Ousmane Dembele who plays for Rennais in France. Made his debut this season and has apparently been fantastic. 9 goals in 17 games while being the main man. Think he's only 18The Fulham one?
Looks like the next big thing
Ousmane Dembele who plays for Rennais in France. Made his debut this season and has apparently been fantastic. 9 goals in 17 games while being the main man. Think he's only 18The Fulham one?
No, Ousmane Dembele. Wonderkid from Rennes.The Fulham one?
I do quite like him, definitely an option.
Ousmane Dembele who plays for Rennais in France. Made his debut this season and has apparently been fantastic. 9 goals in 17 games while being the main man. Think he's only 18
Looks like the next big thing
I'm hoping we bring in Ibrahimovich and Dembele. According to the article below he has a pretty strong temperament.As good as he might be (never heard of him), I think we have enough young players, especially in the forward areas. What we need is experience and a cool head in the final third. That's what we often lack, in my opnion.
Rolland Courbis is not famed for keeping his head down, but his post-match press conference at the weekend began with an uncharacteristic step away from the night’s main theme. “It’s not on an evening when a colleague quits that I’m going to brag,” he said after his Rennes team’s extraordinary comeback win at Toulouse, which pushed Les Violets even deeper into relegation trouble and his counterpart Dominique Arribagé into resigning. Having left Montpellier just before Christmas, the memories of such pain and such a sense of impotence are fresh for Courbis.
All power to the former Marseille boss, then, in bouncing back in such prompt and unexpected fashion, in the image of his new team on Saturday night. It has been a whirlwind month for the Brittany club and their new coach, who was appointed as president René Ruello’s adviser on January 12th and then promoted to replace the sacked Philippe Montanier eight days later.
Already, Courbis has started to build a reputation for himself in his new surrounds having dragged an extra ounce or two of fortitude out of his new charges. As the clock ticked to 90 minutes at Stadium Municipal, lowly Toulouse led 1-0. By the time Stéphane Jochem blew the final whistle, Les Rouges et Noirs had snared three points to accompany them on their return journey north.
It was the latest, and most spectacular, in Rennes’ recent series of salvage acts under the new man. After last-gasp winners at home to Gazélec Ajaccio and Angers, sandwiching an 89th-minute equaliser to snatch a point at Lille, the concept of ‘Le Courbis Time’, as beIN Sports has it, is developing a life of its own.
Another specialist in late drama was at the heart of things in Haute-Garonne, with Kamil Grosicki netting the later-than-late winner. Rennes were actively shopping the Poland midfielder to potential buyers in January, and he has started just 6 times this season. They will be glad he stayed now. Grosicki’s busy style comes into its own in the closing stages of games, and his strike that downed Toulouse was his 7th of the season – 6 of them have been scored after Grosicki has joined the action from the bench, twice as many goals as a substitute than any other Ligue 1 player.
He wasn’t the central figure in Saturday’s great escape, though. At just 18, Ousmane Dembélé has already developed into the key man for a team, and a squad, that sometimes seems to lack a clear identity. Dembélé already has the personality to stand up when it matters. After expertly poaching the equaliser at Toulouse, he was the architect of Grosicki’s winner with a wonderfully judged pass into the right channel. His man of the match rating of 8.95 was well deserved.
Coming through for Rennes at the vital moment is no longer a novelty for the youngster. He had the nerve to take the penalty for that late leveller at Lille. In the derby win at Guingamp before Christmas, it was Dembélé who scored the opener before laying on a clinching goal for Giovanni Sio. His modest, boy-next-door demeanour masks an uncommon confidence and determination.
All in all, Dembélé has 6 goals and 3 assists in his 12 starts to date, directly implicating him in 25% of his side’s goals, and that having only made his Rennes first-team debut this season. Those numbers, though, only begin to tell us about his willingness to assume leadership of the team’s attacking effort. Dembélé’s most notable characteristic is his dribbling, opening space in opposing defences – he makes 4.3 per match, more than anybody else in Ligue 1. Yet he is also judicious on the ball, making 1.7 key passes per match and keeping his shots on goal down to a relatively modest 2.1.
This effort has been hugely important in keeping Rennes in touch with the European places. Golden boy Paul-Georges Ntep has struggled with injury, limiting him to just 11 starts this campaign, and Sio hasn’t yet scored in this calendar year. Yoann Gourcuff is only beginning to take baby steps back into action, and Juan Fernando Quintero is yet to weigh in heavily, having started only 9 times (for 1 goal and 2 assists).
Yet as it stands, they are in sixth place but just a point behind Lyon in third, even after last year’s runners-up disposed of Paris Saint-Germain in fine fashion on Sunday night. The chaotic nature of Rennes’ campaign (Courbis has presided over 3 wins, a draw and 3 defeats in Ligue 1) can’t hide the fact that any sort of consistent run could see them fulfil their ambitions. Likewise, the delivery of Saturday’s victory shouldn’t obscure a more even general performance, dominating possession (56.2%) and the shot count (18-6). Maybe the real miracle would have been if Rennes hadn’t won.
While Courbis’ thoughts for his counterpart are admirable, the contrast of Arribagé’s recent fortunes to his own decisive influence are unavoidable. A loyal club man – who president Olivier Sadran has emphasised will stay at Téfécé in another capacity – was forced out by a miserable 22% win rate. Moreover, Arribagé’s erstwhile side have the astonishing record of having lost a possible 26 points this season after taking the lead in matches. It all underlines Courbis’ promising first month of work.
The past, as it turns out, is the future. Under Courbis, Rennes could yet pluck some glorious reward from this strangest of seasons.
No Moussa (Fulham)... Ousmane Dembele from Rennes. I have watch him play 2 times in the left wing and I noticed he is right footed. But we need a right winger, that's why I wanted to know if he is as good on the right wing.The Fulham one?
Please use januzaj on the right until the end of the season.. Surely can't be much worse than mata and lingard.
Please use januzaj on the right until the end of the season.. Surely can't be much worse than mata and lingard.
Enough with the kids. We have Martial, Memphis, Lingaard, Rashford, Pereira, Januzaj all under 22. We need some senior, more developed players to fall back on as Mata, Rooney, Schweinsteiger and Carrick are unreliable. we mustn't become the next Arsenal with the premise "when this team matures we'll rule the world!"Ousmane Dembele who plays for Rennais in France. Made his debut this season and has apparently been fantastic. 9 goals in 17 games while being the main man. Think he's only 18
Looks like the next big thing
I know hes had one season but feck it why not? He actually has the attributes required to be a winger. We went from Nani and Di Maria types to Lingaard who has less pace, limited dribbling, average crossing. We need someone quality. at least with ability to match Nani (perhaps with more consistency). Mahrez ticks the box based on this year alone. My only worry is if it's 1 seasonMahrez?
I agree. We need to go for a Griezmann or a Reus as you are almost guaranteed quality.Enough with the kids. We have Martial, Memphis, Lingaard, Rashford, Pereira, Januzaj all under 22. We need some senior, more developed players to fall back on as Mata, Rooney, Schweinsteiger and Carrick are unreliable. we mustn't become the next Arsenal with the premise "when this team matures we'll rule the world!"
Enough with the kids. We have Martial, Memphis, Lingaard, Rashford, Pereira, Januzaj all under 22. We need some senior, more developed players to fall back on as Mata, Rooney, Schweinsteiger and Carrick are unreliable. we mustn't become the next Arsenal with the premise "when this team matures we'll rule the world!"
Both of them don't play right wing, certainly not as their first choice. Might aswell stick memphis there if that's the case.I agree. We need to go for a Griezmann or a Reus as you are almost guaranteed quality.
I agree. We need to go for a Griezmann or a Reus as you are almost guaranteed quality.
I have seen both Griezmann and Reus play on the right wing and do very well. Griezmann moreso. He may do well but it's not guaranteed unlike the other two.Both of them don't play right wing, certainly not as their first choice. Might aswell stick memphis there if that's the case.
Dembele actually plays there and does it well, and so far he's showing more than martial did in France - we've seen French players usually translate to the premier league well. He looks like he could be a star, why not sign him? We are still short on attacking options really.
It doesn't matter if we have been linked. We have been quite secretive with our dealing recently and we have far more money to offer them than their current clubs. I didn't say they would be coming, I said we should be targeting them.Two players who haven't shown the slightest interest in joining us, let alone their club selling them to us. Atm we are barely a side step for these players.
Sure if we can convince them to join us than I'm all for it but I'm starting to think we can't which is the main reason we haven't brought in one of those two at least.
Again, are we over reaching? They play for sides of guaranteed champions league football and a reasonable chance of winning the league and champions league. I would say dortmund and atletico are in the tier just below the elite teams. Where are we? Our level is not even competitive for Champions League, not good enough to win the Europa and not good enough to challenge domestically. sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Is the money offer going to be enough to join a club at our level as I've never seen that kind of move before?I agree. We need to go for a Griezmann or a Reus as you are almost guaranteed quality.
You need the right balance. Some of your BEST players still need to be developed senior players. We won't last long if we have to rely on youths to win us games. When we had Rooney and Ronaldo, we still had players like RVN, Scholes, Giggsy and Alan Smith! They shared the burden whilst the younglings developed. Who we got? seriously? Wayne Rooney? Mata? Carrick? Schweinsteiger? Herrera? Fellaini? Schneiderlin is ok as hes a proven solid premier league CM and France international. Rojo is back up. so are the rest. I feel that if we don't have reliable developed midfielders then we need them in the front line whilst our young players develop. We've already had 3 years of not challenging. May be another 3 years before our young players are ready. Then it's make or break. And like Arsenal, if it's break, you're in a 10 season transition.Nah going for the biggest talents out there never is a mistake espeically if you can't get the big guns and we can't right now. Might change if Mou becomes our new manager or maybe not so I think we nee to persist with chasing the biggest talents, like Martial, out there.
Of course if a Müller or Neymar ever really becomes available go get him but as long as they aren't we need to bring in talents. Just buying the likes of Schneiderlin, Darmian, Fellaini, Rojo or Blind won't ever get us back to the top. Of course reliable good players are a must have for every team but we also need the world class talent (that we can get) in the squad and hope that they can fulfill their promise.
Btw we did the same thing under SAF as well. But good players for the core of the team and try to get to the best talents out there before other clubs do.
I agree. Despite our revenue, we're not the only team that can offer handsome wages. Even if we do outbid some (or most) other clubs, our current status will absolutely hurt us in the market. In part, I think that's why we're being linked with a lot of very young players - they may be easier to acquire. This is another reason why Mourinho makes sense. He'll increase our ability to attract high end players regardless of the past few seasons. Players (and perhaps more importantly, agents) will have confidence that he'll get us back to a much higher level, both domestically and in Europe. That, combined with big wages, would likely be enough to close many deals.Again, are we over reaching? They play for sides of guaranteed champions league football and a reasonable chance of winning the league and champions league. I would say dortmund and atletico are in the tier just below the elite teams. Where are we? Our level is not even competitive for Champions League, not good enough to win the Europa and not good enough to challenge domestically. sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Is the money offer going to be enough to join a club at our level as I've never seen that kind of move before?
You need the right balance. Some of your BEST players still need to be developed senior players. We won't last long if we have to rely on youths to win us games. When we had Rooney and Ronaldo, we still had players like RVN, Scholes, Giggsy and Alan Smith! They shared the burden whilst the younglings developed. Who we got? seriously? Wayne Rooney? Mata? Carrick? Schweinsteiger? Herrera? Fellaini? Schneiderlin is ok as hes a proven solid premier league CM and France international. Rojo is back up. so are the rest. I feel that if we don't have reliable developed midfielders then we need them in the front line whilst our young players develop. We've already had 3 years of not challenging. May be another 3 years before our young players are ready. Then it's make or break. And like Arsenal, if it's break, you're in a 10 season transition.
My concern is where we would be with a 20 year old, 31 year old Rooney and a 18-19 year old as our main attackers? What will we accomplish over the next few years?Of course a mix is important but we have, like you pointed out, quite a lot of experienced and established players in the squad who for whatever reason can't perform at the level we would expect of them. I think we have plenty of solid players around and what we are missing is world class talent, so far Martial is the only one in this squad who seem deserving of that tag. Naturally if we can get Reus or Griezman (both not right wingers btw) let's get them but if we can't bring in the biggest talents around and hope they develop into something special.
I mean what else would you do? Write e-mails to Rummenigge with new offers for Müller? Why not even do both. Try to get the biggest talents and world class players if possible and see what deals we can actually get done.
My concern is where we would be with a 20 year old, 31 year old Rooney and a 18-19 year old as our main attackers? What will we accomplish over the next few years?
Reus and Griezmann are more realistic than Mueller and Neymar. They shouldn't be considered in the same bracket. The first two are at clubs who cannot offer them massive money and United would be considered a bigger club than Dortmund and Atletico (Current plight included). I know it's unlikely that we will sign them but we have a chance with the first two as opposed to no chance with Muller, Neymar, Bale etcMost likely not much. The point I'm trying to make though is that we might not be able to get the players that can get us to another level immediately because they might not want to join or their clubs ask for absurd amounts of money or they prefer to join another team. Of course that might hold true for youngsters as well but we need to go in both directions, look for the best young talents out there and see if we can snatch up an established player that can add an immediate quality boost to the team.
All I'm trying to say is that we can't afford another transfer window where we mainly chase unobtainable players and then only end up buying one of the biggest talents around because we couldn't get anyone else. Let's keep hunting the Rues, Griezman's, Müller's and Neymar's but let's also compete for the Dembelé's, Sané's and other great talents before they join one of the bigger teams and are even harder and more expensive to get.
I'm hoping we bring in Ibrahimovich and Dembele. According to the article below he has a pretty strong temperament.
Martial---Ibrahimovich---Dembele would be a really good attack I think.
https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/...e-Decisive-for-Rennes-in-Hope-Versus-Hopeless
People think that Leicester are going to sell their best players to us? Or that they'll want to come?
The chances of Leicester repeating this season are slim, with Mahrez and Kante they have a chance to make £70M pure profit, and the players themselves have the chance to triple their wages.
Agreed. Let's hope our transfer committee follows the cafeMost likely not much. The point I'm trying to make though is that we might not be able to get the players that can get us to another level immediately because they might not want to join or their clubs ask for absurd amounts of money or they prefer to join another team. Of course that might hold true for youngsters as well but we need to go in both directions, look for the best young talents out there and see if we can snatch up an established player that can add an immediate quality boost to the team.
All I'm trying to say is that we can't afford another transfer window where we mainly chase unobtainable players and then only end up buying one of the biggest talents around because we couldn't get anyone else. Let's keep hunting the Rues, Griezman's, Müller's and Neymar's but let's also compete for the Dembelé's, Sané's and other great talents before they join one of the bigger teams and are even harder and more expensive to get.
That'd be something to watch. With Ibra playing as false #9 and distributing the ball to the two youngsters, with all their pace.
Add in Kante from Leceister and Laporte, and we have a strong French group. With his time at PSG, Ibra surely knows a thing or two in French.
YES! YES! I like it. swap Zlatan for Lukaku and you have M.L.D. which stands for absolutely nothing. Leave the GK slot blank thoughMane and Moura all day long. Pace directness and trickery in abundance. Just what we are lacking. Plus Mane is aggressive and can play any front position. Add Lukaku to that mix and we would scare any team.
Again, are we over reaching? They play for sides of guaranteed champions league football and a reasonable chance of winning the league and champions league. I would say dortmund and atletico are in the tier just below the elite teams. Where are we? Our level is not even competitive for Champions League, not good enough to win the Europa and not good enough to challenge domestically. sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Is the money offer going to be enough to join a club at our level as I've never seen that kind of move before?
They were both in unique situations. Falcao was a crock playing for Monaco. Di Maria was sold to finance James and Kroos. We're talking top players from top teams who are still in demand at their clubs. We have little chanceWe signed AdM and Falcao after finishing 7th, we have the money to attract that sort of player.
Again, are we over reaching? They play for sides of guaranteed champions league football and a reasonable chance of winning the league and champions league. I would say dortmund and atletico are in the tier just below the elite teams. Where are we? Our level is not even competitive for Champions League, not good enough to win the Europa and not good enough to challenge domestically. sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Is the money offer going to be enough to join a club at our level as I've never seen that kind of move before?
People think that Leicester are going to sell their best players to us? Or that they'll want to come?