What Next For Dembele?

[White Noise]

How do you see him progressing this season?

Does anyone see him being able to earn a regular starting place for himself (or as regular as one might get with Europa rotation)?

How do you see Jol deploying him - given that he is a fan of his?

Once he gets back to full fitness do you see him having a better second season or a harder one?

[Quills]

Part of me doubts if he ever really will get back to full fitness, to be honest.  I hear (well, I think I've read on here before) that he isn't that diligent a trainer, and even last season he never looked really really fit by professional standards.  I remember reading an article by Tony Cascarino years ago in the Times in which he recalled mainly being used as an impact sub, and how that in itself limited his fitness to only being fit enough to be an impact sub.  He said he had to work really hard to get fit enough to convince his coaches he could play the full game, so if that experience is anything to go by then we'll have to see if Dembele comes through.

Having said that, there are definitely worse impact subs around to have - would be great to see him come on and run directly at some tiring defenders!  But I'd prefer to see him start and build on last season, I think there's definite scope for a better second season.

[Sheepskin Junior]

I personally think that Dembele will play up front with Bobby in the European/FA or Carling cups and AJ will play in the league

[HatterDon]

I think the worst possible role for Dembele is as a late substitue -- especially if the match is on the line. He tends to disappear in that role; he's sort of the anti-Nevland in that sense.

[mangoputney]

My gut instinct is that he's going to be massively injury prone and only show moments of inspiration

In my honest opinion a poor Clint Dempsey

[AlFayedsChequebook]

Will be in the starting line-up by christmas.

He will be a key figure this year for the team.

[sipwell]

I think he will return to his form of the beginning of the previous season, in which he was decisive (remember the game against Wolves). He still needs to build up match rhythm and once he has it, he will be strong again. 

[richie17]

star player.

[Snibbo]

I've never got very excited about him. He has talent, but doesn't seem to have the nouse to use it effectively. Looks good.  I hope I'm wrong.

[ScalleysDad]

'That' goal and the shinners against Wolves were about it last season were'nt they ? I can't keep track of the number of times people have said "oh when fit" or " when the injury is resolved we'll see him at his best." Mark Hughes thought he was decent, Jol got quite fidgetty in his seat talking about him but ....... on the pitch he is looking just ever so slightly above average. Could'nt run on Thursday night and passes like Etuhu. At THIS moment in time if I've got Digger and Dembele on the bench and I need to make a sub to get back into or stay in a game its Digger everytime. I bet his injuries, body fat index and fitness regime don't get as much discussion.  Like others I would like to be wrong, I hope I am, but with the new players coming in and some impressive progress, with L plates on, from the likes of Briggs and Frei I think he might need to bring a cushion along to games as that bench does'nt look that comfortable. 

[Lighthouse]

He is a wide player that can cut in. He is not a forward. Not great as a support striker but can play there. Very talented but overrated. Needs to become fit and may yet show that he can be a great. Right now though he is behind several players.

[ImperialWhite]

He is a wide player that can cut in. He is not a forward. Not great as a support striker but can play there. Very talented but overrated. Needs to become fit and may yet show that he can be a great. Right now though he is behind several players.

Part of me doubts if he ever really will get back to full fitness, to be honest.

My gut instinct is that he's going to be massively injury prone and only show moments of inspiration

a poor Clint Dempsey

I've never got very excited about him. He has talent, but doesn't seem to have the nouse to use it effectively.

'That' goal and the shinners against Wolves were about it last season were'nt they ?

on the pitch he is looking just ever so slightly above average.




Who's overrated? Dembélé is overrated in the same way Hughes is underrated - i.e. they're not.

[SuperSimonDavies]

He is a wide player that can cut in. He is not a forward. Not great as a support striker but can play there. Very talented but overrated. Needs to become fit and may yet show that he can be a great. Right now though he is behind several players.

Part of me doubts if he ever really will get back to full fitness, to be honest.

My gut instinct is that he's going to be massively injury prone and only show moments of inspiration

a poor Clint Dempsey

I've never got very excited about him. He has talent, but doesn't seem to have the nouse to use it effectively.

'That' goal and the shinners against Wolves were about it last season were'nt they ?

on the pitch he is looking just ever so slightly above average.




Who's overrated? Dembélé is overrated in the same way Hughes is underrated - i.e. they're not.

My thoughts exactly.
Everyone says Hughes is an unsung hero but considering everyone say this, he's hardly unsung is he?

[ScalleysDad]

The comparison with Hughes is surely irrelevent. One player has nothing to prove whilst the topic of the thread has yet to prove his worth.