone with Livermore's limited ability should not be starting... He is no better than Zokora or Willy P....plenty bite but not much direction for me.
From whenever I've seen Dempsey play, he's always seemed incredibly fit (IN A SPORTS PERSPECTIVE! ) so although I don't expect him to be 100% right now, I reckon he'd only need a game or two to get to full fitness.
i was literally just giving thoughts for the next game. obviously thinking about dempsey being our most recent signing,settling in, not immediately forcing someone out of the team etc etc. but yes, in a couple of games time - get him in there. Exactly dona. that's the comparison I've been looking for when trying to make my point. as much as I like JL, unfortunately he's going to be the weakest link in this formation. (providing Defoe is dropped for Ade, of course)
Shoes too big for a youngster for me. Bring him on if we're ever 2-3 up or put him in with a decent side around him for some cup games.
