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Player Watch: Dele Alli

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BringBack_leGin

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Jul 28, 2004
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Dele is miles ahead of where he has any right to be at his age, miles ahead of where any of us could've predicted when he signed. Hell, I never thought that he'd be the player he's become, never mind at 21, he looked like a good, athletic midfielder with a bit of skill.

That said, he's currently falling below his own high standards, he's off form clearly, and has done nothing to warrant invincibility. A month on the bench couldn't hurt, it might encourage him to knuckle down on improving his flaws and give him better insight into our team dynamic. Ledley often said that he improved while injured because he could see and learn from the way games unfolded with a brusder perspective.

All of that said, Dele does thrive in a big game and we have several of those coming up. Delicate situation for Pochettino.
 
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Trix

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Jul 29, 2004
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Team like Real and Barca don't have to put up with the compromise of a player with massive flaws to his game just to add 15 goals a season to their tally.

And yet Real HAVE shown interest.

Strange that eh?

I'd also add its not just how many he scores, it's who he scores against. Of his goals look at how many of them have come against the big teams. He has scored against Chelsea, Yanited, city and Arsenal all of which were massively important games against the top Premier league opposition. Players that are unfazed in the massive games are invaluable to teams like Madrid and Barca, because let's face it most of the games they play are cannon fodder anyway. Dele at only 21, and for all his flaws is proving he can do it when push really does come to shove. That is why they want him, and why it would cost an absolute fortune to get him.
 
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dagraham

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Sep 20, 2005
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Som was more productive per minute on the pitch than Alli last season. Does that not merit consideration when Alli is not playing well and not producing. Should any players be undroppable, even when we have proven alternatives and they have had a few games to find some form and improve facets that aren't improving?

Dropping Alli wouldn't ruin him. It should inspire him, kick him up the arse. Make him hungry. If it doesn't he's not got the character we all think.

I don't think Alli is undroppable, and I agree it wouldn't hurt to give some players a kick up the backside. However, I don't believe Son is in any type of form so far to necessarily merit inclusion over Alli. He was great against Dortmund and then crap against Swansea and equally crap against Apoel.

Personally, I'd like to see all three of Alli, Eriksen and Son play together at home against teams that have no intention of attacking us, especially when we play 3 CB's. There is absolutely no need to have 3 CB's plus Dier plus another deep lying CM in these types of games, but that is another argument entirely.
 

tttcowan

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Aug 12, 2005
2,792
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He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21.
 

Kiedis

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Aug 4, 2013
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His allround game against Huddersfield was good. Hoping it's signs of things starting to click a bit better for him.

What he does for England is completely irrelevant. Everyone looks shit for them, and Alli has grown into a player that's not the easiest to fit in tactically. Poch does it well, Southgate is struggling.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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And yet Real HAVE shown interest.

Strange that eh?

I'd also add its not just how many he scores, it's who he scores against. Of his goals look at how many of them have come against the big teams. He has scored against Chelsea, Yanited, city and Arsenal all of which were massively important games against the top Premier league opposition. Players that are unfazed in the massive games are invaluable to teams like Madrid and Barca, because let's face it most of the games they play are cannon fodder anyway. Dele at only 21, and for all his flaws is proving he can do it when push really does come to shove. That is why they want him, and why it would cost an absolute fortune to get him.

Most of our forwards have scored in the big games. Son's scored against ManC, Chelsea; Eriksen ManC, Chelsea, ManU; Lamela ManC, ManU; even Chadli scored against Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU (I think). He ended up at West Brom.

We can all see that Alli has some special attributes, and we all understand that for 21 his potential is massive. Most weeks last season we all said "he does some really poor stuff in games but he keeps delivering and that justifies his selection - and he is 21" but this season it's been a case of not producing very much and the same poor stuff, and by poor stuff I mean he does some really, really poor stuff that if say Clint Dempsey did or Josh Onomah did everyone would be "this bloke just isn't good enough or this bloke isn't ready for this level yet".

I mean if you took the goals and assists away, and just watched Alli play football, it wouldn't be impressive. Lots of good runs into the box maybe, but lots of very careless play with the ball, lots of falling over and shrugging like it's the ref's fault, and half hearted pressing. He does sometimes get a flee up his arse and work a bit harder, and he has been involved in some good things too (but that's pretty much a given at this level for any player in our side).

I'd be surprised if big clubs hadn't shown "INTEREST". Because there's been a big media foghorn shouting his name for the last 2 years. But there's a massive difference between interest and buying. And so far, Real and Barca haven't come close to buying, preferring to seriously target players like O Dembele or Mbappe who are even younger instead.
 

Luka Van der Bale

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Jan 29, 2011
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I just don't really buy the "he's woefully out of form" narrative.
Agree. A few times recently on watching the game live I’ve thought Alli was poor or quiet. On rewatching, he was involved in most of our good offensive work and pressed the opposition well. He’s certainly below his best, but some of the hyperbole over his form is a bit much.
 

tevezito

In the cup for Tottingham
Jun 8, 2004
926
1,536
He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21.
DJs might find this informative, but for the rest of us you could have provided the tune...
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
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Most of our forwards have scored in the big games. Son's scored against ManC, Chelsea; Eriksen ManC, Chelsea, ManU; Lamela ManC, ManU; even Chadli scored against Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU (I think). He ended up at West Brom.

We can all see that Alli has some special attributes, and we all understand that for 21 his potential is massive. Most weeks last season we all said "he does some really poor stuff in games but he keeps delivering and that justifies his selection - and he is 21" but this season it's been a case of not producing very much and the same poor stuff, and by poor stuff I mean he does some really, really poor stuff that if say Clint Dempsey did or Josh Onomah did everyone would be "this bloke just isn't good enough or this bloke isn't ready for this level yet".

I mean if you took the goals and assists away, and just watched Alli play football, it wouldn't be impressive. Lots of good runs into the box maybe, but lots of very careless play with the ball, lots of falling over and shrugging like it's the ref's fault, and half hearted pressing. He does sometimes get a flee up his arse and work a bit harder, and he has been involved in some good things too (but that's pretty much a given at this level for any player in our side).

I'd be surprised if big clubs hadn't shown "INTEREST". Because there's been a big media foghorn shouting his name for the last 2 years. But there's a massive difference between interest and buying. And so far, Real and Barca haven't come close to buying, preferring to seriously target players like O Dembele or Mbappe who are even younger instead.

Because it was made very clear Dele was NOT available.

As for our other players scoring against the big teams yes you are right, but not as many, and not at 20 years of age. He does have plenty to work on of course, but that doesn't alter the fact that he is still the outstanding prospect for his age as far as the Premier league is concerned, and that is why he is wanted. he is also far more commercially marketable than the others which is another big plus point for the likes of Madrid and Barca.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21. He's 21.

Catchy song.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Because it was made very clear Dele was NOT available.

As for our other players scoring against the big teams yes you are right, but not as many, and not at 20 years of age. He does have plenty to work on of course, but that doesn't alter the fact that he is still the outstanding prospect for his age as far as the Premier league is concerned, and that is why he is wanted. he is also far more commercially marketable than the others which is another big plus point for the likes of Madrid and Barca.


As far as RM go, we both know that if they seriously wanted him last summer there would have been a shitload more noise around it, pressure would have been ramped up and we'd have found it very difficult to say no if the player wanted it and the price was right. I'm not saying we couldn't or wouldn't say no, but there would certainly have been a hell of a lot more noise. They don't want him yet and almost certainly because he's a vey rough diamond that they have no inclination to polish, they'd rather pay for the finished (or closer to finished) article.

The rest of what you say I don't disagree with at all. We all know he's got incredible character for a kid of 21 and that is driving him, like Kane in many ways, to produce some outstanding contributions to games. The problem is, any English kid that shows any kind of sparkle gets hyped to buggery, and inevitably then has to carry that bullshit around with him. Some of the hype is ridiculous, I've listened to fuckwit pundits describe him coughing up the ball stupidly as signs of "genius", and it really does the kid no favours at all.

Even if he didn't improve the rest of his game at all, he'll still be a pretty valuable player to most teams, because of what he can produce, teams will always value people who can score goals, but if he doesn't improve his all round game I can't see him being a regular for RM or Barca, they just wouldn't wear the endless careless bollocks that goes with it, they wouldn't have to. On the other hand, at 21, if he can learn and improve his all round game and keep scoring then the world could be his lobster. He could well end up playing as striker, which is pretty much what Poch has him doing now, paying as a false 9 almost.
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
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As far as RM go, we both know that if they seriously wanted him last summer there would have been a shitload more noise around it, pressure would have been ramped up and we'd have found it very difficult to say no if the player wanted it and the price was right. I'm not saying we couldn't or wouldn't say no, but there would certainly have been a hell of a lot more noise. They don't want him yet and almost certainly because he's a vey rough diamond that they have no inclination to polish, they'd rather pay for the finished (or closer to finished) article.

The rest of what you say I don't disagree with at all. We all know he's got incredible character for a kid of 21 and that is driving him, like Kane in many ways, to produce some outstanding contributions to games. The problem is, any English kid that shows any kind of sparkle gets hyped to buggery, and inevitably then has to carry that bullshit around with him. Some of the hype is ridiculous, I've listened to fuckwit pundits describe him coughing up the ball stupidly as signs of "genius", and it really does the kid no favours at all.

Even if he didn't improve the rest of his game at all, he'll still be a pretty valuable player to most teams, because of what he can produce, teams will always value people who can score goals, but if he doesn't improve his all round game I can't see him being a regular for RM or Barca, they just wouldn't wear the endless careless bollocks that goes with it, they wouldn't have to. On the other hand, at 21, if he can learn and improve his all round game and keep scoring then the world could be his lobster. He could well end up playing as striker, which is pretty much what Poch has him doing now, paying as a false 9 almost.
In many ways he’s the opposite of a false 9. A false 9 lines up as a striker on the teamsheet but drops deep to get involved in build up and create. Dele is almost a false 10 - his position suggests he should be involved creatively in our buildup, but his contribution is more what you’d expect from a striker. Tactically something I’ve only really seen from possibly Muller elsewhere.
 

OPModric

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2010
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And yet Real HAVE shown interest.

Strange that eh?

I'd also add its not just how many he scores, it's who he scores against. Of his goals look at how many of them have come against the big teams. He has scored against Chelsea, Yanited, city and Arsenal all of which were massively important games against the top Premier league opposition. Players that are unfazed in the massive games are invaluable to teams like Madrid and Barca, because let's face it most of the games they play are cannon fodder anyway. Dele at only 21, and for all his flaws is proving he can do it when push really does come to shove. That is why they want him, and why it would cost an absolute fortune to get him.

Can he really?

Champions League 16/17: 6 games, 1 goal, 0 assist
Euro League 16/17: 2 games, 0 goal, 0 assist
Euro 2016: 4 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
England caps total: 22 caps, 2 goals

(from squawka and fa)
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Barca signed Paulinho two months ago.

Yeah, I don't think anyone in football could quite riddle that one. In mitigation to that spanner in my theory, I can only offer that they paid a fraction of what Alli would cost them, for which I think they would expect closer to "finished" article who would be a star every week not a squadie?
 
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Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
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Can he really?

Champions League 16/17: 6 games, 1 goal, 0 assist
Euro League 16/17: 2 games, 0 goal, 0 assist
Euro 2016: 4 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
England caps total: 22 caps, 2 goals

(from squawka and fa)
The only sample size worth looking at there is the International one, and I judge no one by how they play for England. It's pointless because the whole team struggles to perform not just Dele. That in itself tells me it's not down to individuals but how they are asked to play. Scoring against the other big Premier league teams(who would smash the majority of international sides anyway) is a far greater barometer of where he is at as far as big game mentality is concerned.

It's clear you don't rate him at all, that is your opinion. Personally I think if someone can't see just how much this kid has for his age, then they have very little understanding of the game, but hey that's just my opinion.
 
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