The young lad Dembele

[OdecaMynoT]

CMG

Not that I've anything against giving youth its earliest opportunity. I'm old enough to remember Alan Mullery's debut. A star from day one. He was 17.

My major fear in giving Dembele a similar early start is that we currently don't have people capable of providing service to the experienced internationals we currently have up front, much less to a young man learning his trade.
[/quote]
So how about playing a teenager that can? If the experienced internationals have had the creativity coached out of them what's to lose? Might be the kick up the arse they need.

[cmg]

So how about playing a teenager that can? If the experienced internationals have had the creativity coached out of them what's to lose? Might be the kick up the arse they need.

Well, it's not up to me (another opportunity missed) but I'll  give it a go.
Firstly, I don't think our current midfielders have had the creativity coached out of them. I don't think they had any in the first place - that's not knocking them, they have other skills.
My opinion, for what it is worth, is that Emerson Hyndman is the most creatively gifted midfielder in the top three squads. He, too, is only 17 but  he is not very big, in fact he could easily get in for half-price (if he wasn't playing) and is not a viable option for the PL at this time.
I guess Chris David might be an option...and I can only assume his absence from the recent u21 match indicates that our esteemed management thinks so too.
Personally I think that chucking in a striker is much less risky than chucking in a playmaker, chucking in both seems like desperation..If I was manager? I'd keep calm and pass it to Berbatov. ("Hello, Arsene. Santi doing anything on Saturday?")

When Alan Mulley got the call we were a high-flying second tier outfit. He had a hard-as-nails international (Roy Bentley) behind him, a veteran international (Eddie Lowe) beside him and one of the world's greatest playmakers in front of him.

[BishopsParkFantastic]

Briggs is no longer that young - 23? - and has had several opportunities on loan without impressing. Jol has many faults but IMO not progressing Briggs isn't one of them.

The team badly needs youthful energy but bringing in young kids before they're ready will do them and us more harm than good.

Be great if Dembele were ready though.

Briggs has been given opportunities, but for me hasn't quite cracked it at full back in the Premiership. For me, Briggs would be better playing in midfield, with opportunities in the Championship. In the past, Fulham have have signed players ostensibly to play at full back, but converted them to become top players in other positions (John Ryan, and Supermac being obvious examples).

We need to give our young talented players opportunities to play in the positions where they have demonstrated success - not being played out of position. They also need the support and encouragement from experienced players around them - do they have that? From what I've seen, read and heard, Dan  Burn, Mesca and Dembele deserve opportunities - alongside Kaca and Kasami. Bring in a quality, young dynamic creative midfield player, left back, new manager and backroom team - and I genuinely think we can make progress....

[TonyGilroy]

The strange thing is that this team is too old and done it all experienced but we don't get the benefit because there seems to be no preparation or organisation. These guys could seemlessly fit into an organised scheme if one were on offer.

Youthful energy and ambition would be wasted in the present "system" because the kids confidence would quickly take a knock. Kasami seems unusually determined to succeed - most kids are more reticent but when you see the likes of Rooney coming through very young it's obvious that they need to have the talent but it's the self belief that enables them to shine at a very young age.

I think bringing kids into our team right now would do more harm than good.

[epsomraver]

Don't agree, things cannot be worse at present and an injection of youth and enthusiasm can do no harm at all.

[TonyGilroy]

Don't agree, things cannot be worse at present and an injection of youth and enthusiasm can do no harm at all.

My concern is damaging the kids' future prospects.

I don't think the team would be much worse with the Krankies in midfield.

[cmg]

I kind of agree with both TG and er.
Certainly an injection of youth and enthusiasm (or something) would be welcomed.

The 'system', however is a bit of a problem. It seems to me that both the u21s and the u18s operate the same, distinctive system. They get the ball out from the back very quickly. They attack down both flanks using fast, skillful wingers and full backs (Passley, Kavanagh, Richards) with real speed, they have midfields with a good balance of graft and creativity (Minkwitz/Christensen/David and Sambou/Hyndman) who gain possession and use it well. I assume the defences are OK, but in truth I have rarely seen them under heavy pressure largely because we have so much possession and use it well. The seniors just don't have the players to play like that, although I guess they would like to.

[premFlem]

Knowing Jol he will throw him in against one of the big boys, give him 20 minutes and then never see him again.
Mesca anyone?

.....and play him out of his natural position, to make the transition to the 1st team even more challenging!

And tell him to just run around

To the local KFC.

[elgreenio]

I assume the defences are OK, but in truth I have rarely seen them under heavy pressure largely because we have so much possession and use it well. The seniors just don't have the players to play like that, although I guess they would like to.

have only seen the u18's under real pressure once last season against Liverpool and that was more a case of out-fought than out-thought, as our bigger physical players were missing or withdrawn through injury.

Dembele will more than likely get himself on the next pre-season tour but wouldnt expect much above that. Jol talks of players being in the 20-22 bracket before using them, with the player having had a good amount of pro games previous (Kaca and Kasami had around 20 before really integrating).

[Jack Fulham]

Huw Jenkins was on lbc after United game and said he hopeful that Dembele would feature in the 2nd half of this season.

[FFC1987]

It could definitly be worse. We could be 20th with nil points on the board and getting smashed every game.

[HatterDon]

It could definitly be worse. We could be 20th with nil points on the board and getting smashed every game.

That's like telling the family of a traffic victim, "At least he wasn't cut in half by an Exocet missile."

[the nutflush]

I just read (albeit on a pretty crap website) that Crewe Alexandra are being linked with Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.  Its started already.  Unless we start to integrate this kid into the first team squad soon we will lose him and we will regret it.  I ask you guys this.... Who would you rather lose?  A young prospect like Dembele or say Rodallega? 

[Furby]

I just read (albeit on a pretty crap website) that Crewe Alexandra are being linked with Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.  Its started already.  Unless we start to integrate this kid into the first team squad soon we will lose him and we will regret it.  I ask you guys this.... Who would you rather lose?  A young prospect like Dembele or say Rodallega? 

Is that as a permanent signing or loan deal? We certainly wouldn't let him go there permanent, if they think he's got so much potential.

But I still believe he should at least be on the bench today and maybe given a run out if we're 2 or 3 - 0 down.

[the nutflush]

I just read (albeit on a pretty crap website) that Crewe Alexandra are being linked with Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.  Its started already.  Unless we start to integrate this kid into the first team squad soon we will lose him and we will regret it.  I ask you guys this.... Who would you rather lose?  A young prospect like Dembele or say Rodallega? 

Is that as a permanent signing or loan deal? We certainly wouldn't let him go there permanent, if they think he's got so much potential.

But I still believe he should at least be on the bench today and maybe given a run out if we're 2 or 3 - 0 down.

Definitely didnt say loan deal in the article.  It was only a short one and dint really get into specifics.  It just said Alex boss Steve Davis was watching the U21s beat Bolton where Dembele scored twice.  I suppose it was inferring that Davis was there  to watch Dembele.  Who else would he be watching? 

[Max Headroom]

And would sending Dembele out on loan to a lower league be bad for his development?

Send him out until January....

[the nutflush]

And would sending Dembele out on loan to a lower league be bad for his development?

Send him out until January....

It didnt say they were interested in getting him in on loan.  Yes to loan him out would be good for his development.  To sell him would be yet another kick in the nuts for Fulham fans. 

[TonyGilroy]

If it's reported in a NEWSPAPER as a transfer tip it MUST be true.

We're f****d and Khan's a *******

[cmg]

What's the date? Dembele permanent transfer to Crewe Alexandra? There's more chance of me being transferred to Crewe Alexander and I'm over sixty and was only ever good enough to play at the Alexandra Recreation Ground in Epsom.

Dembele signed a two year (+ 1 option) contract on his 17th birthday. He ain't going nowhere in the foreseeable future except on loan or into our senior squad.
Representatives of all sorts of clubs are to be seen at development matches. Statistics show that most of the players on view will end up in the lower leagues at best.
A loan to Crewe, a club with a  fantastic record of player development, might well be advantageous for Dembele, but he'll only move there permanently if he quits football and becomes an engine driver.

[FFC1987]

It could definitly be worse. We could be 20th with nil points on the board and getting smashed every game.

That's like telling the family of a traffic victim, "At least he wasn't cut in half by an Exocet missile."

Well not really. Its the truth. We could be in a worse position and yet I keep hearing the phase 'It couldn't get much worse' It certainly can and acting like its impossible for our team to pick up points is counterproductive and remains to be seen. With or without Jol, this team can get 40 points plus.