Dele Alli at Everton
- Thread starter Spurslove
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brendanb50
Well-Known Member
- Jul 21, 2005
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Agree with Murphy...
Dele Alli told to ‘change his position’ to save Spurs career
Former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Dele Alli has to ‘change his position’ if he is to get back into the Spurs team.www.standard.co.uk
Always felt as though as though Dele was not a natural fit in a Mourinho team. Since Mourinho has been here, he has probably wanted to work with Dele to remould his game to become more of a central midfield but perhaps is wondering if that is ever going to happen.
I do think this is long-term what Dele needs to think about. How can he be more effective in one of two roles. I'd say he needs to potentially do more as an out and out striker in a front two or find ways to deliver more impact as an AM.
He's currently a 2nd striker to a large extent or given the freedom to be that. He had played in off the left as a left forward a few times under Poch too. Now sometimes the job of a forward player is just to pop up and score, other elements fade into insignificance as long as you bring goals and perhaps assists.
The issue is, that in a change of team/manager/set-up you can't always have that free attacking role, the system requires more of you and therefore the rest of your game needs to add something. This is where Dele falls a bit short. What he does, he does very well but he seems to lack a few elements to his game which would allow us to utilise him more.
If he were to drop deeper into midfield, we'd lose what he is good at on top of leaning on what skills he doesn't really have in spades. He's not great in the tackle, his passing can be a little slow, he tends to like a lot of touches on the ball. He lacks a bit of explosiveness.
He is good playing on instinct, on the turn, between and behind players. His movement and timing are excellent but this is only truly effective if he's around the box. In the middle third, much of this doesn't count for much.
Nerine
Juicy corned beef
- Jan 27, 2011
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I think the documentary is quite telling as to his attitude.
I think the superstardom has gone to his head a little and he needs to be brought back down to Earth.
Jose said basically as much when he arrived.
Whilst when Dele is on form he is very good, he is one of our most inconsistent players. Whether that’s due to formation or attitude I don’t know.
If you have a good run of games and you’re playing well, you should be able to replicate the performance from match to match. I.e. you know what you did well and what you didn’t do well. Do the good things again and try to eliminate the bad things.
Personally, whenever he gets the ball in a forward position I expect a dribble into an opposition player, the resulting loss of the ball and then that sort of jump he does with a bit of arm flailing.
When the ball is at his feet he reminds me of Adebayor. Like his legs below his knees are too long and there isn’t enough deftness of touch and control. Like a required small touch gets more of a leg swing than is required.
I think his positional awareness is good, but I’ve been frustrated with his performances more often than not.
Sentimentality has to make way for results and progress.
If Jose is happy to sell, then I’m all for it. Especially if we can use the funds to bolster an area that we’re not quite so stacked in.
The only issue I foresee is that he’s probably well liked in the dressing room. Him leaving would maybe deflate others a bit.
I think the superstardom has gone to his head a little and he needs to be brought back down to Earth.
Jose said basically as much when he arrived.
Whilst when Dele is on form he is very good, he is one of our most inconsistent players. Whether that’s due to formation or attitude I don’t know.
If you have a good run of games and you’re playing well, you should be able to replicate the performance from match to match. I.e. you know what you did well and what you didn’t do well. Do the good things again and try to eliminate the bad things.
Personally, whenever he gets the ball in a forward position I expect a dribble into an opposition player, the resulting loss of the ball and then that sort of jump he does with a bit of arm flailing.
When the ball is at his feet he reminds me of Adebayor. Like his legs below his knees are too long and there isn’t enough deftness of touch and control. Like a required small touch gets more of a leg swing than is required.
I think his positional awareness is good, but I’ve been frustrated with his performances more often than not.
Sentimentality has to make way for results and progress.
If Jose is happy to sell, then I’m all for it. Especially if we can use the funds to bolster an area that we’re not quite so stacked in.
The only issue I foresee is that he’s probably well liked in the dressing room. Him leaving would maybe deflate others a bit.
George94
George
- Feb 1, 2015
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He didn't do too badly playing centre midfield for MK Dons against United as an 18 year old...
100% agree. I think it's time for him to move on if the rumors about a falling out is true.
carpediem991
Well-Known Member
- May 31, 2011
- 8,839
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But for us always when he played deeper he got a bit lost and stripped of his best attributes, running in the free spaces in the box.
He is not a real creator nor a real battler
double0
Well-Known Member
- Aug 29, 2006
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I get the conflict so many people aren't so convinced with Dele. For me he is a unique talent very misunderstood he hasn't reached his peak years yet having exploding on the stage. The next phase is to adjust his game slightly and I believe he has the ability.
Albertbarich
Well-Known Member
- Jul 4, 2020
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Still played a 4231 yesterday so he would absolutely fit in.
I heard they have had a huge bust up so this isnt about tactics or squad size in my opinion its about them having a row and one person having more power than the other.
I think we would regret selling him.
Hakkz
Svensk hetsporre
- Jul 6, 2012
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Did we though? Looks to me like we are moving towards a 4-3-3.
fishhhandaricecake
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2018
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Surely he could play in midfield 3 and do the Lampard role brilliantly?
floydiohead
Well-Known Member
- Dec 29, 2006
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I think for me the problem is that he plateaued and has not been able to rediscover his form for a long time. I suspect that is because, as others have said, he's not really fit in to the shapes and systems we have been playing for a while.
It is finely balanced but I think the priority has to be given to a top class CB (possibly two), a backup to Kane, and a CM, in that order. If we need money to do that, then I would think that now is the time to sell Alli as I expect he'd still fetch a decent fee and then put that towards Dias.
On the other hand, my heart says keep, and my fear is that he will go to Liverpool or Utd and become a world beater within five minutes.
All that said, I suppose really it is down to whether or not he has the discipline and self-motivation to take this kick up the arse by Mourinho as a call to step up, adapt his game, and become the world class player we all know he can be.
It is finely balanced but I think the priority has to be given to a top class CB (possibly two), a backup to Kane, and a CM, in that order. If we need money to do that, then I would think that now is the time to sell Alli as I expect he'd still fetch a decent fee and then put that towards Dias.
On the other hand, my heart says keep, and my fear is that he will go to Liverpool or Utd and become a world beater within five minutes.
All that said, I suppose really it is down to whether or not he has the discipline and self-motivation to take this kick up the arse by Mourinho as a call to step up, adapt his game, and become the world class player we all know he can be.
arunspurs
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
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Dele can play in 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Its not the formation - its him.
In his first 2-3 years, Dele's first touch, short passing all worked. In last 1.5 years, his passing has somehow become too slow. His first touch against Everton was pathetic.
To get his sharpness & touch back, its only on him. He has to be focussed and train harder. There's no easy way out
In his first 2-3 years, Dele's first touch, short passing all worked. In last 1.5 years, his passing has somehow become too slow. His first touch against Everton was pathetic.
To get his sharpness & touch back, its only on him. He has to be focussed and train harder. There's no easy way out
Ionman34
SC Supporter
- Jun 1, 2011
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Just been listening to Danny Murphy on Talksport, who I think is spot on. JM is giving him a wake up call, in the same way Houllier did with Gerrard in his early career. Didn't do Gerrard any harm.
I think JM is handling him in exactly the way he needs. I also think Dele will respond to this, as he's an intelligent kid who has already admitted that he's not playing as well as he himself expects.
If he doesn't respond positively to this then we really have to question whether he has the mentality to make it to the level we all expect of him.
I think JM is handling him in exactly the way he needs. I also think Dele will respond to this, as he's an intelligent kid who has already admitted that he's not playing as well as he himself expects.
If he doesn't respond positively to this then we really have to question whether he has the mentality to make it to the level we all expect of him.
SpartanSpur
Well-Known Member
- Jan 27, 2011
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I think Dele is doing a lowkey Rose. I think he's worried Jose doesn't have him in his first XI plans any more and is leaking info to try and either get a move or at least force a conversation about him. That Agbonlahor thing on Talksport felt like something released from his camp.
Sounds like Levy is keen to keep him whilst Jose is probably ok either way, probably leaning towards being happy for him to leave if it helps get him what he wants (e.g. Vinicius and Dias).
Sounds like Levy is keen to keep him whilst Jose is probably ok either way, probably leaning towards being happy for him to leave if it helps get him what he wants (e.g. Vinicius and Dias).
Yid-ol
Just-outside Edinburgh
- Jan 16, 2006
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Because they play different positions and we have said we want to keep NDombelle?
fortworthspur
Well-Known Member
- Nov 12, 2007
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he's a forward, not a midfielder. he's too good to not be playing somewhere, so we should probably sell him if JM is going to make him the scapegoat.
'O Zio
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2014
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They play completely different roles so I don't really get the comparison, sorry.
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