Dele Alli at Everton

[JW72]

Dele has been overhyped from day one by the media, pundits and by most supporters who bought into the hype because of his mesmeric rise from MK Dons. He was playing in a very good team and he clicked when the Dembeles and Eriksens of the world were controlling the game and he was given a license express himself. But when it comes down to him controlling the game he has been found wanting. At times his goals papered over his limitations. For example before that wonder goal against Palace, he was dreadful and people we asking for him to be subbed, he scored that goal and "all was forgiven". Dele is good and but when his flicks and tricks dont work (other teams have worked him out) his limitations are exposed.

In short Dele was not at the level that he and most thought him to be and that realisation, through his recent performances of a year or so, has come home to roost.

Saying all I that if he buckles down I would keep him as he does bring something to the squad.

While I don't necessarily agree he was overhyped, much of this is spot on. He's clearly a very good player - capable of moments of true class - but I don't think he's proved to be quite as good as many of us hoped, or indeed as good as playing with Eriksen and Dembele made him look. I'd love him to turn it round and find a new aspect to his game but if his time here is up, thanks for some brilliant memories and good luck.

 

[PeeLee]

Mourinho has his qualities but sadly he is also conceited and a fool.

Since the 2018 World Cup tournament when Dele scored a goal early, got injured but made his way back to the England side later in the tournament, he has also had to cope with disappointment because of niggles that interrupted his progress. Then, like the other Spurs players who'd played for England, he had to try to recover very quickly in time for the 2018-19 season.

Remember that bloody awful team performance against Liverpool at Wembley early in that season? And how it was World Cup winning France team captain Hugo Lloris who had returned to the Spurs camp with a bounce? Dembele then had to be moved out by January because he could take no more of the Premier League pace.

That new season was one in which Dele was among a number of Spurs players back and forth with occasional injuries, including Spurs' epic struggle to recover from near-bottom of their European Champions League group and climb to second place in it before facing fierce opponents in round after round on the way to the ECL Final in Madrid. It was a season in which he helped out Pochettino by being moved from position to position to enable Spurs to get out makeshift sides. He helped Spurs get to the Final and also helped achieve fourth place in the Premier League that difficult season that got Spurs qualified for the ECL for season 2019-20. So counting goals scored by Dele then and since then rather sidesteps the awkward fact that he wasn't playing in positions he played in his first years at Spurs.

Players aren't toy soldiers to be moved around the pitch by people playing computer games — as if you're God. So you're always going to be disappointed by the messy reality of football as actually played and playing lives as actually lived. The types that nowadays don't appreciate Pochettino don't seem to appreciate Dele either. Oh, and they'd have sold off Kane a season or two ago. Let's see which is the club where these three individuals might well reunite, because THFC under Mourinho isn't going to be wisely led, and Poch's attraction for another club could yet be that he can attract players he has worked with and who have flourished. And I am someone who accepted that Mourinho was now in charge and therefore we just had to get on with it. And yet, and yet. It is his kind of attitude towards a string of talented players — most recently Juan Mata, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and now Dele — that shows up Mourinho's personality defect for how negative and destructive egotism and possibly envy can be.

Dele, stick with it! Many, many supporters identify with you and support you, and have seen you play on actual football pitches and not just through the limited screen-version of the Beautiful Game. Your athleticism, grace, wit and intelligence have enhanced Spurs' teams since your arrival, and have created so many admirers who appreciate playing and footballing qualities. Your calm, honest interviews immediately after matches have underlined the personal qualities that make you one of the distinguished players who've played for our club. You'll get games, so just rise above the kind of personal pettiness that should be treated as no more than a passing irritation.

 

[fortworthspur]

whatever your opinion of Dele, its laughable he's not even on the bench for this game. Unless he's off in the next few days this is just JoMo being petty.

 

[Spartanspurs]

I honestly believe Dele's best role is the one Son has been playing. Where he's linking up with Kane, making runs to create space for Kane and getting on the end of Kane's passing. If Dele does end up staying I really hope he gets a chance in that role now Son is out.

 

[Spurs 1961]

I think Dele would be mad not to take a move to a top club. No future here with the style and mindset of the temporary manager. He needs to play within a team that tries to play football.

 

[fortworthspur]

I honestly believe Dele's best role is the one Son has been playing. Where he's linking up with Kane, making runs to create space for Kane and getting on the end of Kane's passing. If Dele does end up staying I really hope he gets a chance in that role now Son is out.

or Moura

 

[Basil Brush]

It's explained in the Amazon Doc - Sacremento and Jose talk about Dier and Sacremento says "They say he's the only one that enjoys the conflict on the pitch".

Dier will play because he personifies what Jose wants from the team - Dele won't because he doesn't. Again referencing the doc, in I think the last episode they had a disagreement where Dele was blaming the team, and Dier says "name them then. Don't just blame 'the team'. Sitting there like a spoilt child". It seems like Jose really, really wanted Dele to prove him wrong, but I'm not sure he has it in him.

It's possibly a weakness in players who start their top level career as kids, not adults.

This is spot on.

Jose wants fighters, and Dele comes across as a bit of a spoilt child.

Spurs have been a soft team for a long team, and other teams know it.

I have no issues which what Jose is trying to achieve by trying to toughen us up.

Unfortunately Dele looks like he will be a casualty of this.

 

[mil1lion]

My main issue with Dele is how many touches he needs, he slows down all our counters and seems to take 5 or 6 touches to do what others can do in 1 or 2. Which is annoying... because he's actually better when his instincts kick in.

He's been poor for a while now though, so while it will be sad to see him go, it won't be *that* sad.

It's no coincidence that as the high press went down he struggled more. Its also no surprise that he has struggled with the counter attacking approach. I was just hoping that with Lo Celso and Ndombele we might start to get control in midfield and play on the front foot more like we did against Newcastle. In the final third is where Alli shines but we don't play in the final third enough anymore.

 

[nailsy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only UK based midfielders we've been linked with are David Brooks and Todd Cantwell? Both would be obtainable during that extended transfer window.

That's a good shout, but I'm not sure we'd pay the price being quoted for Brooks. Maybe Bales recommend him though.

 

[cirilus]

Still nice player/person, but not enough.

Will struggle a lot playing this type of game.

For him to play, it means removing Ndombele and putting Gio deeper.

Best to move to different league.

 

[Bobby TwoShots]

Still nice player/person, but not enough.

Will struggle a lot playing this type of game.

For him to play, it means removing Ndombele and putting Gio deeper.

Best to move to different league.

Agree to a point. But I think he could've played today instead of Gedson and had more of an impact.

 

[rambu]

I’m confused why he started the first game though.

I am not particularly outraged by the thought of Dele leaving, but the seemingly knee-jerk u-turn from Mourinho unsettles me a little.

I think it's very clear, that Jose played him was to give Dele a chance to show if he can play to Jose's standard - he didn't take that chance well. I meant in this case you can't blame Jose for not giving him that chance. Plus I'm sure it's nothing new and Jose's been demanding what he needed from Dele since he's been here and quite simply, time is up.

Jose's message is very clear to everyone, get with the program or get out - and looks like he's walking the talk.
I like that a lot.

 

[dk-yid]

This may go against the majority opinion but I really want him to stay, knuckle down and come out better for it. I know we need the inflow of cash so I get why we are trying to offload. But I think Mourinho is the right manager to turn him around.

 

[Donki]

whatever your opinion of Dele, its laughable he's not even on the bench for this game. Unless he's off in the next few days this is just JoMo being petty.

If he has threw the head up, not training well, and being petulant why would he deserve to be on the bench? Jose is doing what Jose does, no effort, no place.

This may go against the majority opinion but I really want him to stay, knuckle down and come out better for it. I know we need the inflow of cash so I get why we are trying to offload. But I think Mourinho is the right manager to turn him around.

He has had 2-3 seasons to knuckle down.

 

[Stamford]

This may go against the majority opinion but I really want him to stay, knuckle down and come out better for it. I know we need the inflow of cash so I get why we are trying to offload. But I think Mourinho is the right manager to turn him around.

He has had more than enough time to do this though. Why should he get another year here

 

[Rosco1984]

ITK have consistently said that everyone has a price outside of Kane and Son. Perhaps we needed to sell a valuable asset or move one on to do the business we wanted to and maybe PSG made their initial interest in Dele known after the first game and we have decided to try and cash in there meaning he wasn't specifically planned to leave when we played Everton.

 

[fortworthspur]

If he has threw the head up, not training well, and being petulant why would he deserve to be on the bench? Jose is doing what Jose does, no effort, no place.



He has had 2-3 seasons to knuckle down.

and you know how he is in training how?

 

[Donki]

and you know how he is in training how?

No more than you know Jose is being petty .

 

[OpenHeartZoo]

Hasn’t been much info spilt yet other than PSG are interested and/or we are trying to flog him to PSG? You would think it’d be loan with option as it could suit everyone. 10m loan fee, plus another 45-50M if they want to purchase. If he smashes in a load of goals for them then 50-60m overall is a good deal for them. And we get the £10m loan fee up front so we can sign Troy Deeney

 

[SpursSince1980]

Mourinho has his qualities but sadly he is also conceited and a fool.

Since the 2018 World Cup tournament when Dele scored a goal early, got injured but made his way back to the England side later in the tournament, he has also had to cope with disappointment because of niggles that interrupted his progress. Then, like the other Spurs players who'd played for England, he had to try to recover very quickly in time for the 2018-19 season.

Remember that bloody awful team performance against Liverpool at Wembley early in that season? And how it was World Cup winning France team captain Hugo Lloris who had returned to the Spurs camp with a bounce? Dembele then had to be moved out by January because he could take no more of the Premier League pace.

That new season was one in which Dele was among a number of Spurs players back and forth with occasional injuries, including Spurs' epic struggle to recover from near-bottom of their European Champions League group and climb to second place in it before facing fierce opponents in round after round on the way to the ECL Final in Madrid. It was a season in which he helped out Pochettino by being moved from position to position to enable Spurs to get out makeshift sides. He helped Spurs get to the Final and also helped achieve fourth place in the Premier League that difficult season that got Spurs qualified for the ECL for season 2019-20. So counting goals scored by Dele then and since then rather sidesteps the awkward fact that he wasn't playing in positions he played in his first years at Spurs.

Players aren't toy soldiers to be moved around the pitch by people playing computer games — as if you're God. So you're always going to be disappointed by the messy reality of football as actually played and playing lives as actually lived. The types that nowadays don't appreciate Pochettino don't seem to appreciate Dele either. Oh, and they'd have sold off Kane a season or two ago. Let's see which is the club where these three individuals might well reunite, because THFC under Mourinho isn't going to be wisely led, and Poch's attraction for another club could yet be that he can attract players he has worked with and who have flourished. And I am someone who accepted that Mourinho was now in charge and therefore we just had to get on with it. And yet, and yet. It is his kind of attitude towards a string of talented players — most recently Juan Mata, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and now Dele — that shows up Mourinho's personality defect for how negative and destructive egotism and possibly envy can be.

Dele, stick with it! Many, many supporters identify with you and support you, and have seen you play on actual football pitches and not just through the limited screen-version of the Beautiful Game. Your athleticism, grace, wit and intelligence have enhanced Spurs' teams since your arrival, and have created so many admirers who appreciate playing and footballing qualities. Your calm, honest interviews immediately after matches have underlined the personal qualities that make you one of the distinguished players who've played for our club. You'll get games, so just rise above the kind of personal pettiness that should be treated as no more than a passing irritation.

Not sure I'd go so far as declaring Jose is a fool.
And why will Spurs not be 'wisely led' under Jose?
I deeply appreciate Poch. Will always love him. But shit seemed to spiral, and these things happen.
I like Dele too. But over the last two years, he hasn't been on form. There's a zillion reasons why. But perhaps Jose and others feel like he is coasting a little bit, and doesn't seem to want to fight.
You also seem to overlook a glut of players who have thrived under Jose too. Many players who openly speak about him being their best coach.
Jose has given Dele every chance. Especially last season. When Dele went off the boil after a little purple patch, Jose stuck with him. When it was obvious Dele was struggling. Obvious for everyone to see that he was becoming a liability for his inability to hold on and control the ball in situations where we are under the kosh.
And I couldn't disagree more with you about the personal pettiness. That is a grand and unsubstantiated assumption. Jose can be obdurate and relentless for sure. But he has never struck me as a coach that is more focused on himself than the success of the team.
Will Dele go? Who knows. If he stays, I hope it works out for him. But if he is acting like a squeeky wheel and it is rubbing off on his teammates, that can be toxic. Everyone has to pull in the same direction. If he is pulling another way, and Jose has tried everything he can to get him aligned with everyone else, then you can understand if he's hit a wall.
Jose is not unique in this respect. Many coaches go through this with certain players. Hence, why singling Jose out seems a bit odd.