Player Watch: Dele Alli

[ComfortablyNumb]

What struck me about his play yesterday was how much more decisive he looked when in possession. His touch was better, he took less touches and his passing was progressive. As someone who has complained a lot about his all-round game, I was in raptures with his performance.

I'm still not sure whether he's imroving or whether he basically does the same stuff every game, and sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn't. He plays high risk football, which is fine by me when it's in their half, and I'm happy to take the bad days with the good, but if he really is improving then that's even better. Point is, I don't think he needs to improve to be a first choice starter for us.

 

[kmk]

Gerrard started out being played much deeper though, so that's a bit of an unfair comparison.

That graphic was from a Daily Mail article by Liverpool fanboy Jamie Redknapp who played with Gerrard in central midfield when Stevie G first started out.

 

[Dharmabum]

Jamie Redknapp in Daily Mail:

DELE ON COURSE FOR GREATNESS

When Steven Gerrard first started training with the Liverpool first team aged 17 I remember thinking, 'We won't see another like him for a long time.'

Now we already have another in Dele Alli. As our table below shows, Alli has been involved in 25 more goals than Gerrard at the same stage in their careers — even if Steven started out playing in more defensive positions.

Some of the things Alli is doing on the ball are magnificent. Just look at his scooped pass for Harry Kane to complete his hat-trick against West Brom. You never see Alli on his haunches. He cruises through games and after the final whistle he looks like he could play another 90 minutes! It should not be that easy for a 20-year-old.

He is thriving playing off the striker — where Gerrard played under Rafa Benitez — and Mauricio Pochettino deserves credit for doing the same with Alli.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Ham-striker-make-team-week.html#ixzz4VuyZY1Ge
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[Gassin's finest]

Gerrard started out being played much deeper though, so that's a bit of an unfair comparison.

Correct, when Gerrard played in a comparable position, in behind Torres, he was hitting 20+ a season.

The comparisons are still fair though. Despite the obvious creativity and prolificness(sic?) of Dele, I still think his best position is going to be the all action, box to box midfielder that the likes of Gerrard and Robson were.

But right now... make hay sunshine.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Echoes of the Eric Cantona scoop lob from back in the day. Can't find a clip of it, but I remember it being outrageous and all of us trying to do it in the playground the next day. I imagine there'll be a few kids doing the same today, copying Dele's.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Don't realise he's 1.88m tall until he scores so many headers this season (according to wikipedia)

 

[THFCjosh]

Asked on Dier's instagram live video if he's going to go to Madrid... Answer, Maybe on holiday. What a guy!!!

 

[bubble07]

Correct, when Gerrard played in a comparable position, in behind Torres, he was hitting 20+ a season.

The comparisons are still fair though. Despite the obvious creativity and prolificness(sic?) of Dele, I still think his best position is going to be the all action, box to box midfielder that the likes of Gerrard and Robson were.

But right now... make hay sunshine.

But taking pens and free kicks

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Not sure if this has been posted...

Dele and Eric went live on instagram. Really interesting seeing a different side to lots of the players. Link is here:



I don't want to scare you, but...Eric says that Dele has been learning spanish...and Dele starts reeling off some spanish greetings...

One would think he is preparing himself for a move to Spain...

 

[CJMurray]

Not sure if this has been posted...

Dele and Eric went live on instagram. Really interesting seeing a different side to lots of the players. Link is here:



I don't want to scare you, but...Eric says that Dele has been learning spanish...and Dele starts reeling off some spanish greetings...

One would think he is preparing himself for a move to Spain...

Doesn't surprise me about Dele. Everything he's said whilst he's been here has indicated that he sees us as a stepping stone to an elite club. He's said several times that he sees us as the perfect club to "develop" at.

 

[Shadydan]

Not sure if this has been posted...

Dele and Eric went live on instagram. Really interesting seeing a different side to lots of the players. Link is here:



I don't want to scare you, but...Eric says that Dele has been learning spanish...and Dele starts reeling off some spanish greetings...

One would think he is preparing himself for a move to Spain...

Didn't see that in the vid...

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Didn't see that in the vid...

It's definitely in there fella

 

[npearl4spurs]

Learning how to greet the Madrid representatives he's meeting there. Ffs

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I am just happy to see Dele and Dier back together.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

With his contract until 2022 and Pogba's price, I think they need at least 150m to buy Alli...

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Not sure if this has been posted...

Dele and Eric went live on instagram. Really interesting seeing a different side to lots of the players. Link is here:



I don't want to scare you, but...Eric says that Dele has been learning spanish...and Dele starts reeling off some spanish greetings...

One would think he is preparing himself for a move to Spain...

I'm sure the Alli stuff is just them taking the piss and some squad banter. Even if it is, it was probably not the best idea to say it on a live stream that can be seen by the fans.

 

[Flobadob]

I'm pretty sure most people would learn some Spanish greetings and phrases if they knew they were going to Spain.. I know I would!

Sure there's nothing more to it than that tbh guys

 

[GutBucket]

He went to Ibiza last summer, easier to score chicks there if you know Spanish, not that footballers need a lot of help.

 

[coyspurs18]

I'm pretty sure most people would learn some Spanish greetings and phrases if they knew they were going to Spain.. I know I would!

Sure there's nothing more to it than that tbh guys

This. The team is going to Barcelona, it might help to know a few things. I think Dier was referring to the team trip rather than joking about a move abroad. ...besides he doesn't say much other than "Como estas".

 

[dagraham]

He went to Ibiza last summer, easier to score chicks there if you know Spanish, not that footballers need a lot of help.

I would think that "Hey, would you like me to buy you a Mercedes?" in English would be good enough.