I also wonder if they'd consider loaning Nabil to a big European club for a season. I would absolutely hate to sell him at such a young age and with so much promise, but I also wouldn't want him to spend another year out of the team. Tough call for Poch and co.
if he's rated by Poch and the question marks over his attitude have been smoothed over then i think there's a place in the squad for him next season as Dembele's competition - he doesn't offer the exact same game as him but i think he has potential to prosper in the CM position next to the DM where he'll have less defensive responsibility and can focus more on getting forward and influencing our attacking game from deep.
Dier/Wanyama
Dembele/Bentaleb
In that scenario we wouldn't need to loan him out as i think he'd get enough game time here over the season to progress in his development
Dembele is still only 28.Totally agree that he should be used next to a DM. And as Moussa is nearing 30 and has had injury problems throughout his career, I'd love to see Nabil in there over Mason for CM cover. That said, it does feel like Poch prefers Mason, which is frustrating as Nabil is four years younger and has so much more potential.
if he's rated by Poch and the question marks over his attitude have been smoothed over then i think there's a place in the squad for him next season as Dembele's competition - he doesn't offer the exact same game as him but i think he has potential to prosper in the CM position next to the DM where he'll have less defensive responsibility and can focus more on getting forward and influencing our attacking game from deep.
Dier/Wanyama
Dembele/Bentaleb
In that scenario we wouldn't need to loan him out as i think he'd get enough game time here over the season to progress in his development
Dembele is still only 28.
I can see Wanyama predominantly being cover for Dier, and possibly pushing into the team for cup matches. In the PL I can see him being brought on at the expense of an attacker to see matches out. Dier/Dembele/Wanyama would be a veritable wall of yid.
Edit: My bad. Dembele turned 29 yesterday.
Dembele is still only 28.
I can see Wanyama predominantly being cover for Dier, and possibly pushing into the team for cup matches.
Maybe, but I see Wanyama being too like Dier to be an effective partner for him. I like Wanyama but he's no Dembele.I do not see it that way at all. Dembele misses the first 4 league games of the season. Now if Wanyama has an excellent pre season and then excels in those 4 games I do not see him automatically being dropped because Dembele is fit.
Besides if Dele Alli could work himself into the starting line up in the manner he did I am pretty sure Wanyama a player Poch knows very well an has been trying to sign since last summer will quite easily stay in the team "if" he proves himself good enough.
anyway, I am sure he will not mind playing in Champions League Cup games
Maybe, but I see Wanyama being too like Dier to be an effective partner for him. I like Wanyama but he's no Dembele.
I got your point but you did imply he was taking Dembele's place not Dier's, which I don't think is going to happen. Too similar. That was my point.The point I was trying to make is that I do not believe he will be signed as "backup" to Dier, more likely as competition, and for the record I think there is a big difference
I got your point but you did imply he was taking Dembele's place not Dier's, which I don't think is going to happen. Too similar. That was my point.
Indeed, let's hope that we're playing so well Dembele can't get in the team, and for that matter Kane too, and Alli, the more we can give these players true competition, the better.Well Dembele was dumb enough to get him suspended for 4 games and if Wanyama starts ad puts in good performances I do not see Wanyama getting benched simply because Dembele is available. Anyway, it is nothing for me to worry about right now