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Player Watch: Dele Alli

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Trix

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Jul 29, 2004
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I'm about to miss your point completely. I've winnered your post because I agree with you. But tbf to Son he got 12 league goals in the Bundesliga in his equivalent year to Dele's last year. Was highly thought of at that stage of his career.

Indeed but that is why the comparisons between the two are unfounded. The stats posted are an attempt to prove that Dele isn't as productive as a player that plays in a similar attacking role yet ignores the fact Dele is hitting these high levels of output far sooner than Son. It also ignores the fact that Dele is scoring these goals against the likes of Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal. 6 in total against big six clubs last season as opposed to Son who only scored once against the bigger teams. I am not trying to dismiss Son's contribution and he probably didn't have the same number of minutes against the big boys, but that again is another reason why they are not really comparable.

His goal scoring prowess against the Prems top clubs is another reason though why the European elite teams would be all over Dele should he become available. It is one thing to post such high numbers at his age even for a striker, let alone an AM. It is another altogether to be so prolific against some of the best teams in Europe, and big game players are in far greater demand, especially at such a young age.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
He only picked Kane and the filthy deserter Walker for his Fifa 18 dream team!

Sell the bastard! :nailbiting::nailbiting:

Some of EA's ratings on Fifa are laughable. The fact that fast yet shit players, are better than slow technically brilliant ones are why I stopped playing years ago.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
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Spoilt? SPOILT? So Dele's flaws aren't his to improve, but the fans' faults due to being spoilt. That must be the weakest Dele Alli argument I have seen in writing this season.

He has an anger management issue, which causes him to be ineligible for several matches. IF he is so fantastic and above criticism, then surely stupid red cards should be a major problem, even to the blindest fan.

His first touch, when it is about nudging the ball into the back of the net, is superb. But when it is about receiving the ball on the ground in the final third and moving it onwards to create something dangerous, he stumbles too often like Bambi, and especially in what would have been dangerous situations.

He loses possession too often in the final third in a stumbling, banal sort of way. And Pochettino hates losing possession.

That being said, Dele is easily among our 11 best injury free, match fit-ish players.

Look, plenty of fans seem to think that "supporting a player" means "never ever say a word that is anything less than a flowery, shiny compliment". But that is just not the case. You can still support a player, even if you can't accept some of his mistakes.

More commonly known as the "RAWK admin hypothesis".
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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It's the classic English way of building a player up so that he can be knocked down. I saw those wankers on Sunday supplement doing it yesterday.

He's not really playing that much differently this season than he did in patches last year. I'm not going to moan about him though because I know I'd rather have him in my team than not.

Plus on Saturday he actually looked to be enjoying himself again and there was a smile on his face when we scored, which was great to see. Maybe there's been off field problems weighing him down and now they are resolved. Let's hope so because he's a match winner and we need those.

I agree to an extent, if people didn’t overhype and do so much bullshit building up, there wouldn’t be the scope for so much knocking down.

But then you only have to read the shit anyone gets on here who dares to suggest that Alli has flaws and you understand how the bullshit build up happens.
 

thebenjamin

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2008
12,164
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I agree to an extent, if people didn’t overhype and do so much bullshit building up, there wouldn’t be the scope for so much knocking down.

But then you only have to read the shit anyone gets on here who dares to suggest that Alli has flaws and you understand how the bullshit build up happens.

Never seen one person dispute that he has flaws
 

thelak

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,166
6,950
Think those supporting Dele realise he has flaws to his game

But also appreciate he is 21 and very few people have put up 30 odd goals and 20 odd assists in the PL or other top leagues by that age....

People willing to give him a bit of breathing space to develop his game basically!
 

Cornpattbuck

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,873
15,942
Think those supporting Dele realise he has flaws to his game

But also appreciate he is 21 and very few people have put up 30 odd goals and 20 odd assists in the PL or other top leagues by that age....

People willing to give him a bit of breathing space to develop his game basically!

Bingo.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,986
81,917
Think those supporting Dele realise he has flaws to his game

But also appreciate he is 21 and very few people have put up 30 odd goals and 20 odd assists in the PL or other top leagues by that age....

People willing to give him a bit of breathing space to develop his game basically!

Both sides essentuially think the same. Just some want to discuss his all round game and flaws and others think this is not what a supporter does.

This is what is so great about the internet, you basically argue with people you are agreeing with.
 

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
The problem is less with Dele and more that goals have inflated him in people's eyes to be more than he is. He's never going to be an Eriksen-type 10, and while his short passing and counter-attacking vision is quite clever his game is not playing the Iniesta-type ball. It's getting on the end of them, pressing hard the entire match, and overall being a nuisance with his movement. Personally I've never seen him as close to the most important player in the side, indeed he's behind Eriksen, Kane, and Toby for me easily.

I'm very calm with him. I think he needs a goal and all this talk will die down.. because, as has been the case since we bought him, if he's not scoring or assisting his impact is much less visible. Movement is important and it's something he needs to work on perfecting each and every match.

I do have my fear for him, though. When in form he's a terrifying sight, but when he's not scoring you have to start asking questions about just how good he actually is, and I'm not as bullish on his talent level when compared to Asensio, Mbappe, Martial, Werner, etc. as most.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Never seen one person dispute that he has flaws

I didn't say that. I said people get shit for saying he has flaws.

Early today the muppet who posted after you told me I'm not a proper/true fan of spurs for criticising our own players. One glaring example. If it's not that we are called "haters" with "agendas".
 

jimmy-jojo

Well-Known Member
Jun 30, 2004
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I'm about to miss your point completely. I've winnered your post because I agree with you. But tbf to Son he got 12 league goals in the Bundesliga in his equivalent year to Dele's last year. Was highly thought of at that stage of his career.

I wasn't trying to imply anything against Son. But it still remains that Dele scored 18 league goals last season compared to Son's 12 at the same age. That's a significant amount more...and in a tougher league.
 

Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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Forget whether or not he is technically better than those you mention. he has scored 30 league goals in 70 starts for us as a non striker and he is only 21. Goals win games and end product is what makes him valuable. every team in the world will be interested in Dele and it is what would get him starts in even the best teams over technically better players.


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.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Agree. Dele is not above criticism, and has a lot to learn and improve regarding his all round game. The only thing I find irritating is the constant calls by some to drop him. We've seen last season how Poch played him through the bad form and we were rewarded as he clicked into gear and then went up a level.

Besides, we don't have any ready made players to step in who are consistent performers. Son is just as inconsistent and just as frustrating in his all round game sometimes. It's why really we needed another attacking midfielder/forward to really put more pressure on our first 11.

I also agree that he is not ready for the likes of Real and Barca as Bale and Modric were (and dare I say Kane, unfortunately). If we think Spurs fans are hard taskmasters, it's nothing compared to those clubs who are genuinely spoilt with all round technical footballers throughout the squad. All of which is a good thing as we want him here for as long as possible.


Son 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.
 
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Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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Quite simple, he hasn't started the season in the best form. Erisken didn't start last season in the best form either but was still over the season one of, if not the, best players in the team. All players (with the exception of Kane it seems) have dips in form and can take their foot of the gas from time to time or get a little complacent. Its the managers job to help them turn that around and get back to their best.


The difference is what you get even through "bad form" with Eriksen compared to what you get with Alli. With Alli there are alternatives who can bring what he brings to the team, with Eriksen, even on a bad day, we don't have any real alternative who can still bring what he brings, composure, brains, helping the midfield, team play, 50 passes a game, pressing intelligently, etc etc
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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He's still only 21 years old of course but what is holding him back is his overall contribution in games still. He is of course a very talented footballer but he will never make the top level unless he develops consistency in this regard. Too often we see him go missing in games, a lot of the time he will pop up with a goal that will usually make people forget and papers over the cracks.

A lot of the time he still looks like a striker playing in midfield.

He has a remarkable quality to be in the right place at the right time and his movement is very good. He must however improve his basic ball control, his ability to beat players and cut out some of the unnecessary bollocks. Sometimes he looks like a square peg in a round hole playing number 10 and that's the problem with Alli. It's very difficult to say what his exact role or what position he should play in the team. It would do him good to watch Eriksen very closely I think if he wants to continue in a role behind Kane.

When he isn't producing in terms of the numbers he often isn't offering anything else and that's one of the most frustrating things about him.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Think those supporting Dele realise he has flaws to his game

But also appreciate he is 21 and very few people have put up 30 odd goals and 20 odd assists in the PL or other top leagues by that age....

People willing to give him a bit of breathing space to develop his game basically!


And those criticising him realise he's got some fantastic qualities. They just don't all think it's heresy to point out the flaws in his game or that any player, including him, should be guaranteed to start every game, especially when there are viable alternatives in the squad, who can push them to improve their game.
 

Charly***

no idea
Aug 20, 2008
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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.

Its does. If he's not producing Son would deserve a shot, his form at that back end of last season was fantastic but Poch has a propensity for playing players through lean patches in the past, Kane, Eriksen & Dele and they've eventually hit top form.

Poch is the judge of whether he needs a run of games or sit a few out but Son will get minutes and he'll have to produce with the minutes he gets, Poch seems to reward that.

Poch does really seem to want Dele on the pitch at all times though because he can ghost in and get a goal at any time.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Its does. If he's not producing Son would deserve a shot, his form at that back end of last season was fantastic but Poch has a propensity for playing players through lean patches in the past, Kane, Eriksen & Dele and they've eventually hit top form.

Poch is the judge of whether he needs a run of games or sit a few out but Son will get minutes and he'll have to produce with the minutes he gets, Poch seems to reward that.

Poch does really seem to want Dele on the pitch at all times though because he can ghost in and get a goal at any time.


Son has already produced, and at a slightly higher rate than Alli. I've never said Son would be an automatic first choice, ahead of Alli, but he's more than earned a chance to start some games ahead of Alli when Alli isn't producing.

I'd feel the same way about any player, including Kane or Eriksen if they weren't performing, including working hard enough, and there were viable alternatives who could do what they do and bring close to what they bring.
 
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