Dele Alli at Everton

[Tucker]

He's been off his top form for a couple of years but he is still an incredible player. Once he is back to fitness I predict we will see the best of him next season. He is capable of 20 goals a season + assists, and I think he'd be perfect on the counter and at breaking down teams who put men behind the ball. Wouldn't be surprised if he is a key player next season. His game depends on intelligent running off him, we are starting to see more of that again in these last few games. We now have a strong squad for the final third of the pitch.

Agreed, he’s a quality player that gets a lot of unfair criticism on here. He’s been off his form for sure, but how much of this is down to being rushed back from injuries, or being asked to play a role he isn’t suited to to cover injuries to the likes of Kane and Son. A break over preseason and properly being integrated into a settled team will do him the world of good.

 

[punkisback]

I don't think it depends on the balance of players we have; our first choice players in attack are quite selfish and like to get on the end of things. Dele isn't that selfish, but he's not good at creating opportunities for others deeper. He would thrive with more selfless players like Bergwijn.
I do think we have a real lack of creators in our first team, at least one of the wingers needs to be of the class and quality to do that.

 

[wrd]

My personal opinion is that if we see Hojbjerg and Castagne then I'd say we probably won't have our best 11 of the modern era but we will by far have the best squad we have ever had not only for depth but for being able to just out set ups seamlessly with no square pegs in round holes. Dele is absolutely apart of that and if we lose him then we lose some of our adaptability.

 

[Timberwolf]

Watch the 4-1 against Liverpool 2/3 years ago when Pochettino adopted a very Mourinho-esque approach. He works hard and can tackle. I actually think his passing is one of the better things about him, he can pick out runners ahead of him easily. Where he struggles is his speed of dribbling on the ball where he can slow things down, but playing deeper would mean he'd do this less imo.

If Mourinho can coach him to make late runs into the box from deep, he could be an asset for us there.

I'm not saying start him every game there, but surely he's got to be infinitely better than Sissoko, by default of actually being able to receive the ball on the half turn and play it up the pitch.

I think this is a good point - one of Dele's strengths is actually picking a pinpoint pass on the break and a lot of his best moments have been when he makes instinctive passes to runners ahead of him (see his assists against Ajax). We've scored so many great goals on the break over the years when Alli, Kane, Son and Eriksen combined after we won the ball deep in our half following an opposition corner or period of pressure.

He's at his worst when he has too much time to think and no space in front of him. He dawdles on the ball, overplays and slows everything down.

Not sure exactly how this translates to a Mourinho system? Maybe as part of a midfield 3?

 

[ardiles&villa]

Jose will find a way to play him and get the most out of him...I’m sure of it, look at how well mouras playing

 

[dtxspurs]

The only reason to sell Dele is because we know we have a chairman/ownership who will likely want to sell to buy. Thus Dele is the player most likely to bring in decent funds and not lose much from the team.

 

[HildoSpur]

There is no way you sell a player like Dele.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I’d sell Dele, replace him with a more versatile player like Eze (and Home grown, too), and with whatever remaining funds there are look to address pressing squad needs. I’m just not as big of a fan of Dele as I was in the past, but I also would not be surprised to see him go elsewhere and rediscover what made/makes him such an intriguing talent.

 

[arunspurs]

As much as I am ok to sell Dele, I cant see him being sold this summer. Dele though, will have to go through a season of being in squad. Its really up to him - there are positions available in XI but its his game that needs to be upped. We need the Dele of 2016,2017. Last 2 years, he has been coasting along, but with no competition and got picked regardless...I cant see that with Jose

 

[Japhet]

IMO playing Dele has often weakened us in midfield. We look way more stable now that we can add an extra body in there and the front 3 are really picking themselves at present (and we have good options too). I've never been a fan of Dele in CM either since he loses the ball to easily and too cheaply. As I said months back, if we could swap out Dele for Zakaria I'd be all over it. If we have one prize asset I'd cash in at a bumper price, he'd be it. He's a unique talent but you have to make some tough sacrifices to get him on the pitch and we don't have the quality to do that.

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

I’d sell Dele, replace him with a more versatile player like Eze (and Home grown, too), and with whatever remaining funds there are look to address pressing squad needs. I’m just not as big of a fan of Dele as I was in the past, but I also would not be surprised to see him go elsewhere and rediscover what made/makes him such an intriguing talent.

Eze is a good prospect and we perhaps should add him to the squad but he is not capable of contributing the way Dele can yet:



The results have been disappointing because we haven't been a good "team" but we would be a far worse team and squad without Dele. Those highlights are just this season, when he has been injured and lacking form. Class is permanent.

 

[double0]

Sell Dele Alli? what next, sell Kane, jeeeezzz.

Dele is very flexible he can play off the main striker anywhere in the attacking third or part of the midfield three. His main battle is getting and staying fit on form he is in our strongest 11 without a shadow of doubt look at his numbers.

 

[arunspurs]

Sell Dele Alli? what next, sell Kane, jeeeezzz.

Dele is very flexible he can play off the main striker anywhere in the attacking third or part of the midfield three. His main battle is getting and staying fit on form he is in our strongest 11 without a shadow of doubt look at his numbers.

Dele's game has gone down in last 2 years. In his first 2-3 years, Dele used to be quite involved in the game. Almost every action higher up the pitch - he used to have an influence - whether running off the ball, laying off, dribbling , nutmegging , passing or getting into positions. Last 2 years - his passing game is gone, no longer his dribbles or numegs works. When he has an off day - he has been absolutely shambolic. This is clearly why Jose was making sarcastic comment - is it Dele or Dele's brother.

So, lets first accept there is a problem.

Now, to the answer :

1. He has got to get his fitness back
2. He has got to train harder. He may not be a starter anymore. Instead of sulking, he has got to show his potential off bench

If he doesnt do this, he is on my sell list for next summer. I cant see Jose starting him anytime soon.He has to earn his way back from bench, something he has never done in his Spurs career.

 

[WiganSpur]

I think this is a good point - one of Dele's strengths is actually picking a pinpoint pass on the break and a lot of his best moments have been when he makes instinctive passes to runners ahead of him (see his assists against Ajax). We've scored so many great goals on the break over the years when Alli, Kane, Son and Eriksen combined after we won the ball deep in our half following an opposition corner or period of pressure.

He's at his worst when he has too much time to think and no space in front of him. He dawdles on the ball, overplays and slows everything down.

Not sure exactly how this translates to a Mourinho system? Maybe as part of a midfield 3?

Yes exactly that. If we signed Hojbjerg i'd like to see Dele tried as one of the number 8s. Theoretically we could rotate all of Winks, Alli, Ndombele, Lo Celso and maybe Gedson for those positions.

 

[daryl hannah]

Dele's game has gone down in last 2 years. In his first 2-3 years, Dele used to be quite involved in the game. Almost every action higher up the pitch - he used to have an influence - whether running off the ball, laying off, dribbling , nutmegging , passing or getting into positions. Last 2 years - his passing game is gone, no longer his dribbles or numegs works. When he has an off day - he has been absolutely shambolic. This is clearly why Jose was making sarcastic comment - is it Dele or Dele's brother.

So, lets first accept there is a problem.

Now, to the answer :

1. He has got to get his fitness back
2. He has got to train harder. He may not be a starter anymore. Instead of sulking, he has got to show his potential off bench

If he doesnt do this, he is on my sell list for next summer. I cant see Jose starting him anytime soon.He has to earn his way back from bench, something he has never done in his Spurs career.

I love it when fans start to turn on a player - the player probably wouldn't appreciate it - but it can sometimes spark a turnaround and suddenly they're flavour of the month again after 2 goals and 3 assists in 2 games...

Perfectly happy to see how it turns out for Dele.

...But until then, get rid!

 

[Grapo2001]

Sell Dele Alli? what next, sell Kane, jeeeezzz.

Dele is very flexible he can play off the main striker anywhere in the attacking third or part of the midfield three. His main battle is getting and staying fit on form he is in our strongest 11 without a shadow of doubt look at his numbers.

Dele and Kane are totally different players. One is a luxury and one is irreplaceable.

 

[Laboog]

Selling Dele would not only lose a player who could play multiple positions in midfield but would also take away some needed attitude/bite that Jose loves. "Nice" Dele is not as good as the "angry" Dele and I feel like Jose will bring some of that anger back to his game. Hopefully, not to the extent he was early on but still a little anger is good for a guy like Dele.

If we need to sell anyone in midfield, it should be Ndombele. IMO Dele is a better all-around player and can fit into more formations/styles.

Playing Dele as a deeper play-maker with the ability to arrive late in the box is where he is at his best. Jose loves a player arriving late in the box and Dele is our best midfield option to do that.

 

[double0]

Dele's game has gone down in last 2 years. In his first 2-3 years, Dele used to be quite involved in the game. Almost every action higher up the pitch - he used to have an influence - whether running off the ball, laying off, dribbling , nutmegging , passing or getting into positions. Last 2 years - his passing game is gone, no longer his dribbles or numegs works. When he has an off day - he has been absolutely shambolic. This is clearly why Jose was making sarcastic comment - is it Dele or Dele's brother.

So, lets first accept there is a problem.

Now, to the answer :

1. He has got to get his fitness back
2. He has got to train harder. He may not be a starter anymore. Instead of sulking, he has got to show his potential off bench

If he doesnt do this, he is on my sell list for next summer. I cant see Jose starting him anytime soon.He has to earn his way back from bench, something he has never done in his Spurs career.

In the last two years Tottenham Hotspur has steadily declined gone down. Harry Kanes numbers have gone down in the last two years so has a number of offer players. In the last two years not making excuse Dele has had serious hamstring problems robbed twice and burgled. You mentioned nutmegs sarcastically like it's a bad thing to do towards a fellow professional when in fact it is an effective bit of skill . As for Jose comments is it Dele or Dele's brother... well Jose makes many doesn't he...he once proclaimed to be the special one.

Personally I feel like Harry Kane, Dele Alli is taken for granted. Kyle Walker was too.

 

[double0]

Dele and Kane are totally different players. One is a luxury and one is irreplaceable.

Which one is the luxury player seriously. Have you seen Dele's sprint and mileage stats per games his assists and goals. Fully agree both are totally different player yet appreciate each others game.

 

[Montalbano]

It goes in cycles for most of you lot. You'll slate Dele, command him to be sold, say he's "done" or "not good enough", etc...

Then he'll start chipping in the goals and putting in shifts and it will be all positive. I've seen it on here with nearly all of our players this season, from Lloris to Dier to Son to Kane and our manager.

He's not being sold this summer, I'll put my left nut on it. Pre-lockdown he was arguably our most influential player. He's scored 8 goals in the league this season, only 3 less than our POTY Son [in 600 less minutes]. But recency bias makes some think a string of results without him means he's become surplus.

Since the restart he's been unlucky to have been suspended and now injured. When next season starts, he'll be involved and a valuable member of the squad whether he's a starter or in & out of the team.

He offers something different technically and tactically from all of our other players. Not to mention he's been a loyal member of the squad. If you don't think Dele's turned down big offers to play elsewhere you'd be mistaken. He played a big part for us this season and will play a big part next season, so show some support for him or continue to look silly like you have with other players this season.