Morning chaps.
Just wondering if anyone knows why we cooled our interest in Dembele?
As far as I know, the deal was all agreed last winter until Fulham decided they wanted to keep him for the remainder of the season.
This is a little odd, as I think it was assumed that he wasn't quite ready for our first team anyway, and was more one bought with potential for the future. So it seemed strange that that was the deal breaker (especially as we didn't go for anyone else, so the immediate availability can't have been too much of an issue).
I guessed at the time that if we rated him enough to buy then, that we'd be back in for him again in the summer but that didn't happen.
We got Janssen instead, and I do think he will come good, but Dembele is scoring for fun at Celtic (16 goals already), and got two for France u21 last night. Looks like he is could be turning into quite a player... one that we could regret.
The other Dembele
posted on 15/11/16
Vincent Janssen - too early to tell
posted on 15/11/16
comment by GeniusGreaves Optimist Supreme (U1302)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Dembele was certainly a good looking prospect, however to go on statistics gained in the Scottish PL is not really a good guide.
Most of the teams up there would struggle in the lower half of the Championship, let alone the top half.
His return at Fulham was reasonable, 15 goals in 56 games.
As to why we didn't sign him, who knows? Was it Fulham or us being unreasonable? Was it because Poch or Mitchell, or both were unsure about Dembele for Spurs?
It is a massive jump from the Championship to the PL, just as it is from Erie division to the PL. Yet we signed an International striker in Janssen, who is obviously taking time to adjust to England and the PL.
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But you can go on his stats in the champions league.
There's are quite a few ex celtic players doing well in the role just now, you have one of them on your books.
Celtic might not play on a great league but the demands playing with a club like celtic are huge, good way to develop mental strength which all to players need
posted on 15/11/16
scoring fun for in the Dutch and scoring for fun in the Scottish league mean pretty much the same thing.....no guarantees they'll be any good in the EPL
posted on 15/11/16
True Devon, though he's also got a few in the CL, and was the stand out player for France U21 last night.
Any player who has succeeded in a different league but not in the PL is a risk, for sure.
But he looks like he is kicking on very well, and as Kiwi said, other players have made the transition from Scotland and looked decent.
Not saying he will be the best player ever, just that it's odd we tried to sign him and then didn't follow up our interest in the summer, when at 500k (as I learned today) it wasn't a financial risk. Obviously for his own progress, he has made the right move though.
posted on 15/11/16
comment by NotSoMagicJuande (U1913)
posted 23 minutes ago
True Devon, though he's also got a few in the CL, and was the stand out player for France U21 last night.
Any player who has succeeded in a different league but not in the PL is a risk, for sure.
But he looks like he is kicking on very well, and as Kiwi said, other players have made the transition from Scotland and looked decent.
Not saying he will be the best player ever, just that it's odd we tried to sign him and then didn't follow up our interest in the summer, when at 500k (as I learned today) it wasn't a financial risk. Obviously for his own progress, he has made the right move though.
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Would of been a bit more than 500k for us but still no more than 2 million. COuld be a big mistake not to follow up on it.
posted on 15/11/16
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
scoring fun for in the Dutch and scoring for fun in the Scottish league mean pretty much the same thing.....no guarantees they'll be any good in the EPL
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True, which is why scoring for fun in the top flight of Scottish football is quite rare. I believe it's only Larsson who has notched 30+ goals in the league in the past two decades.
Despite players like Di Canio, Viduka, Flo, Sutton, Hartson etc all trying and failing.
It's tougher than many folk in England think up here. Our game is often written off unfairly. Aye it's not always the most enjoyable to watch and the stands are rarely full but the standard isn't as poor as you'd think.
Just a shame our teams are usually horrific when it comes to European football/qualification
posted on 15/11/16
Oh aye, Griffiths got 31 goals last season in the league.. Can't believe I forgot him
posted on 15/11/16
comment by Ledders-I have many names but most call me the Rophynol king, I test them on my BFF's Pranks and 4za who I've taken under my wing. I must confess that I dream about Ainsley Harriot pumping me from the rear, ready steady look he's caused my (U20121)
posted 8 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by NotSoMagicJuande (U1913)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by sir super (U13280)
posted 15 minutes ago
Didn't do a lot for the club and the players which Mitchell brought in were pretty shocking. Then again he could have provided Levy with plenty of quality names which Levy did not want to shell out on.
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I don't know, I reckon these players have been signed during Mitchell's tenure:
Victor Wanyama - excellent
Vincent Janssen - too early to tell
Toby Alderweireld - excellent
Dele Alli - excellent
Son Heung-min - hit and miss
Clinton Njie - awful
Tripper - good back up
Wimmer - good back up
That's a pretty good success rate if you ask me.
I do agree with your last point though, my guess is he left as he was frustrated wit Levy.
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Pleat found Alli, Wanyama and Alderweireld were so obvious that any of us could have recommended them.
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a lot of people didnt want us to sign wanyama, and i doubt most fans had seen more than 5 minutes of dele.
posted on 15/11/16
comment by JSpurs (U1059)
posted 31 minutes ago
comment by Ledders-I have many names but most call me the Rophynol king, I test them on my BFF's Pranks and 4za who I've taken under my wing. I must confess that I dream about Ainsley Harriot pumping me from the rear, ready steady look he's caused my (U20121)
posted 8 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by NotSoMagicJuande (U1913)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by sir super (U13280)
posted 15 minutes ago
Didn't do a lot for the club and the players which Mitchell brought in were pretty shocking. Then again he could have provided Levy with plenty of quality names which Levy did not want to shell out on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know, I reckon these players have been signed during Mitchell's tenure:
Victor Wanyama - excellent
Vincent Janssen - too early to tell
Toby Alderweireld - excellent
Dele Alli - excellent
Son Heung-min - hit and miss
Clinton Njie - awful
Tripper - good back up
Wimmer - good back up
That's a pretty good success rate if you ask me.
I do agree with your last point though, my guess is he left as he was frustrated wit Levy.
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Pleat found Alli, Wanyama and Alderweireld were so obvious that any of us could have recommended them.
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a lot of people didnt want us to sign wanyama, and i doubt most fans had seen more than 5 minutes of dele.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of how much us fans had seen of Alli, it wasn't Mitchell who found him.
posted on 15/11/16
comment by Ledders-I have many names but most call me the Rophynol king, I test them on my BFF's Pranks and 4za who I've taken under my wing. I must confess that I dream about Ainsley Harriot pumping me from the rear, ready steady look he's caused my (U20121)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by JSpurs (U1059)
posted 31 minutes ago
comment by Ledders-I have many names but most call me the Rophynol king, I test them on my BFF's Pranks and 4za who I've taken under my wing. I must confess that I dream about Ainsley Harriot pumping me from the rear, ready steady look he's caused my (U20121)
posted 8 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by NotSoMagicJuande (U1913)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by sir super (U13280)
posted 15 minutes ago
Didn't do a lot for the club and the players which Mitchell brought in were pretty shocking. Then again he could have provided Levy with plenty of quality names which Levy did not want to shell out on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know, I reckon these players have been signed during Mitchell's tenure:
Victor Wanyama - excellent
Vincent Janssen - too early to tell
Toby Alderweireld - excellent
Dele Alli - excellent
Son Heung-min - hit and miss
Clinton Njie - awful
Tripper - good back up
Wimmer - good back up
That's a pretty good success rate if you ask me.
I do agree with your last point though, my guess is he left as he was frustrated wit Levy.
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Pleat found Alli, Wanyama and Alderweireld were so obvious that any of us could have recommended them.
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a lot of people didnt want us to sign wanyama, and i doubt most fans had seen more than 5 minutes of dele.
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Regardless of how much us fans had seen of Alli, it wasn't Mitchell who found him.
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Fair enough. Note to self : must practise reading
Btw, the assessments above of NJie and Son are harsh imo