Dembele's been a huge miss, bigger than even i thought possible. He linked everything together, he was able to take the pressure of the back 4, and he was able to drive through the middle of the park taking 2 or 3 mids with him, therefore creating the space for others. He was the beating heart of our midfield. We're crying out for a ball playing centre mid and and a rb and lb. I don't like Jose coming out and saying we don't need reinforcements, we abso-fucking-lutely do.
It's more & more evident isn't it.
Dembele was able to retain possession while driving forward.
He could ghost past a defender requiring a 2nd defender to come to him.
This opened up more space for our other attackers.
Add in that we also now lack the FB's bombing down the wings adding more width, & in so obvious why we are such an anemic attack (or at least easier to defend against).
Typically when you play a double pivot midfield, one is your best defender (destroyer) while the other is your best ball handler.
Right now, it's as if we have neither. Just jack of all trades filling in.