I often wonder what heights Dembele could’ve reached if he played predominantly higher up the pitch (in his peak years). The ability to beat defenders and open room for low pin-point shots, off both feet, is such a threat.
https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/1490974070896316418
This isn’t to say he didn’t reach a level close to his ceiling.
Given the landscape of Spurs’ squad from 2013-2019, a deeper role made more sense anyway - and despite being harder to quantify, I actually think Dembele could well have added more value from his deeper role anyway.
Given the landscape of Spurs’ squad from 2013-2019, a deeper role made more sense anyway - and despite being harder to quantify, I actually think Dembele could well have added more value from his deeper role anyway.
His core attributes to me, were:
- his ability to receive with high retention
- his awareness to receive on the half turn when given space to turn into, or roll his defender in either direction if pressured upon receiving
Both of which allowed him to get rhythm in central areas.
- his ability to receive with high retention
- his awareness to receive on the half turn when given space to turn into, or roll his defender in either direction if pressured upon receiving
Both of which allowed him to get rhythm in central areas.
This “rhythm” or, for want of a better phrase, momentum, allowed him to make those progressive carries in tight areas, and the ability to do this so consistently is so, so rare. The consistency and efficacy combined is truly unique.
It is also worth noting the downstream effects of Dembele being such a deep threat not only created space for Eriksen, etc further up the pitch, by drawing players into him, but also allowed Spurs to open the wings/HSs as opposition teams compressed into a more narrow shape.
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