Dembele started, how was he?

neyo

neyo

Well-known member
See many of you rave about this fella and want him to start, did it work, or is better as an impact sub?
 
Not his best game but had moments of quality.

The game fell down on giving the ball away elsewhere really.
 
caused some problems, hit the post with a first time volley in the first 5 minutes. held the ball really well, consistently had three bolton players on him, but only gave away possession about three times, and i think in two of them he was fouled.

not enough players getting into the box today so we limited our chances.. there was a great break for sonny carey but absolutely no one got up in support. Bolton were very cautious today, we were equally or possibly even more so.
 
Costero Poderoso said:
caused some problems, hit the post with a first time volley in the first 5 minutes. held the ball really well, consistently had three bolton players on him, but only gave away possession about three times, and i think in two of them he was fouled.

not enough players getting into the box today so we limited our chances.. there was a great break for sonny carey but absolutely no one got up in support. Bolton were very cautious today, we were equally or possibly even more so.
Click to expand...
Yep. He hit the post in probably our best chance.

The takeaway is the “Start Dembele and we will win every time” brigade, don’t have any more idea than anyone else.
 
neyo said:
Outsider perspective is that he’s a luxury player you carry when you have a hardy midfield to afford him freedom… You don’t have that tho ay?
Click to expand...
Somewhat true. Our ‘hardiest midfield’ would be Norburn and Dougall behind. We’ve struggled with a solid mid for a number of seasons and unfortunately today we didn’t have Dougall available.
 
neyo said:
Outsider perspective is that he’s a luxury player you carry when you have a hardy midfield to afford him freedom… You don’t have that tho ay?
Click to expand...

Not at the moment. Virtue injured, Dougall suspended, Lyons and Dale not being started. 🤦
 
I thought he was good in the 1st half.
I personally thought we set up with a front 3 of Dembele, Rhodes and Carey although I concede Carey and Dembele played deep.
Both seemed to have a reasonably free role and played both sides of the pitch.
Once again Kaddy faded in the 2nd half.
As for Carey whilst he still needs to get on the weights I do think he is "developing" this season and you do get 90 minutes out of him.
I don't know the answer to the question of whether you start or finish with Dembele
 
I’d have preferred to see him brought in as an impact sub tbh. Think that was the difference today to be honest. We lacked an option to really up the ante / intensity from the subs bench.
 
ansdellmafia said:
He flattered to deceive . Nearly scored, and that was it .
Click to expand...
It wasn't his best game but we set up a bit odd up top and also he had many players on him quickly, obviously been identified as at times, one of the only ones that'll make things happen.
 
Thought he was one of our better players first half - his creativity will suit Joseph being up top as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gjr
At Bromley after a top first half he totally dippeared 2nd and got the ame impression today

He has Plentiful talent needs a 90 mins performance
 
He showed flashes of quality but other than hitting the post early doors nothing really came of it. We weren't really committing players forward for him to feed into though to be fair so not the best match to judge him on
 
  • Like
Reactions: gjr
Costero Poderoso said:
hit the post with a first time volley in the first 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
There's the small margins and I always said the first season Critchley was here when we were promoted I felt he was a 'lucky manager' and a lot of things went our way - this time it feels in a lot of games like his luck has run out a bit.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Yep. He hit the post in probably our best chance.

The takeaway is the “Start Dembele and we will win every time” brigade, don’t have any more idea than anyone else.
Click to expand...
Don’t think that last part is necessarily true. Firstly, I haven’t seen anyone actually say that.
Secondly, as I just said on another thread, he’s at his best when he turns and has plenty of options in front of him. The fact we started with one striker meant limited options and he often had to go back or just try to take everyone on.
 
I prefer him as a sub but bring him on for 30 mins or more. Business end of the game. In the meantime, we need someone else that can offer the same sort of link play from the get go
 
You start with Dougall and Norburn play 2 up front, Dembele behind them, Hamilton as left wing back and Lyons or Gabriel on the right and we will be winning more games than we lose.
 
We seem to forget that Bolton are the form team at the moment and going strong.
I felt both sides cancelled each other out and from that perspective we played well
Always going to struggle playing just one up front and apart from Dembebele’s effort I don’t recall us having a shot on target
We defended well under the pressure and it was a wonderful strike that won them the game.
At this moment in time Dembele isn’t a starter and should be used for the last 30 mins when the opponents are tiring
Carey is growing in confidence and will be a squad member and Norrburn, I’m sorry to say, is a liability
Yes he gets stuck in but he is reckless and gives too much lip to the officials; he needs to calm down
Still only 3 points off the play offs so let’s take the positives
 
Insider said:
I thought he was good in the 1st half.
I personally thought we set up with a front 3 of Dembele, Rhodes and Carey although I concede Carey and Dembele played deep.
Both seemed to have a reasonably free role and played both sides of the pitch.
Once again Kaddy faded in the 2nd half.
As for Carey whilst he still needs to get on the weights I do think he is "developing" this season and you do get 90 minutes out of him.
I don't know the answer to the question of whether you start or finish with Dembele
Click to expand...
Critchley should start one of Carey or Dembele behind a front 2. Playing them both deeper behind Rhodes didn't work because they had less options ahead of them to play through balls and short, angled passes to.
Start with one of them and then replace with the other to keep up the intensity. If you start with all your best creative and attack minded players it's harder to make effective subs if you need them. That's how it was on Saturday.
 
Insider said:
I thought he was good in the 1st half.
I personally thought we set up with a front 3 of Dembele, Rhodes and Carey although I concede Carey and Dembele played deep.
Both seemed to have a reasonably free role and played both sides of the pitch.
Once again Kaddy faded in the 2nd half.
As for Carey whilst he still needs to get on the weights I do think he is "developing" this season and you do get 90 minutes out of him.
I don't know the answer to the question of whether you start or finish with Dembele
Click to expand...
Usually agree with most of your stuff Insy but that was clearly always meant to be a lone striker...I think most of our fans will accept :

a) that doesnt work for us as a team

b) that doesnt work for Rhodes as a goal poacher

Its time to stop messing about and keep things simple minimum of two up top and try and outscore the opposition. We are not going to win many games with zero shots on target.
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
Usually agree with most of your stuff Insy but that was clearly always meant to be a lone striker...I think most of our fans will accept :

a) that doesnt work for us as a team

b) that doesnt work for Rhodes as a goal poacher

Its time to stop messing about and keep things simple minimum of two up top and try and outscore the opposition. We are not going to win many games with zero shots on target.
Click to expand...
I did say they played deep but even Rhodes has to track back. If you watch the game back you can see a definite front 3 when we are attacking.
However I do agree that combination doesn't seem to suit us. I'd like to see Rhodes +Joseph/Lavery/Kouassi as a front 2 with Carey and Dembele with free role behind them. With a fit squad you could a supporting mid-field 2 of Norburn/Dougall/Virtue if we persist with WBs. Failing that we could play all 3 and revert to a back 4.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top