I thought Dembele was class. He was also improving each game and growing into the role.
He was our "ball carrier" (I hate to say, similar to Modric whilst being different). He kept possession and carried the ball forward. He also has a defence cutting pass and an eye for goal.

I think if we get him back and getting him playing a role in our system, he will be great for us!

So yes, very important. But others need to step up too!
Mr Bale, Lennon, Walker etc.

And I'm not saying "He's our Modric" because there will be all number of know-it-alls pointing out the differences.

But the one thing they have in common is great ball retention, which we miss like hell at the moment.

Bottom line is we miss Modric very badly, and Dembele is the closest thing we have.

Dembele is just one of a number of first team players that are missing, if they all come back, then the team will improve big time.

Dembele and Parker in midfield for a start will improve it 200 per cent. Benny and Kaboul in our back four will improve that area 200 per cent.

If we're close to or in top 4 around Christmas when Kaboul, Parker, Dembele and BAE have all returned, I think we'll make a good challenge this season if we don't collapse for 3rd season running.

It takes time to get match sharpness/ fitness too. I reckon if we get a midfiled 3 of Parker, Sandro and Dembele playing regularly, we'll see an improvement.

Also, a fit and match sharp Kaboul and Benny (if he ever is match sharp) will improve us too.

Tarrico - I know exactly where you are coming from, I think Dembele looks a fine player. He's certainly different from Modric, but what he lacks in passing compared to the little man he makes up with his skilful running with ball....Zidane-like sometimes if it isn't too cheeky to say.

This wasn't a dig at Dembele at all

QPR - rubbish performance, OG got us back in it

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Not true.

AVB's changes at half time got us back in it. Bale at LB and Dempsey on the left wasn't working so he moved Vert to LB and Bale forwards. We were great in that second half, and it's the reason Vert is first choice there over Naughton.

As for missing Dembele not explaining poor performances is a bit of a false negative - you're trying to say him not being there proves something.. when the facts are we've got a 100% record in the side.

Your dislike for AVB is clouding your judgement.

*with him in the side

Dembele is sorely missed at the moment. Man Utd can't stand playing against him and his excellent midfield play helped us get our first win there in years! Dembele is definately the way forward and will be the heart of the team. If your basing this on a couple of not so world class performances, you may as well look at Bale too, as he's not exactly shone in every game, despite being hailed as the Premiership's finest by many.

It's not always about individual performances, it's about bringing out the best in others too despite your own performance not being the usual high standard.

HRH

I was thinking similar earlier and I think some people are going to come down to earth with a severe bump.

When we won 4 games on the trot it was all AVB is doing a great job, I have faith in AVB etc. posters could not see beyond the result and did not realise lady luck helped us a lot.

Now lady luck has turned (like she always does) the bad results are because we have players missing.

I think Dembele is a very good player and a very good signing but as per normal he has now been elevated to some sort of answer to all our problems.

Yes he will help but he is not that fantastic that all will be well when he returns.

BaLennon - did you even read the article?

comment by Bãle's left foot

Not true.

AVB's changes at half time got us back in it. Bale at LB and Dempsey on the left wasn't working so he moved Vert to LB and Bale forwards. We were great in that second half, and it's the reason Vert is first choice there over Naughton.

As for missing Dembele not explaining poor performances is a bit of a false negative - you're trying to say him not being there proves something.. when the facts are we've got a 100% record in the side.

Your dislike for AVB is clouding your judgement.

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We were dire v QPR first half, and didn't even look that good after the HT changes until the lucky OG lifted us. Pretend otherwise all you like. The reason Vert is first choice there over Naughton is because Naughtin has been injured - we haven't had much choice.

The facts are we have a 66% win record with Dembele. There were two Europa draws. The fact we won the league games doesn't disguise the fact the team performances weren't great. Reading aside, the only good performance (albeit against a now struggling side who hadn't played for almost a month), we didn't play any better overall in the games Dembele started, we were just fortunate. Something I pointed out then to widespread derision.

I don't dislike AVB. I actually find him quite likeable, he speaks well and says the right things. It's the way he sets the side up and his bad substitutions I have trouble with. That's the crux of the problem

Grand

Funny how this sort of article isn't getting anything like the derision it was getting all the time we were winning a few. The blinkers are dropping I think. Fair play to Bales though, he is sticking to it

think Dembele is a very good player and a very good signing but as per normal he has now been elevated to some sort of answer to all our problems.
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its funny, i feel this way about Kaboul

Exactly.

If/when Dembele, Kaboul, Ade, Benny and Lloris eventually start together playing AVB's way and the performances are still patchy, I wonder what the excuse will be then?

I have no doubt they will help, but ultimately it's the system that is flawed for me. If he changes this we will see improvements immediately, not just pin our hopes on saviour A or B

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

If/when Dembele, Kaboul, Ade, Benny and Lloris eventually start together playing AVB's way and the performances are still patchy, I wonder what the excuse will be then?

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Assuming he gets at least one player of his choosing to work in his system there will be no excuse. It's quite apparent that we missed out on at least two players (Willian and Moutinho) that he identified as requirements.

But yes, if he doesn't improve us with a full squad the experiment will have failed and you'll have your day in the sun.

At least one of his players? People just assume Siggy and Dempsey were pure Levy signings with no input from AVB, and that he didn't sanction VDV going. I don't know either way but it would be silly to simply assume.

You make it seem like I WANT him to fail, rather than simply THINK that he will.

My 'day in the sun' would mean Spurs floundering, so I certainly don't want that. I want him to buck his ideas up, stop making basic errors and be a success.

You make it seem like I WANT him to fail, rather than simply THINK that he will.

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I should hope not, I just think you want to be right.

Maybe he had some input but they weren't his first choices.. Dembele excepting he made do. I'm sticking by my 5th place prediction, that's par for the squad in my opinion.

You think I want to be right because I have a strong opinion?

To what end?

So I can gloat on a faceless forum at the expense of the team I invest several hundred pounds and spend literally weeks of my year travelling to games to support?

Yeah, right

I should hope not, I just think you want to be right.
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I dont want to be right I am just 100% certain that I will be. That will give me no pleasure at all as IMO it will have set us back and wasted a season. If anybody thinks that will give me any pleasure whatsoever then they really should seek immediate medical attention

I'm jumping for joy at every sheet performance personally. It sends me home with a spring in my step - scrub Spurs, as long as I'm right