We talked about this guy on another thread, Spurf. But, just to reiterate. He's a player I've long admired. At £15mil, I think he's an outright steal!..
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.

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!![]()
Ever![]()
I kept saying that Modric would work better in the middle of the attacking three in 4231 but no-one agreed.
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 see my thread has been successfully subverted into yet another discussion on tactics. Thanks PNP.
DEMBELE That's what we are talking about, not more ****ing tactics.
And in what formation should Dembele play?
And which tactics would bring out the best in his game?

i think Dembele will be more directly involved in goals than Modric. Eg, he will be better for fantasy football
A lot if managers do not believe in, and do not use out and out defensive midfield players. They are not exactly easy to find, but the box to box midfielder is what's needed. One that can pass too. I'm not sure on Dembele's fitness or work rate stats, but he can pass, tackle effectively, and reads the game very well. Sandro may be capable of the job also.
Probably as much my fault as his!I see my thread has been successfully subverted into yet another discussion on tactics. Thanks PNP.
DEMBELE That's what we are talking about, not more ****ing tactics.
I see they have all jumped thread and gone off to discuss their tactics elsewhere.![]()
YV has been going on about this player for ages on threads, and I've seen bits of him from fulham, yet not enough to share the excitement or claim he can replace Modric.
So am looking forward to see just why he is so highly rated, as we desperately need a player that can run from midfield and not lose the ball and this seems to be his two main qualities from what has been said.
I just hope avb can allow the team to express themselves more in an attacking sense and so far we're far too cautious (without reason) and maybe dembele is the player that can shine the most.