Hoddle: Play Dele in attacking role to get the best from him

[mawspurs]

Nuno Espirito Santo has been told that he must start playing Dele Alli in a more attacking position to get the best out of the struggling midfielder.

Source: Daily Mirror

 

[beuller]

I think Hoddle will still be saying this when he's in his early thirties.

 

[wizgell]

I mean ultimately he isn't wrong is he, the best version of Dele that we have seen was the one that played just in behind Kane making runs beyond him, arriving at the back post.

However, he does also miss the likes of Eriksen, who was able to find the spaces that one opened up channels for Dele to attack and then follow it up with the right type of pass to find him.

I've long been a Dele admirer and really want him to take off again at Spurs but I'm starting to believe he needs a change of scenery in order to stand any chance of regaining any form.

 

[DJS]

He was playing in attacking role under Mason at end of last season and was still poor…

 

[dontcallme]

I mean ultimately he isn't wrong is he, the best version of Dele that we have seen was the one that played just in behind Kane making runs beyond him, arriving at the back post.

However, he does also miss the likes of Eriksen, who was able to find the spaces that one opened up channels for Dele to attack and then follow it up with the right type of pass to find him.

I've long been a Dele admirer and really want him to take off again at Spurs but I'm starting to believe he needs a change of scenery in order to stand any chance of regaining any form.

Agree. I think it's pretty clear that any thoughts about him playing deeper just aren't going to work out.

He's a one-dimensional player. He needs to go to a team that allows him to play that role. We shouldn't be changing our team to suit him.

 

[blankom]

He has had his chances. But it is a loooong time since we last saw him performing at a decent level.

the only reason he’s still here is because Levy can’t accept that his £70m-man is now only £15m worth.

 

[whitechina]

He has had his chances. But it is a loooong time since we last saw him performing at a decent level.

the only reason he’s still here is because Levy can’t accept that his £70m-man is now only £15m worth.

The thing is~ 15m means we still made 9m+
Both him and Winks sold we will clear 30m+, enough to get an upgrade on both of them (either one or two lesser known players)

 

[dontcallme]

He has had his chances. But it is a loooong time since we last saw him performing at a decent level.

the only reason he’s still here is because Levy can’t accept that his £70m-man is now only £15m worth.

I think this is really short sighted.

Alli is on £100k a week. Do you really think teams are ready to match that?

 

[Spurs 1961]

Dele needs t be played in an attacking role. Not just for the odd game or like last week with a team devoid of any forwards. The problem at Spurs is that no one knows what they are doing from one game to the next. Hence two of the most prolific forwards in PL recent history can hardly muster a shot worthy of the name.

 

[Yid-ol]

He was playing in attacking role under Mason at end of last season and was still poor…

He needs to play behind Kane but with someone creative behind him. His strength was always arriving into the box to get on the end of a cross/through ball. We just don't have an Eriksen just now to do that.

 

[beuller]

I think this thread really just proves how good Eriksen was up until his final 18 months.

A genuine creative player who is willing to press and believes in the manager. We couldn't afford one and we aren't setup to attract one.

 

[Johnny J]

Or better yet don't play him at all.

 

[Marty]

Agree. I think it's pretty clear that any thoughts about him playing deeper just aren't going to work out.

He's a one-dimensional player. He needs to go to a team that allows him to play that role. We shouldn't be changing our team to suit him.

I find it incredible that fans have always hated seeing Dele in a number 8 role, but three different managers have insisted he can play there.

It's one where the armchair fans have clearly been right and it's one thing for one manager to try it and for it not to work, but for two others to make the same mistake is just weird.

 

[tobi]

I think this thread really just proves how good Eriksen was up until his final 18 months.

A genuine creative player who is willing to press and believes in the manager. We couldn't afford one and we aren't setup to attract one.

Eriksen excelled in very different circumstances, put him in the current and previous situations and he too would struggle.

Dele has stagnated as a player for three seasons, he only has himself to blame.

 

[Japhet]

Dele was at his best when we were a dominant, pressing team. If he lost possession it wasn't too serious because we'd hunt the ball down and win it back. Now we are a passive team and opportunities to attack are much more limited, and as a result, any loss of possession or attacking momentum sticks out like a sore thumb, and Dele does it all too often. He doesn't have the skill set to play in CM (never has), and the position where he was most effective has been nailed down by Sonny for a few seasons now. It's always been a conundrum trying to fit him in the team, and that was a problem when his contributions were telling, but not any more. He's now the epitome of a luxury player, and one we can't afford now.

 

[eViL]

He's a passenger wherever he plays.

 

[OnTheUp]

He's a passenger wherever he plays.

100% this.... thinks he's completed football just because he he was a runner up in the Champions League one time. The sooner he goes the better.

 

[Gassin's finest]

He had one good season where he was playing off H and had Eriksen providing. How long has he been trading on that Palace goal now?

Lads done.

 

[CrazyHeart]

Hoddle really knew how to get the best out of players by giving them opportunities. Just ask Sergei Rebrov.