11 - Ousmane Dembélé - V1

[MessiCam]

When I say 442 I mean 4 TRUE midfielders, like: Iniesta/Coutinho/Rakitic/Busquets/Gomes/Paulinho.
What we played yesterday might have been 442 on paper, but that is a totally different formation because Dembele is not a CM in 442 but a true winger-attacker.
We basically played 432 with Dembele somewhere on the field.

So, it was way closer to 433 than to 442.
Or, it was way closer to a 3men midfield than to a EV's classical 4men midfield.

Oh ok. Then you should distinguish it by saying 4-4-2 with CM's or workhorse 4-4-2.

And it was actually closer to a 4-2-3-1, because Iniesta played wide on the other end too, than a 4-3-3. I spoke about Dembélé not playing with a double pivot but I was basically laughed at. His coach from Rennes said something similar. You also pointed out something similar regarding him and Coutinho previously...

And I will agree that we played better with 4 CM's than this tripe that Valverde has going now but 4 CM's leave you with a lack of attacking width. With the squad we have I still maintain that a 4-3-3 should be our go to formation because you still have some semblance of a midfield as well as width. If not then the purchases of Coutinho and Dembélé would have been for nothing. They can't play in a workhorse 4-4-2...

 

[Raketa10]

His interview with Onze Mondial:

Asked if he was a Ferrari, Dembele said: "A Ferrari? That's too much. You can say I'm a Ferrari under construction. Let's hope that I can get there."

The French forward, 20 says he's "a good player hoping to become a great player" because for him "being a good footballer is not enough to play for Barca."

Dembele also pointed to his biggest flaw. "Losing the ball in silly ways. I always try to fix it, every season. And here it's not a joke. At Barca there are few balls given away and when you lose one, you see immediately and it's not forgiven. The level of demand is very high. I have to fix this as soon as possible."

In terms of defending, Dembele said: "That's going well, I defend. I don't like it too much but I do it for the team."

 

[jairzinho]

His interview with Onze Mondial:

Asked if he was a Ferrari, Dembele said: "A Ferrari? That's too much. You can say I'm a Ferrari under construction. Let's hope that I can get there."

The French forward, 20 says he's "a good player hoping to become a great player" because for him "being a good footballer is not enough to play for Barca."

Dembele also pointed to his biggest flaw. "Losing the ball in silly ways. I always try to fix it, every season. And here it's not a joke. At Barca there are few balls given away and when you lose one, you see immediately and it's not forgiven. The level of demand is very high. I have to fix this as soon as possible."

In terms of defending, Dembele said: "That's going well, I defend. I don't like it too much but I do it for the team."

I like the fact that he clearly understands what he needs to work on.

He had a good game yesterday, his composure and confidence is getting to where it needs to be.

His defensive awareness will improve over time.

 

[Horatio]

He's barely made ten appearances this season, but somehow he's snuck into the French team.

He's playing for a trip to Russia this international break.

He's valuable for them because he has information on certain players and already build a relationship with some of the other French players at Barca. He can also give pointers of the things he learned from Messi, Suarez etc.

 

[Joan]

Reading his latest interviews...

doesn't seem dumb, there is hope
seems to be aware of his flaws and that he tries to fix them

 

[ATLBarcaFan]

Kid's a baller, so happy for him to get his first and what a huge goal. If Barca are patient with him, he will become a superstar

 

[Devils]

[tw]974306055772663810[/tw]

Better angle of Messi's amazing dribble and Demouz's blistering finish.

Top top finish that.

 

[Horatio]

Ronaldo would be jealous of that finish.

 

[footyfan]

Do fans of other clubs complain about the defensive deficiencies of their winger like (alleged) Barca fans have been doing with Dembele this season?

I don't think I've ever seen the topic of tracking back, pressing hard enough, etc. ever be raised when talking about the likes of Hazard, Robben, Neymar, et al., but this seems to be a weekly occurrence now with Dembele critics. Outside of Sanchez, can one of his Dembele's critics cite some talented wingers who have a high defensive workrate that you think he should learn from?

Those players do not play in a 4-4-2. And Neymar tracked back a lot for Barca the last 1.5 seasons or so, despite playing in a 4-3-3.

Dembele's profile surely fits a 4-3-3 more, but playing him on the right in a 4-4-2 is indeed risky, and the tracking back requirement is much stronger.

 

[Ousmane Dembélé]

[tw]974306260601524225[/tw]

Learning from the best.

 

[Horatio]

Messi class attended by Dembele and Semedo.

 

[serghei]

Shit that's good video material from Chiringuito.

 

[xXKonan]

 

[Horatio]

Damn...looking at Borussia it makes you somewhat understand why he forced the transfer and got the hell outta there ASAFP.

 

[wisconsincule]

I screamed so loud when he scored. So awesome and so happy for him.