Dembro Revival Tour

Statistically, Sandro and Dembele were one of the best League midfield pairings last season (if not the best) before the Brazilian went down with his unfortunate injury away at QPR.

I remember being staggered at the time by how good their understanding was, at how naturally one dropped back to cover as the other moved forward and vice-versa through each match they played together.

Paulinho was a fantastic high-profile addition to the side in the summer, but I feel the fee he commanded and the hype which surrounded his signing he obscured the fact that this side was already built on extremely strong centre midfield foundations.

[linequote]It’s more obvious now than ever after his appearance last week that Sandro should be the first name on the team sheet[/linequote]

It’s become clear now that Paulinho and Dembele don’t work as a pairing, never getting the balance of bombing forward and tracking back right when they are lined up together, and besides that it’s more obvious now than ever after his appearance last week that Sandro should be the first name on the team sheet after Hugo Lloris.

The reason why Dembele has had a less successful season thus far is that he’s been playing next to Paulinho, with whom he has no chemistry, instead of Sandro, who we know from last season he has excellent chemistry with.

Take a look at the following stats from two strong away victories last season against Manchester United (2-3) and Fulham (0-3.)

Their stats for our win at OT last year exemplify what a brilliant cross-section of traits their shared presence on the pitch brought to the side.

From the stats you immediately notice that last season alongside Sandro, the Belgian had positional awareness, hard tackling, positive forward movement and even a sprinkling of creativity- Dembele pretty much had it all.

In further defence of Dembele I think we need to also note that his performances haven’t been as bad as others have mad out. Playing alongside Paulinho against Cardiff, he had many more touches than Paulinho, completed 92% of his passes, made three interceptions, was 7/7 on long balls, and completed an excellent (though by his own standards fairly ordinary) five dribbles.

[linequote]The Belgian had positional awareness, hard tackling, positive forward movement and even a sprinkling of creativity[/linequote]

It thus comes down to who out of Paulie and Moose gets dropped and of the two, and I genuinely believe that Dembele’s grit, energy and involvement has a more positive impact on the team effort than Paulinho’s movement around the box and goal-scoring. Paulinho and Sandro might have the makings of a decent partnership- but we already know that Dembele and Sandro have the history of being a great one.

Calling it right here and now- Dembro needs to come back if we want a speedy return to form after the international break.

[author name=”Erik Edman” avatar=”https://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/data/avatars/l/1/1252.jpg?1353963738″ twitter=”ErikSpur” website=”lifeislillywhite.wordpress.com” ]