Moussa Dembele

Dante

Average bang
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
25,280
Location
My wit's end
It'd be a bit of a travesty to not give Martial a go as striker if the Lukaku goes, if he gets his head right he could easily be a level better player than this lad, and we would also have the added benifit of a new first choice left winger at the same time.
If he lacks the ability to high press and make the correct runs, so be it.
 

SteveW

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
7,194
Isnt't he struggled to score goals in the Scottish and French leagues? Seems like a combination of Bellion, Obertan and Depay.
Hes got around a goal every 110 mins this season.

Edit: Every 130 mins. Still more than decent for a 22 year old
 

SteveW

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
7,194
Gone off in the 84th minute. Did ok. No obvious weaknesses. Nothing overly exciting about him either.
 

SteveW

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
7,194
Really hoping Zidane goes after Ferland Mendy as has been rumoured. Comedy footballer.
 

Infestissumam

Full Member
Joined
May 18, 2017
Messages
2,300
Location
Austria
Isnt't he struggled to score goals in the Scottish and French leagues? Seems like a combination of Bellion, Obertan and Depay.
yeah that's a bit of a stretch mate.



Pepes totals, while impressive, have been inflated due to 9 penalties btw.
 

devilish

Juventus fan who used to support United
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
61,528
The issue here is simple. Lukaku is paid as a 70m something striker. He lacks the characteristics ole want from his main striker and had since become a human tank which made matters worse.

United believe Rashy can do the job with Greenwood and Martial being viable options. What we will be searching is someone in between ie a player whose more experienced then greenwood, who can give Rashy a run for his money but who would accept the bench. Dembele fits the bill.
 
Joined
May 22, 2017
Messages
13,122
This may be the case, but it seems Rom isn't satisfied with being a squad player, whereas Dembele most likely would. I mean, he doesn't even always start for Lyon.
Just imagine the savings the Carrington canteen would make if Lukuke left... Would mk ore than make up for taking a loss on him. I don't particularly see Dembele as a suitable replacement.
 

RussellWilson

2020 NFC Fantasy League winner
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
1,302
yeah that's a bit of a stretch mate.



Pepes totals, while impressive, have been inflated due to 9 penalties btw.
Matching Thauvins goal total isn't particularly impressive.

Seems like Delay starts ahead of him up front quite often, again another player who struggled in the PL
 

tjb

Full Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
3,309
His overall play would be a vast improvement on Lukaku no doubt. But that’s a pretty low bar.

And maybe he could make the step up here, but he’d be a pretty underwhelming signing considering some of the other options available.

That said, at least we wouldn’t be going with Rashy up top next season.
Not many great strikers available in my opinion and at 40m at 22, with the fact we would get 2 to 3 more signings, in addition to potentially signing the younger players ( longstaff and daniel james) and the young players breaking through, its like a lot of people just want to be upset at the club for anything. Same people who talked about guys like mane and salah not being good enough.
 

Red00012

Full Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2018
Messages
12,087
The issue here is simple. Lukaku is paid as a 70m something striker. He lacks the characteristics ole want from his main striker and had since become a human tank which made matters worse.

United believe Rashy can do the job with Greenwood and Martial being viable options. What we will be searching is someone in between ie a player whose more experienced then greenwood, who can give Rashy a run for his money but who would accept the bench. Dembele fits the bill.
The problem there been Martial has never been played up top.
 

The Nani

New Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Messages
1,623
Location
at the bottom of Ole’s wheel
Not many great strikers available in my opinion and at 40m at 22, with the fact we would get 2 to 3 more signings, in addition to potentially signing the younger players ( longstaff and daniel james) and the young players breaking through, its like a lot of people just want to be upset at the club for anything. Same people who talked about guys like mane and salah not being good enough.
I just feel we need a real quality addition upfront. Much moreso than most here seem to.

I’m not upset per se. I even mentioned him previously saying I wouldn’t be against his signing, but I just hope he’s ready to make the step up.

If not perhaps he could be our Louis Saha, Javier Hernandez or dare I say it OGS going forward.

At least he wouldn’t come in expecting to be the man from the get.
 

Jed I. Knight

The Mos Eisley Hillbilly
Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
3,619
Location
Tatooine
The issue here is simple. Lukaku is paid as a 70m something striker. He lacks the characteristics ole want from his main striker and had since become a human tank which made matters worse.

United believe Rashy can do the job with Greenwood and Martial being viable options. What we will be searching is someone in between ie a player whose more experienced then greenwood, who can give Rashy a run for his money but who would accept the bench. Dembele fits the bill.
Pretty much.
 

tjb

Full Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
3,309
I just feel we need a real quality addition upfront. Much moreso than most here seem to.

I’m not upset per se. I even mentioned him previously saying I wouldn’t be against his signing, but I just hope he’s ready to make the step up.

If not perhaps he could be our Louis Saha, Javier Hernandez or dare I say it OGS going forward.

At least he wouldn’t come in expecting to be the man from the get.
I see your point, and to an extenct I agree, particularly if we go 4231, as I cannot completely trust Rash and Martial. But I kind of see a diamond if we buy him, with a potential for us to use 4 rotating strikers as we did in the treble team ( greenwood included). It would mean far less pressure on any individual for goals. At 40m, the fact we would sell Lukaku and given our budget, we would have more for areas that I feel are more key to our recent failures than attack like centre back, right back and right wing/attacking midfield. The idea this summer seems to be to bring together players that can work in a team together in a system, and if this is how we do it, then i'm all for it.
 

devilish

Juventus fan who used to support United
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
61,528
He has but very frequent, doubt he managed one start this season up there.
3 managers haven’t fancied him up there for some reason.
I said that he's an option not plan A
 

Posh Red

Full Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
3,439
Location
Peterborough, England
I just feel we need a real quality addition upfront. Much moreso than most here seem to.

I’m not upset per se. I even mentioned him previously saying I wouldn’t be against his signing, but I just hope he’s ready to make the step up.

If not perhaps he could be our Louis Saha, Javier Hernandez or dare I say it OGS going forward.

At least he wouldn’t come in expecting to be the man from the get.
I think that’s a really good point and could potentially aid Rashford’s development. If we were to sign a big-name forward he would expect to play every week which will probably stall Rashfords progress. With a signing like this you could breed some healthy competition.
 

Infra-red

Full Member
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
13,387
Location
left wing
He's THAT Dembele? What the feck are we playing at? There's about three others that are better right?
:lol:

I like the underlying assumption in this post - that we have to buy a Dembele this summer, it's just a question of picking the right one.
 

The Nani

New Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Messages
1,623
Location
at the bottom of Ole’s wheel
I think that’s a really good point and could potentially aid Rashford’s development. If we were to sign a big-name forward he would expect to play every week which will probably stall Rashfords progress. With a signing like this you could breed some healthy competition.
I’m much more concerned with Greenwood getting chances than Rashford.
 

Pink Moon

Full Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
8,279
Location
Glasgow
Supports
Celtic
Dembele is class and is still only a young lad. I think if he didn't have Scottish football on his CV a lot of people would be more excited about the idea of signing a promising young French striker from Lyon.

The idea that Lukaku - a guy that literally injured himself controlling the ball - is better is laughable.
 

Flying_Heckfish

Full Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
4,875
Location
Hand in Glove
Loads of players are better strikers than current Lukaku. Including Martial.

Rashford for all his current limitations definitely is.

Don't see the point of this signing unless we're selling Martial. Dembele isn't leagues ahead of these lot.
 
Last edited:

Womp

idiot
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
9,262
Location
Australia
This is more like the signings I'm expecting us to make, back down to earth. Dybala, Griezmann, Felix etc. available on the market for the right price and we are settling for Dembele. We already have enough squad attackers; Lingard, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Lukaku (if he doesn't leave), can all operate there. We need proven quality there.

This only really makes sense if Lukaku is leaving. Even then, using some of that money to buy a proper top class forward would make more sense.
 

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,025
Location
...
Said before, he had been a player of interest to me for years. From when he was at Fulham and would have been a different profile of signing. When he went to Scotland, I was disappointed as he could have done better. Can’t really judge his time at Celtic as the league is a joke - but he did have some good games in the CL. Didn’t he score like a hat-trick for Celtic against Barca once?

Anyway, when he went to Lyon, I made a thread in the football forum ‘Moussa Dembele, Performances 18/19’ or something like that, as he was a player I was tracking as a potential target for us this summer based on how he did in France. That said, I’m not particularly impressed with how he did in France! I thought he’d do better. At this stage, Mariano Diaz who left them probably would be better for us, and Real would probably sell. Dembele still a young player though, and one we as a club have tracked for at least 5 years, so I trust us on this.
 

The Nani

New Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Messages
1,623
Location
at the bottom of Ole’s wheel
This is more like the signings I'm expecting us to make, back down to earth. Dybala, Griezmann, Felix etc. available on the market for the right price and we are settling for Dembele. We already have enough squad attackers; Lingard, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Lukaku (if he doesn't leave), can all operate there. We need proven quality there.

This only really makes sense if Lukaku is leaving. Even then, using some of that money to buy a proper top class forward would make more sense.
We definitely still need that profile of forward. Or maybe Bruno Fernandes could do the job.

I dunno. We’ll see how it plays out.
 

Vault Dweller

Correctly predicted Italy to win Euro 2020
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
6,553
Location
Vault 88, The Commonwealth
Said before, he had been a player of interest to me for years. From when he was at Fulham and would have been a different profile of signing. When he went to Scotland, I was disappointed as he could have done better. Can’t really judge his time at Celtic as the league is a joke - but he did have some good games in the CL. Didn’t he score like a hat-trick for Celtic against Barca once?

Anyway, when he went to Lyon, I made a thread in the football forum ‘Moussa Dembele, Performances 18/19’ or something like that, as he was a player I was tracking as a potential target for us this summer based on how he did in France. That said, I’m not particularly impressed with how he did in France! I thought he’d do better. At this stage, Mariano Diaz who left them probably would be better for us, and Real would probably sell. Dembele still a young player though, and one we as a club have tracked for at least 5 years, so I trust us on this.
The league up here isn’t great, but it was even apparent at Celtic that he was a cracking player. Despite being a bluenose I always thought he was very good, and seems to have carried on at Lyon. People might be dismissive of this transfer but I think it could be really smart business. And I don’t think it would be the major attacking signing we make either, more like the underrated signing while we also get a big name.
 

haram

New Member
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
12,921
The discussions been done to death but the amount of goals Lukaku scores over a season isn't the reason why he's not good enough (and never will be good enough) for a top team. If this needs repeating then there's just no point discussing it. The combination of the right mentality, talent on the ball, movement, etc. all not there.
Good luck finding a better striker. Last season he scored goals in a team severely lacking width, delivery and creativity. He helped us finish 2nd and we probably would have won the FA Cup if he was fit for the final. He is not the problem.
 

sglowrider

Thinks the caf is 'wokeish'.
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Messages
25,183
Location
Hell on Earth
This is video is amazing. I have never been so underwhelmed by a player on Youtube before. He barely scores in this video. :nervous::nervous::lol::lol:

Very fast but where have I seen that first touch before?

 

In Rainbows

Full Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2014
Messages
6,730
Said before, he had been a player of interest to me for years. From when he was at Fulham and would have been a different profile of signing. When he went to Scotland, I was disappointed as he could have done better. Can’t really judge his time at Celtic as the league is a joke - but he did have some good games in the CL. Didn’t he score like a hat-trick for Celtic against Barca once?

Anyway, when he went to Lyon, I made a thread in the football forum ‘Moussa Dembele, Performances 18/19’ or something like that, as he was a player I was tracking as a potential target for us this summer based on how he did in France. That said, I’m not particularly impressed with how he did in France! I thought he’d do better. At this stage, Mariano Diaz who left them probably would be better for us, and Real would probably sell. Dembele still a young player though, and one we as a club have tracked for at least 5 years, so I trust us on this.
These were his numbers for Fulham at the youth level for reference (not that people should take that into account). He was more impressive than James Wilson at the same level is what I came away with after we played Fulham.

U18s
2013 - 17 goals in 21 apps as a 16 year old
2014 - 23 goals in 17 apps as a 17 year old

U21s
2014 - 8 goals in 9 apps

Scored 17 in the Championship as a 19 year old.

BTW, his scoring numbers are similar to Lacazette at the same age.

Lacazette at age 22 in France - 22 goals in 54 apps
Dembele at age 22 in France - 20 goals in 45 apps
 

Ekeke

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
53,080
Location
Hope, We Lose
yeah that's a bit of a stretch mate.



Pepes totals, while impressive, have been inflated due to 9 penalties btw.
True, joint 2nd most goals from open play in France this season along with Thauvin and Cavani. Dembele, Thauvin and Cavani all have 14

Pepe has 13 from open play
 

deafepl

New Member
Joined
May 19, 2017
Messages
2,974
True, joint 2nd most goals from open play in France this season along with Thauvin and Cavani. Dembele, Thauvin and Cavani all have 14

Pepe has 13 from open play
Despite having fewer minutes than all of them.

I think Dembele could turn out to be a decent player, he's very low risk. Either he's starter or bench player, he's good for us, we need more firepower in our depth.

There's not world class striker on market right now, I'd prefer to go for them when they're available rather than getting second to 10th choice.

The redcafe is weird, they demand top players, and say he's not enough good for bench players. Not many top players will join as bench players, they want to be the first choice. City, PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid would have offered billion for Griezmann, Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe, Dybala, Aguero, Salah, Kane, etc together in the squad but not all of them will join unless they are guaranteed they'll be the first choice. If they were relegated to bench option, they'll hand in a transfers request instantly

Dembele is the only player who doesn't mind to be on the bench if it means he has to complete with Rashford for ST. I'd be happy with it
 
Last edited:

Ekeke

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
53,080
Location
Hope, We Lose
Despite having fewer minutes than all of them.

I think Dembele could turn out to be a decent player, he's very low risk. Either he's starter or bench player, he's good for us, we need more firepower in our depth.

There's not world class striker on market right now, I'd prefer to go for them when they're available rather than getting second to 10th choice.

The redcafe is weird, they demand top players, and say he's not enough good for bench players. Not many top players will join as bench players, they want to be the first choice. City, PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid would have offered billion for Griezmann, Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe, Dybala, Aguero, Salah, Kane, etc together in the squad but not all of them will join unless they are guaranteed they'll be the first choice. If they were relegated to bench option, they'll hand in a transfers request instantly

Dembele is the only player who doesn't mind to be on the bench if it means he has to complete with Rashford for ST. I'd be happy with it
Yep can only see him as Lukaku's replacement and he'll be less wages so
 

Axle17

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Apr 14, 2019
Messages
146
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Offload Lukaku and bring in Dembele. No brainer.

More agile, more decisive in his finishing and decisions. Also keeps the ball moving towards goal instead of holding it up.

Front three of Dembele, Martial & Rashford..potential for years to come!