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Dele Alli at Everton

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
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In a way he reminds me of Lennon - was a bit of a prodigy for his age when he was just hitting 20, then hit a bit of a plateau around 24 and didn't seem to improve for a few years. At one point we were ready to write him off and suddenly he finds a new level to his game just as we start on our European adventures.

Rose was similar and, if I really thought about it, I expect there's dozens of players who have over achieved for their age group as a teenager/early twenties, only to level out as they get a few years down the line and their peers start to catch up.

The big concern now is the fluid nature of players contracts - will Alli stick around long enough to ride out this flat spot if it lasts longer than expected or will another club come in and swipe him away with promises of a new start? It wasn't long ago that a player with three years on their contract would expect to stay for three years, so Lennon and Rose both stuck around long enough to push through it, but now contracts mean very little in that department.
Good post. I think the issue have with players is when they appear to not be prioritising the game.

Alli has been injured but appears more focused on off field activities.

I hope the perception is wrong.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
Good post. I think the issue have with players is when they appear to not be prioritising the game.

Alli has been injured but appears more focused on off field activities.

I hope the perception is wrong.
There are off field activities and there are off field activities. Some players like to go out and piss their money and health up the wall partying as an off field activity. However Alli is not like that. He is exploring other business opportunities. The question he needs to ask is, would he rather go to a business meet / media opportunity or continue after training practicing his touch and technique. That is the off field issue with him. Not him being a dick.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
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There are off field activities and there are off field activities. Some players like to go out and piss their money and health up the wall partying as an off field activity. However Alli is not like that. He is exploring other business opportunities. The question he needs to ask is, would he rather go to a business meet / media opportunity or continue after training practicing his touch and technique. That is the off field issue with him. Not him being a dick.
I don’t bother with Instagram but people on here have said there are a number of pictures of him being out.

Don’t pretend you know his lifestyle, none of us do.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
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Good post. I think the issue have with players is when they appear to not be prioritising the game.

Alli has been injured but appears more focused on off field activities.

I hope the perception is wrong.
I reckon Alli has already addressed the (allegation) prioritising football slogan.. it's for people to stop going on about it.

People need to remember, this is a kid that came through the lower leagues fought his way to the top, winning young footballer of the year twice so i don't think it's got to his head or him being complacent Ali is a fighter.
Leading up to his last major hamstring injury you check it, he accumulatively burnt out with far to many games EPL CL domestic cup England ( in his age bracket he played the most games in European football) he went to the world cup not fully fit heavily strapped hamstrings didn't really have a rest or pre season post world cup surprise surprise got injured again.

Poch has to manage him better.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
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Thought he took his goal superbly and what's more he was dropping deep taking responsibility trying to make things happen, the pass to Moura was great. The Liverpool game was a tough one for him but I think over the last 4 games we have seen significant signs of improvement from him. I thought Sky were ridiculous to be picking him out on his 3rd league start from Injury. Still has a long way to go to get back to his best but be interested to see where he is once he has 10 league starts in a row.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
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Other than the goals, what are the signs of improvement you've seen?

Against Watford he was the only player trying to make things happen, he kept trying give and goes with Moura who wasn't able to reciprocate. He also set the chance up for Son who smashed the bar against Watford. Red Star he had a good game despite not scoring and played some good stuff with Kane and yesterday he was doing well, dropping deeper than you'd expect off him and created our only other decent chance which Moura messed up. There was also a little passage early on where Ndombele fizzed the ball into him and he made a great touch to get it into Moura who unfortunately lost it.

He's never been somebody who is a playmaker either so I don't expect him to be dictating play, he's very much a player who lives off the odd moment.
 

eViL

Oliver Skipp's Dad
May 15, 2004
5,840
7,960
I appreciate your response. From a general play point of view I still don't see any improvement in his first touch, still has his habit of playing the ball either behind or right into players feet when it needs to be played into their run, or his lack of running with the ball.

He used to run with the ball on his first touch and now lumbers around (usually trying to pull it under control) with it giving the opposing team to steady their ship. It's been an issue the last 3 years; for me that's backwards development.

Yesterday's goal was a reminder of what he can do, but he needs to do that all the time; not once a game.

He's never been somebody who is a playmaker either so I don't expect him to be dictating play, he's very much a player who lives off the odd moment.

Then he needs to become a Striker - you can't carry a player in the Premier League in the off-chance they'll pop up with a goal in any other position. Premier League football is about forcing errors through constant pressure, not necessarily about good technical play and great tactics. Even Pep realised this after his 1st season 'It's all about how you control the 2nd ball in England'
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
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I appreciate your response. From a general play point of view I still don't see any improvement in his first touch, still has his habit of playing the ball either behind or right into players feet when it needs to be played into their run, or his lack of running with the ball.

He used to run with the ball on his first touch and now lumbers around (usually trying to pull it under control) with it giving the opposing team to steady their ship. It's been an issue the last 3 years; for me that's backwards development.

Yesterday's goal was a reminder of what he can do, but he needs to do that all the time; not once a game.



Then he needs to become a Striker - you can't carry a player in the Premier League in the off-chance they'll pop up with a goal in any other position. Premier League football is about forcing errors through constant pressure, not necessarily about good technical play and great tactics. Even Pep realised this after his 1st season 'It's all about how you control the 2nd ball in England'

I agree that he needs to be used as more of a striker, I've always thought he'd suit a Ronaldo role similar to what he had at Madrid where he was out wide but was used 90% for his goalscoring exploits and not much else. What I'd say about what he needs to be doing going forward as I say he's been injured and I'm interested to see where he is after 10 league starts compared to 4. The key for me is that he has shown signs of improvement but he has a long way to go. I think over the last 2 years he's suffered from Poch playing him where his weaknesses are amplified and his strengths nullified. I think the reason I have more time for Dele than most people is I judge him for what he is, an excellent poacher who works well off the striker, I know he isn't good at passing, dribbling, playmaking but when we focus on playing to his strengths they're so good that he justifies his place despite those obvious flaws.
 

coys200

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May 22, 2017
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For all the criticism without his 2 goals we’d be looking at 4 straight defeats be 16th and Pochettino probably be gone. Say what you like but the guy scores important goals in big moments.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
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For all the criticism without his 2 goals we’d be looking at 4 straight defeats be 16th and Pochettino probably be gone. Say what you like but the guy scores important goals in big moments.
Getting back to the goals and signs of his work rate/fitness returning. Two things we sorely need right now.
 

Spursmatty87

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2016
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play him in his proper position and he will influence the game. Play him as a deep midfielder then he’s not gonna be as productive. For me he is massive for us and we need him in a position to score goals. Hopefully the more gls plays the further up he can play.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
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Other than the goals, what are the signs of improvement you've seen?
I see him as a goal scoring midfielder, so getting back into those positions, making those runs and taking the chances is a big step towards the improvement that I want to see.
Of course, it helps if the manager would play him in the right system...
 

PLTuck

Eternal Optimist
Aug 22, 2006
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dele-alli-tottenham-hotspur-2019-20_1komx9xs4n5vo1oa8hpj3gulze.jpg
 
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