Tbf though, he was never intended to be a DM. He sits in front of the back line, but he was brought in with the intent of being a player who could either pickup the ball from deep by his own tackle or the destroyer's (Sandro at the time), and move it forward. He was however, tasked with more defensive responsibility this season considering he only occasionally played next to a destroyer type. The season began with him alongside Paulinho, but you may remember Capoue impressed so much in that first game at Palace that he saw every minute in Prem play until his injury at the Emirates. AVB got his destroyer back, and so he sat him alongside Paulinho and then moved Dembele back to his better position sharing time with Paulinho. Of course, after Capoue as hurt and we tried to get Sandro back up to fitness, Dembele was back to operating as a pseudo-DM alongside Paulinho.
So it wasn't ever really intentional, simply a manifestation of us hoping our CDM (destroyer) situation would work out in terms of fitness, and not having a player altogether different from Dembele to provide another outlet option to make it work with balance of ball movement when he filled in, as both Paulinho and Bentaleb were simply too similar in their passing lanes and positioning. I.e. it just made everyone look worse, and especially against the better sides since that balance was so crucial.
Good points! For me if Mousa stays then to get the best out of him, I,d like to see him along side Eriksen in a 4-1-4-1. With the guidance and instruction, head up an motor forward. And have him share this role with Bentaleb. The destroyer you speak of (the 1 in front of the back 4) could be the position for an ageing Cambiasso? Again shared with Capoue!Tbf though, he was never intended to be a DM. He sits in front of the back line, but he was brought in with the intent of being a player who could either pickup the ball from deep by his own tackle or the destroyer's (Sandro at the time), and move it forward. He was however, tasked with more defensive responsibility this season considering he only occasionally played next to a destroyer type. The season began with him alongside Paulinho, but you may remember Capoue impressed so much in that first game at Palace that he saw every minute in Prem play until his injury at the Emirates. AVB got his destroyer back, and so he sat him alongside Paulinho and then moved Dembele back to his better position sharing time with Paulinho. Of course, after Capoue as hurt and we tried to get Sandro back up to fitness, Dembele was back to operating as a pseudo-DM alongside Paulinho.
So it wasn't ever really intentional, simply a manifestation of us hoping our CDM (destroyer) situation would work out in terms of fitness, and not having a player altogether different from Dembele to provide another outlet option to make it work with balance of ball movement when he filled in, as both Paulinho and Bentaleb were simply too similar in their passing lanes and positioning. I.e. it just made everyone look worse, and especially against the better sides since that balance was so crucial.
Tbf though, he was never intended to be a DM. He sits in front of the back line, but he was brought in with the intent of being a player who could either pickup the ball from deep by his own tackle or the destroyer's (Sandro at the time), and move it forward. He was however, tasked with more defensive responsibility this season considering he only occasionally played next to a destroyer type. The season began with him alongside Paulinho, but you may remember Capoue impressed so much in that first game at Palace that he saw every minute in Prem play until his injury at the Emirates. AVB got his destroyer back, and so he sat him alongside Paulinho and then moved Dembele back to his better position sharing time with Paulinho. Of course, after Capoue as hurt and we tried to get Sandro back up to fitness, Dembele was back to operating as a pseudo-DM alongside Paulinho.
So it wasn't ever really intentional, simply a manifestation of us hoping our CDM (destroyer) situation would work out in terms of fitness, and not having a player altogether different from Dembele to provide another outlet option to make it work with balance of ball movement when he filled in, as both Paulinho and Bentaleb were simply too similar in their passing lanes and positioning. I.e. it just made everyone look worse, and especially against the better sides since that balance was so crucial.