Spurs fans on Twitter have been discussing Mousa Dembele after some footage of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard praising the midfielder re-emerged on Twitter.
COYS.com shared the footage, after it was originally shared by Football on BT Sport, showing the trio complimenting the midfielder, alongside some of the Belgian’s best moments from Spurs’ first-leg draw against Juventus in the Champions League in 2018. All three pundits are full of praise for the former Fulham man, saying:
“How he stays on the ball is so impressive.”
“I hated playing against players who could get past midfielders like that.”
“He can embarrass you with his skill.”
Spurs signed the midfielder in 2012 and he went on to make 249 appearances for the North London club, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists (per Transfermarkt). Unfortunately, he also struggled with regular injuries in his twilight years with the Lilywhites, which perhaps led to a premature departure in January of last year, as he joined Chinese side Guangzhou R & F.
Was Dembele's departure the catalyst for Spurs' apparent decline?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to the footage and quotes on Dembele can be seen in the tweets below.
Miss him hopefully Tanguy ndombele can now prove he can play that role.
— Mohammed Khan (@mohammedkhan78) June 3, 2020
We took a turn for the worse when he left.. great baller
— Terry Griffiths (@TAGriffiths) June 3, 2020
Plenty Spurs fans commented on how their side is worse off without the Belgian.
We’ve not been the same since he left He was so underrated
— Ben Jackson (@B_C_Jackson) June 3, 2020
Yes and we should never have let him go. Our troubles started soon after he departed. World class quality player
— David Friend (@davidfriend6) June 3, 2020
Honestly doesn’t get enough credit for our title runs
— Zak Shafique (@zakki_boy) June 3, 2020
Others simply commented on how much they rated the midfielder, with one saying he would rather have him back than sign Chelsea winger Willian, who Spurs have been linked with signing in recent weeks.
Dembele was a baller fabulous footballer
— Totspur (@nickjako2190) June 3, 2020
Can we have him back rather than Willian? Pleeease
— Maxime Boucknooghe (@Boucknooghe2) June 3, 2020
Dembele is clearly still highly rated amongst a lot of Lilywhites supporters, with many suggesting that the side hasn’t been the same since he left in 2019.