Mousa Dembélé

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Dembele: Finishing above Liverpool in fifth can help Spurs to attract summer signings
By Ben Pearce
EXCLUSIVE: Mousa Dembele says Tottenham’s success in overtaking Liverpool on the final day of the season and securing a fifth-place finish can help them to attract their transfer targets this summer.
Spurs’ 1-0 victory at Everton, coupled with Liverpool’s astonishing 6-1 defeat at Stoke, meant the Lilywhites leapfrogged Brendan Rodgers’ outfit on Sunday.

And, while there was just two points between the clubs in the final standings, Dembele feels the fact that Tottenham have ended the campaign as the closest team to the top four could be a valuable factor when it comes to luring potential signings to White Hart Lane.

“It can be something good to let people know that we are right there,” he said. “Of course it’s a difference if you’re fifth or sixth, mentally, for other players, so that’s probably a good thing for the club.

“We’re very happy. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy at Everton but we played a very good first half. We gave a message to them from the first minute and I think we were very positive about the game. Everyone wanted to be fifth.

“As a team, there were ups and downs this season – some moments we were playing very very well and then other moments less well.

“In the end we want to have the Champions League, and we know we have the quality as a group to play in the Champions League, but of course we have to learn from this year and hopefully next year we will be much better. It was the first year with the new manager and a certain style and I’m sure next year will be better.”

It has been a frustrating end to the season for Dembele from a personal point of view. The enigmatic Belgian was given the No10 role at the end of January and enjoyed a string of fine displays against Sheffield United, West Brom, Woolwich and Liverpool, but he had a dreadful first half in the 2-2 draw at home against West Ham on Februrary 22, being substituted at half-time, and he has found himself on the fringes ever since.

While he has been used as a substitute on nine occasions, Sunday’s trip to Everton was his first start for three months, and the midfielder showed what he is capable of with a strong and skilful display before coming off injured after 53 minutes.

“I always want to play so of course it’s [been] a big disappointment for me, but I can’t stand still with the disappointment,” said Dembele. “I need to think about myself as well, what to do better or why I don’t play, and what to do. I want to play much more, of course.

“Even though I can play in a few positions I think I can be the first [choice], but I don’t know how the manager thinks.”

Asked if he has hampered by any injury issues during the last three months, Dembele replied: “No, I’ve been fit.”
 
Weird thing on the Belgian nt press conference, when Dembele showed up the press officer told the journalists that Spurs banned all questions about his future, Dembele was surprised and laughed ... Prob means he s good as gone
 
I don't get that though, what difference would it make if they asked something like "will you be at Tottenham next season" and for him to say "I don't know, I hope so" etc.
 
Belgian Spur said:
Weird thing on the Belgian nt press conference, when Dembele showed up the press officer told the journalists that Spurs banned all questions about his future, Dembele was surprised and laughed ... Prob means he s good as gone
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Didn't stop him talking about us though...

 
Perhaps someone has been given assurances by the manager...


I was pretty neutral on selling Dembélé this window, but it's clear that he was a victim of the squad position he was usually told to play (i.e. too far back).

If we do keep him, and Poch has a more valuable role for him, I'll be excited to see how he does this year.

Edit: sorry, just noticed that this was also mentioned in the transfer thread.
 
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Thin Lilywhite Duke said:
Perhaps someone has been given assurances by the manager...


I was pretty neutral on selling Dembélé this window, but it's clear that he was a victim of the squad position he was usually told to play (i.e. too far back).

If we do keep him, and Poch has a more valuable role for him, I'll be excited to see how he does this year.
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If I remember correctly, he was also given the chance by AVB, Timmy, and Poch (maybe) to play up a little higher with mixed success. I like Dembele and think that when he's on his game that he's a really strong player, but I'm just not convinced that he's really going to fit into this team.

The only place that I can see him going is to be slotted in next to Bentaleb, but that is going to push him back yet again. He's too slow to play on the wings and he doesn't seem to be creative enough to fit in at a more pressing, CAM type of position.

I'm glad that he seems to be settling back in again, but I can't imagine him having a real strong year again for us.
 
ILSpur said:
If I remember correctly, he was also given the chance by AVB, Timmy, and Poch (maybe) to play up a little higher with mixed success. I like Dembele and think that when he's on his game that he's a really strong player, but I'm just not convinced that he's really going to fit into this team.

The only place that I can see him going is to be slotted in next to Bentaleb, but that is going to push him back yet again. He's too slow to play on the wings and he doesn't seem to be creative enough to fit in at a more pressing, CAM type of position.

I'm glad that he seems to be settling back in again, but I can't imagine him having a real strong year again for us.
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If he can be consistent in that "forward destroyer" role which he did during the West Brom and Woolwich games, then I am confident he'll play a lot. It worked well for us as a tactic. The problem is that he doesn't seem to be able to do it every game. If he can be consistent in that role, it solves a lot of our problems with the midfield without having to rely on a transfer.
 
I think it's fair to say that most Spurs rate his potential very high. If Poch can get consitent performances out of him we have a brilliant player on our hands!

He's a lovely player to watch when on form!
 
Juicy Sushi said:
If he can be consistent in that "forward destroyer" role which he did during the West Brom and Woolwich games, then I am confident he'll play a lot. It worked well for us as a tactic. The problem is that he doesn't seem to be able to do it every game. If he can be consistent in that role, it solves a lot of our problems with the midfield without having to rely on a transfer.
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I agree. Some say that Bentaleb + Mason isn't good enough defensively, but with Dembele as our AMC (the good Dembele) they would get a hell of a lot more help than with Eriksen there. Chadli left, Dembele mid and Eriksen/Lamela in a free role from the right - yes please.
 


Asked if Dembele is likely to stay in that role, the head coach said: “It is a good position for him because he has the quality to play wide and go inside. The way we played at United, I was very happy with his performance.

“I think he is a very good player and needs to show more consistency during the season. Our job is to provide the good tools to improve his game and [help him to] be an important player for us.

“For me the position is not important – it is how we play. Mousa can play in different positions on the pitch and this is one of the positions that maybe he can play in the future too.”
 
SinghYid said:


Asked if Dembele is likely to stay in that role, the head coach said: “It is a good position for him because he has the quality to play wide and go inside. The way we played at United, I was very happy with his performance.

“I think he is a very good player and needs to show more consistency during the season. Our job is to provide the good tools to improve his game and [help him to] be an important player for us.

“For me the position is not important – it is how we play. Mousa can play in different positions on the pitch and this is one of the positions that maybe he can play in the future too.”
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As his self declared biggest groupie i'm glad he's been playing well and seems to have convinced Poch that he deserves to start. Big change that because even i was ready to let him go, if you are that talented than you need to show more. Early days but he's been pretty good so far, i only fear that his hip injury is a lot worse than they claim. He always seems one minute away from asking for a substitution.
 
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