Dele Alli at Everton

[KH1882]

I do not think it's about the system, look at the intensity and physique he had when he broke through. A completely different player compared to now.

 

[ILS]

Frankly he was just useless against Villa, Mason pumped his ego up with his ridiculous comments about him being MOTM against Wolves when he was ok at best against a team that had checked out. Think we had more chance of selling this show pony when he was at the back of the bench, what he’s delivering won’t be exciting any potential buyers.

It's not just Mason, the whole British media including pundits barring Carragher are to blame for Dele's decline.

The way they used to compare him with Gerrard and Lampard was cringeworthy, purely off the fact his goal scoring ratio was better when he isn't even a midfielder.

I can name you countless games when he got man of the match due to scoring a goal or two and doing absolute fuck all for the rest of the game.

So shock horror when the goals and assist rates started to slow down, people started questioning what he actually brings to the team other then being a total luxury player.

 

[double0]

Dele is a good player, unfortunately the club Levy hasn't spent the required amount on the first 11. Seriously we have bigger problems than Dele Alli.

 

[ILS]

Dele is a good player, unfortunately the club Levy hasn't spent the required amount on the first 11. Seriously we have bigger problems than Dele Alli.

No we don't. Dele is one of the biggest problems and has been for two seasons.

I love when people like you come out with stuff like Dele is a good player...well yes of course he is as he plays in the premiership. Winks is a good player compared to you and I.

 

[Harrier]

Personally I think Dele lost his spark when he landed his last big contract.
If he’s a lazy trainer he probably thought he’d ‘arrived’ and didn’t need to put in the effort. You can’t do that if you want to compete at the elite level.
Hopefully he’s twigged that and with a run of games will get back to somewhere like his former self.

 

[BucSpur]

Not bothered really if he goes, we all love his magic moments when they come off but its infuriating when they don't and we lose possession and an attack breaks down. Also his nutmegs aren't about creating an opening or taking a player out to benefit the team, he just enjoys it like a kid on the playground.

We could afford him when we were playing an aggressive press high up on the pitch as if his move came off then great, but when it didn't and the opposition briefly had the ball back but lost it again in their half and back we came it added to the other teams demoralisation.

The other major point to remember is that his best time came when he was an aggressive, nasty little shit right on the line of acceptable, we haven't seen that for years.

Shame as i always thought he could be a Gilzean type for us.

 

[daveduvet]

I seem to recall Dele’s decline began when he changed agents and started a clothing brand... in financial terms he’s ‘made’. I get the feeling that football is just a part of his life rather than being the main driving force, as it likely once was

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I seem to recall Dele’s decline began when he changed agents and started a clothing brand... in financial terms he’s ‘made’. I get the feeling that football is just a part of his life rather than being the main driving force, as it likely once was

His decline began when the team was unable to carry a luxury. Prior to this the great team of 2015-18 could accommodate Alli, but once this team started to dismantle it become apparent that Alli needed the right system around him to aid any contribution.

 

[spids]

His decline began when the team was unable to carry a luxury. Prior to this the great team of 2015-18 could accommodate Alli, but once this team started to dismantle it become apparent that Alli needed the right system around him to aid any contribution.

I'd disagree with the first part of your post (the second part is bang on) because Dele was not a luxury player in that team and worked incredibly in that system. As did Eriksen. Our fitness levels and press was incredible. It's why we scored the most and conceded the least in the premier league across two seasons. Dele's performance levels dropped for a variety of on and off the pitch reasons. On the pitch Dele is a player whose greatest asset is ghosting into the box and scoring goals. As a team we do not get the ball into the box much any more, and especially not with the quality of diagonal balls that Eriksen conjured up. Dele needs to play as one of the WFs alongside Son and Kane making diagonal runs past Kane into the box (that we'd need a genuine #10 to spot). His most effective games for us have been when he's making diagonal runs from left to centre. Outside the penalty area his main assets were graft and keeping it simple. At some point he was required to, or decided he wanted to, become the creator which he is not effective at. He simply is not a #10 and when he drops off to get the ball to feet it usually means an attack is about to break down (and also there is one less attacker in the box).

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I remember in the AoN one of the complaints Jose had about him was how his passing was too slow, and I agree with that completely. Firstly he takes too many touches when sometimes 2-3 touches would be enough, and then when he does pass it there is no zip or urgency to his passes. Compare his passing to Ndombele's for example who puts very good pace onto his passes while still maintaining accuracy.

I think Dele has always had great physical attributes, I'm sure that was one of the things Poch was impressed with when he first came to the club. But he hasn't improved his technical abilities at all, still has an absolute refusal to use his left foot, not really a good striker of the ball from outside the box either barring the wonder goal volley at Palace. Time for him to move on.

 

[ILS]

I remember in the AoN one of the complaints Jose had about him was how his passing was too slow, and I agree with that completely. Firstly he takes too many touches when sometimes 2-3 touches would be enough, and then when he does pass it there is no zip or urgency to his passes. Compare his passing to Ndombele's for example who puts very good pace onto his passes while still maintaining accuracy.

I think Dele has always had great physical attributes, I'm sure that was one of the things Poch was impressed with when he first came to the club. But he hasn't improved his technical abilities at all, still has an absolute refusal to use his left foot, not really a good striker of the ball from outside the box either barring the wonder goal volley at Palace. Time for him to move on.

Spot on analysis. The stats about him running the most in games is not surprising as he always been a natural athlete. Im sure if it wasn't for football he would be a very good 800m and 1500m runner.

If he was in any other team right now and we were linked with him, our fans would be questioning the signing.

 

[Aphex]

not really a good striker of the ball from outside the box either barring the wonder goal volley at Palace. Time for him to move on.

Glad someone else notices that too. His shooting of the ball from outside the box is awful. Never generates any power or lift. Always pea rolls his shots well wide.

He isn't as good technically as some people think. He can be decent at doing short little passes around the box (when on form, which is rare), but the rest of the time he dilly dallys on the ball, taking too many touches.

He can be a very decent short range finisher, but he's nowhere near the level we need. He's a midtable player, would do well at a Villa or Everton, let them worry about his many many weaknesses..

 

[Trees]

I like Dele, for a time he was class for us and I think that was cos the system really suited him. He scored a lot of great goals and has clearly talent.

Ultimately I don't care whether people think he is or isn't good enough for Spurs I just think it's time to part ways regardless and honestly, whilst we're at it, if it's possible and deals are good, I would strongly consider selling Kane and Son too along with other more obvious options (Winks, Aurier, Dier, Davies, Doherty etc).

IMO this squad needs "blowing up". Anyone that has been here for a significant number of years like Dele, Son, Kane etc needs a fresh start and the club does too.

Before I get hammered, I'm not saying this cos I think any of them aren't good enough I just really think this squad is so unbelievably stale. There's a mental fog hanging over everyone. We need new players, new manager and we just need to reset things.

The issue of course is that Levy will struggle to get deals that he feels are sufficient when in truth he just needs to sell for the best he can get and cut his losses.

Most common sense on SC that I have heard for a while. Great post.

 

[Amo]

Still think we stunted his development as a player by not instilling any positional discipline whatsoever and instead just formed a lineup around letting him do whatever he likes.

Should have been the other way round. Lo Celso's time at PSG saw them drill a lot of positional awareness and discipline into him by playing him in an unfamiliar role. It might not have worked out for him there but he's a far better player now for it.

 

[ILS]

Glad someone else notices that too. His shooting of the ball from outside the box is awful. Never generates any power or lift. Always pea rolls his shots well wide.

He isn't as good technically as some people think. He can be decent at doing short little passes around the box (when on form, which is rare), but the rest of the time he dilly dallys on the ball, taking too many touches.

He can be a very decent short range finisher, but he's nowhere near the level we need. He's a midtable player, would do well at a Villa or Everton, let them worry about his many many weaknesses..

Although we're both on the same side in respect to this argument, I have to pull you up on disrespecting Everton and Villa. Both of those sides have the capability to compete with us.

 

[sidford]

 

[al_pacino]

I agree with a lot that is written above.

There have been mistakes on all sides with his development since joining. He's become more and more specialised as a player when he should be more rounded, you wouldn't think about playing him as an actual midfielder but that's what should've been possible.

The technical issues are there too. He really hasn't learnt to kick the ball properly. Instead of a bit of backswing and a kick through the ball he just pushes through it, it works for little flicks through but fails for crisp longer passes or shooting with any power.

 

[Japhet]

luxury players don't score and create goals - the real luxury players are the ones the contribute very little to the side and we have a number of those before people rinse Alli

Danny Rose is the ultimate luxury player for us at the moment. Draws a substantial wage in return for absolutely fuck all.

 

[Gilzeanking]

I like Dele, for a time he was class for us and I think that was cos the system really suited him. He scored a lot of great goals and has clearly talent.

Ultimately I don't care whether people think he is or isn't good enough for Spurs I just think it's time to part ways regardless and honestly, whilst we're at it, if it's possible and deals are good, I would strongly consider selling Kane and Son too along with other more obvious options (Winks, Aurier, Dier, Davies, Doherty etc).

IMO this squad needs "blowing up". Anyone that has been here for a significant number of years like Dele, Son, Kane etc needs a fresh start and the club does too.

Before I get hammered, I'm not saying this cos I think any of them aren't good enough I just really think this squad is so unbelievably stale. There's a mental fog hanging over everyone. We need new players, new manager and we just need to reset things.

The issue of course is that Levy will struggle to get deals that he feels are sufficient when in truth he just needs to sell for the best he can get and cut his losses.

Yep all of this . The most controversial point for many will be the selling of Son...yes he has a great shot on him , but this year he's been on his deckchair mainly and needs new challenges to motivate him . As said above we need new , hungry players and being a forward in 2021 Prem involves more graft than Sonny seems to want to do . Plus he'll make us a good wedge..plus he seems to be looking for pastures new.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Glad someone else notices that too. His shooting of the ball from outside the box is awful. Never generates any power or lift. Always pea rolls his shots well wide.

He isn't as good technically as some people think. He can be decent at doing short little passes around the box (when on form, which is rare), but the rest of the time he dilly dallys on the ball, taking too many touches.

He can be a very decent short range finisher, but he's nowhere near the level we need. He's a midtable player, would do well at a Villa or Everton, let them worry about his many many weaknesses..

Spot on, in the box his one touch instinctive finishing is pretty good. But he is not a danger at all from outside the box with the ball on the floor. Which for a no10 attacking midfielder is a bit of a problem. Compare his shooting ability to Gerrard/Lampard and it is literally night and day. That's why I was never onboard when people used to compare him to them. Too many holes in his game masked by decent numbers in his breakthrough seasons.

And it's frustrating for me as I think he could have worked on these aspects of his game. He has access to incredible facilities and coaches, there's just no way you should not be improving. No way at all.

For that alone I want him gone as he clearly has not put in much effort on the training ground. Jose called that out to him directly and to Levy so that's not even a debate.