I don't think it's a fitness issue, he's been off the boil for over a year now. I think the issue is that he doesn't really have much of a football brain. Whilst the likes of Gerrard, Lampard Fabregas Modric etc were/are constantly aware of what's around them and know what to do with the ball before they've even received it, Dele hasn't shown he has that sort of awareness recently. He's more than capable of playing one or two touch football and moving into space, he's done it before. I honestly believe it's an issue with his application due to having such a meteoric rise at such an early age. He hasn't had to graft for it. The argument that he should be playing further up the pitch is a valid one but unless we only play that system for the foreseeable future then Dele is going to find himself on the bench because he can't be trusted with the ball.
Yeah those years playing in league one as a 16 year old was easy ?
Yea they just let him chill out with no graft ?You mean the 2 seasons.
Yea they just let him chill out with no graft ?
He’s just short of fitness and out of form due to playing multiple different positions.Care to add anything to the discussion or just entertain us with your white hot wit?
He’s just short of fitness and out of form due to playing multiple different positions.
It happens but if there’s one thing that can’t be going against him is that he’s had it easy. He’s grafted for everything he’s got
So how long is his fitness regime? Because he was absolute turd last year (and into the WC) and if you evaluate his overall play from his first game with us not much is really different except there are not the late winning goals. He was always dogshit during open play hence the 'FFS Dele' joke. This sounds like excuse not explanation.He’s just short of fitness and out of form due to playing multiple different positions.
Absolute turd? He was our highest players in assists and scored double figures again.So how long is his fitness regime? Because he was absolute turd last year (and into the WC) and if you evaluate his overall play from his first game with us not much is really different except there are not the late winning goals. He was always dogshit during open play hence the 'FFS Dele' joke. This sounds like excuse not explanation.
Absolute turd? He was our highest players in assists and scored double figures again.
He got injured in the first WC game yet scored in the quarters.
FFS dele joke is by idiots for idiots ??
I agree, we just lack a lot of footballing intelligence. Having players like Him, Dier, Sissoko in midfield doesn't help. We don't really look like a spurs team and lack players who can play with the ball at their feet. He's been very bumbly especially in situations in MF where it doesn't help.Few times he had so much time and space to place one good through ball then leading to most likely a goal. So frustrating
I would absolutely quibble with the bolded. Positioning in the attacking third, without the ball ie like Mueller then yes he gets good marks. But his defensive positioning is schoolboy. Just look at the example of last weekend's ManCity game. He has no idea of what is going on around him and this wasn't the first time he has had to be moved because were suffering.He seriously needs to learn to pick his moments better and move the ball quickly.
He has above average technique, his movement and positioning are his best attributes.