Dembele has to start

Atletico_Seasider said:
He showed more talent and creativity in the 10-15 mis he was on than we saw from the all the other players on the pitch (on both sides) added together! Some of his passes were Messi like and his ability to unlock defences cannot be left on the bench. He looks way to good for this level and must be starting from here on in....
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I think Critch needs a subtle reminder, as he clearly forgot all about this against the posh 😀. It's really not difficult to go on the front foot, play our most creative player from the start and let the opposition worry about us for a change. And the evidence is starting to build....
Oxford - without Dembele on the pitch losing 1-0, with him for 10 mins we were dominant and ahead 0-1
Cheltenham - with Dembele we were dominant and winning 3-1, without him we were behind 0-1.
Peterborough - without Dembele we were losing 0-2 and down to 10 men, with him we were the better team and matched them 2-2
 
Atletico_Seasider said:
I think Critch needs a subtle reminder, as he clearly forgot all about this against the posh 😀. It's really not difficult to go on the front foot, play our most creative player from the start and let the opposition worry about us for a change. And the evidence is starting to build....
Oxford - without Dembele on the pitch losing 1-0, with him for 10 mins we were dominant and ahead 0-1
Cheltenham - with Dembele we were dominant and winning 3-1, without him we were behind 0-1.
Peterborough - without Dembele we were losing 0-2 and down to 10 men, with him we were the better team and matched them 2-2
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Rather a damning indictment of Critch and his current managerial approach, wouldn't you say?
 
I've been thinking about this and I have said we have been missing a creative midfielder for a few seasons who cuts the mustard. Dembele does actually cut the mustard, his vision, awareness and positional play is superb and he can see a through ball like a snooker player can see a shot 7 in advance of where he is. He needs to be starting and have Norburn and Dougall behind him doing the dirty work, get the ball to him or out wide to the wing backs and let him worry about going forwards he shouldn't have to be worrying about defending.
 
Just been watching the Beckham doco and that time Fergie dropped Beckham for the Real Madrid games - those managers who 'think they know best' ultimately get their fingers burnt.
 
Atletico_Seasider said:
He showed more talent and creativity in the 10-15 mis he was on than we saw from the all the other players on the pitch (on both sides) added together! Some of his passes were Messi like and his ability to unlock defences cannot be left on the bench. He looks way to good for this level and must be starting from here on in....
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You only needed to hear the commentators waxing lyrical to know he dropped a bollock!
 
He looked to be holding his leg at the end; but hopefully its nothing.

Meanwhile; he is brilliant; genuinely talent. Technical ability was great as was his football brain; just about always picking the right pass, being available for a pass etc etc.

Just as importantly, look at how much Dougall (brilliant again last night) was able to get the ball forward far more quickly, because he was available and as the FTFC players were lost, there was loads more space for us to exploit.

He created the tempo and we exploited it.

Shame we couldn't stop their one shot of the second half last night - but IF we continue in the same vein, we will go up. I just hope SS has a word with NC and say "more of that please."
 
Spoke to a Codhead at work this morning and he couldn't believe Dembele wasn't in the starting line up, along with Lavery...

'He's like Messi, you just can't get the ball of him!'
 
Great performance from him last night, wonderful control, vision, touch, always available.

For those who think he can't play a full game, you're almost certainly right. But as I keep saying the only way he's going to get there is to keep starting, and last as long as possible. Then substitute according to needs at the time.
 
Yes, it was another game changing performance from Dembele. In the last four games when he has been on the pitch we have scored nine goals and conceded four, without him on the pitch we have scored zero and conceded six!

Oxford - without Dembele on the pitch losing 1-0, with him for 10 mins we were dominant and ahead 0-1
Cheltenham - with Dembele we were dominant and winning 3-1, without him we were behind 0-1.
Peterborough - without Dembele we were losing 0-2 and down to 10 men, with him we were the better team and matched them 2-2
Fleetwood - without Dembele we were losing 2-0, with him we were ahead 1-3
 
I watched the Fleetwood game the other night and obvs our game the other week. Both times Dembele came on to great impact. Clearly is a tricky adventurous player, which makes me assume he simply doesn't have a strong 'all round game'. If he plays, I assume it's at the detriment to defence, which is obviously fine when you're looking for a goal (like the two games I refer to), but probably explains why he's not being picked from the get go. So... Has he started a game? Does he work hard off the ball? Does he have the stamina for 90 mins? Has to be a valid reason...

We have similar players at Oxford who are great 'impact players' who just don't tend to perform well over a 90...
 
neyo said:
I watched the Fleetwood game the other night and obvs our game the other week. Both times Dembele came on to great impact. Clearly is a tricky adventurous player, which makes me assume he simply doesn't have a strong 'all round game'. If he plays, I assume it's at the detriment to defence, which is obviously fine when you're looking for a goal (like the two games I refer to), but probably explains why he's not being picked from the get go. So... Has he started a game? Does he work hard off the ball? Does he have the stamina for 90 mins? Has to be a valid reason...

We have similar players at Oxford who are great 'impact players' who just don't tend to perform well over a 90...
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Yes, a few suggestions have been put forward as to why he isn't playing from the start.
Not match fit is a common one, but he did start against Cheltenham, played 66 minutes, we were 3-1 up when he departed and he scored a cracker.
It could also be Critch's safety first approach and he prefers two defensive central midfielders, but I'm not convinced about this because he generally replaces Carey who does not offer much in terms of defensive duties.
Maybe he is carrying a knock and as a result they don't want to risk him breaking down. Either way, in our last four games we have only won the game that he started and we have not scored when he hasn't been on the pitch. So for me it's crystal clear. Play him from the start, get ahead in the game and see how long he lasts...
 
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