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Dele Alli

If Dele doesn't leave this summer (doubt he will) he will be huge for us next year. He's going to be looking to prove a point and Jose will get the best out of him.

I truly hope so, as DFL suggests he is becoming one of those players who is out for "a couple of games" when you need him.. Hopefully he can get as good a rest as anyone over the summer period and come back fit and firing. The guy doesn't owe me anything but I'd love to fall back in love with what he is about considering that even his greatest fan wouldn't say he has progressed this season.
 
The Lampard role, if we are looking at former Mourinho sides.

The thing is, if you listen to how Mourinho describes Lampard, there's one bit that sticks out. In his video for the Coaches' Voice website, he mentions his 'perfect' Chelsea side of 2005-2006, and recalls how it didn't matter what the opposition did - Chelsea would be able to score every time, and that created nightmares for the opposition teams. Defend high? Robben's pace would kill you in behind. Middle-block? Drogba's ability to bring people into play and spray passes behind the line would kill you.

Low block? Lampard's ability to shoot accurately from outside the box (I think Mourinho labelled it as 'shoot five times, score four goals') would kill you.

The last bit is really crucial - it's the one-stop shop trick to breaking down a low block, the more I think about it. If you have a player with a very accurate long shot, the opposition *have* to leave their defensive shape to close him down when he gets on the ball, or they're risking a goal every time he opens up from range. That in turn creates spaces that said player (or a more creative colleague) can then play into, breaking down the block.

The last time we were particularly good at breaking down low blocks was in 2016-2017, when the small pitch at the Lane went from being a hindrance to being a bonus - with our extremely athletic style, we would simply overwhelm teams with pressing in a tightly confined space, forcing errors all game long. Dele *excelled* in that role.

But the athleticism for that style is gone, and will not be coming back - it was a confluence of a small pitch, a young side, a pressing manager and an insane fitness regime, all of which don't exist anymore.

Before that, though, the next time low-blocks didn't really affect us was in the 2012-2013 season - and that was because we had Bale *whalloping* in shots from all over the pitch, all angles, all distances. West Ham away, Saudi Sportswashing Machine at home, Southampton at home, Norwich, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Brom, Lyon, Sunderland...didn't matter, he scored from all distances, and it meant we got 72 points and generally overcame most low blocks even with our generally conservative football with AVB.

Generally, to break down low blocks, the easiest way seems to be to have a player who excels at shooting from distance, whether in play or from free-kicks.

And, in Mourinho's system, the player who seems most fit to do that seems to be the central attacking midfielder - everyone else seems to have their roles in a '5 at the back, 5 up front' sort of formation, but the CAM has license to roam, as Lampard did, and as Lo Celso's currently doing.

The problem is, Dele has never, ever been good at that. Wondergoal in 15/16 aside, he's generally a finisher who works best from inside the 18-yard box, and I don't think I recall many of his long shots being particularly successful.

Which means he isn't the solution to breaking down low-blocks. Which further means his utility as a 'Lampard' type is a bit questionable, imo.
 
And, in Mourinho's system, the player who seems most fit to do that seems to be the central attacking midfielder - everyone else seems to have their roles in a '5 at the back, 5 up front' sort of formation, but the clam has license to roam, as Lampard did, and as Lo Celso's currently doing.
Harsh.
 
The thing is, if you listen to how Mourinho describes Lampard, there's one bit that sticks out. In his video for the Coaches' Voice website, he mentions his 'perfect' Chelsea side of 2005-2006, and recalls how it didn't matter what the opposition did - Chelsea would be able to score every time, and that created nightmares for the opposition teams. Defend high? Robben's pace would kill you in behind. Middle-block? Drogba's ability to bring people into play and spray passes behind the line would kill you.

Low block? Lampard's ability to shoot accurately from outside the box (I think Mourinho labelled it as 'shoot five times, score four goals') would kill you.

The last bit is really crucial - it's the one-stop shop trick to breaking down a low block, the more I think about it. If you have a player with a very accurate long shot, the opposition *have* to leave their defensive shape to close him down when he gets on the ball, or they're risking a goal every time he opens up from range. That in turn creates spaces that said player (or a more creative colleague) can then play into, breaking down the block.

The last time we were particularly good at breaking down low blocks was in 2016-2017, when the small pitch at the Lane went from being a hindrance to being a bonus - with our extremely athletic style, we would simply overwhelm teams with pressing in a tightly confined space, forcing errors all game long. Dele *excelled* in that role.

But the athleticism for that style is gone, and will not be coming back - it was a confluence of a small pitch, a young side, a pressing manager and an insane fitness regime, all of which don't exist anymore.

Before that, though, the next time low-blocks didn't really affect us was in the 2012-2013 season - and that was because we had Bale *whalloping* in shots from all over the pitch, all angles, all distances. West Ham away, Saudi Sportswashing Machine at home, Southampton at home, Norwich, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Brom, Lyon, Sunderland...didn't matter, he scored from all distances, and it meant we got 72 points and generally overcame most low blocks even with our generally conservative football with AVB.

Generally, to break down low blocks, the easiest way seems to be to have a player who excels at shooting from distance, whether in play or from free-kicks.

And, in Mourinho's system, the player who seems most fit to do that seems to be the central attacking midfielder - everyone else seems to have their roles in a '5 at the back, 5 up front' sort of formation, but the clam has license to roam, as Lampard did, and as Lo Celso's currently doing.

The problem is, Dele has never, ever been good at that. Wondergoal in 15/16 aside, he's generally a finisher who works best from inside the 18-yard box, and I don't think I recall many of his long shots being particularly successful.

Which means he isn't the solution to breaking down low-blocks. Which further means his utility as a 'Lampard' type is a bit questionable, imo.

that reads like someone has thought about it

just waiting now for someone to say that man is Fernandes at a United and then go back over old ground...
 
The thing is, if you listen to how Mourinho describes Lampard, there's one bit that sticks out. In his video for the Coaches' Voice website, he mentions his 'perfect' Chelsea side of 2005-2006, and recalls how it didn't matter what the opposition did - Chelsea would be able to score every time, and that created nightmares for the opposition teams. Defend high? Robben's pace would kill you in behind. Middle-block? Drogba's ability to bring people into play and spray passes behind the line would kill you.

Low block? Lampard's ability to shoot accurately from outside the box (I think Mourinho labelled it as 'shoot five times, score four goals') would kill you.

The last bit is really crucial - it's the one-stop shop trick to breaking down a low block, the more I think about it. If you have a player with a very accurate long shot, the opposition *have* to leave their defensive shape to close him down when he gets on the ball, or they're risking a goal every time he opens up from range. That in turn creates spaces that said player (or a more creative colleague) can then play into, breaking down the block.

The last time we were particularly good at breaking down low blocks was in 2016-2017, when the small pitch at the Lane went from being a hindrance to being a bonus - with our extremely athletic style, we would simply overwhelm teams with pressing in a tightly confined space, forcing errors all game long. Dele *excelled* in that role.

But the athleticism for that style is gone, and will not be coming back - it was a confluence of a small pitch, a young side, a pressing manager and an insane fitness regime, all of which don't exist anymore.

Before that, though, the next time low-blocks didn't really affect us was in the 2012-2013 season - and that was because we had Bale *whalloping* in shots from all over the pitch, all angles, all distances. West Ham away, Saudi Sportswashing Machine at home, Southampton at home, Norwich, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Brom, Lyon, Sunderland...didn't matter, he scored from all distances, and it meant we got 72 points and generally overcame most low blocks even with our generally conservative football with AVB.

Generally, to break down low blocks, the easiest way seems to be to have a player who excels at shooting from distance, whether in play or from free-kicks.

And, in Mourinho's system, the player who seems most fit to do that seems to be the central attacking midfielder - everyone else seems to have their roles in a '5 at the back, 5 up front' sort of formation, but the clam has license to roam, as Lampard did, and as Lo Celso's currently doing.

The problem is, Dele has never, ever been good at that. Wondergoal in 15/16 aside, he's generally a finisher who works best from inside the 18-yard box, and I don't think I recall many of his long shots being particularly successful.

Which means he isn't the solution to breaking down low-blocks. Which further means his utility as a 'Lampard' type is a bit questionable, imo.
Ndombele.

I don't know that he has the goal scoring instincts or desires of a Lampard but he has the technique as demonstrated with the goal Vs Villa which is classic Lampard territory. I vaguely remember a couple of other dangerous shots from distance pre Jose and Lockdown. He could potentially be a solution in that area assuming he is still with us next season.
 
Ndombele.

I don't know that he has the goal scoring instincts or desires of a Lampard but he has the technique as demonstrated with the goal Vs Villa which is classic Lampard territory. I vaguely remember a couple of other dangerous shots from distance pre Jose and Lockdown. He could potentially be a solution in that area assuming he is still with us next season.
ability isn’t the question with Tubby... it’s desire
I think there isn’t much he can’t do expect work hard enough. That’s where the change comes for him if at all
 
Shocking season by Alli in terms of goal/assist output, immature behaviour and his general mood. I wouldn't be sad if he left for the right money/player swap.
 
Ndombele.

I don't know that he has the goal scoring instincts or desires of a Lampard but he has the technique as demonstrated with the goal Vs Villa which is classic Lampard territory. I vaguely remember a couple of other dangerous shots from distance pre Jose and Lockdown. He could potentially be a solution in that area assuming he is still with us next season.

True, but that's a big assumption.

As @Bedfordspurs pointed out, what Ndombele can be is entirely up to him. I certainly do not want the club to treat him with kid gloves - in terms of mentality, where we need to be under Mourinho is a team of loud, ruthless c*nts that hold each other accountable for the full 90 minutes. Babying a player who can't even be bothered to earn his living, the things he's paid 200k a week to do - be fit and kick a damn football - is so far out of that vision it might as well be beyond the observable universe.

Almost done with him, tbh. I am willing to give time to players that try. He patently has not, and if he's still here come October-end, colour me surprised.

I suppose his last chance saloon is how he shows up to pre-season three weeks from now - if I hear that he's injured or unfit again, I am going to be all for flogging him ASAP to the nearest team we can hoodwink into paying us 50m for a guy who's fit for ten minutes each week.
 
Shocking season by Alli in terms of goal/assist output, immature behaviour and his general mood. I wouldn't be sad if he left for the right money/player swap.

victim of being over played/moved around and when played when he isn’t fully fit.

hopefully the lock down and small break will do him good and he comes back.
 
Personally I don’t think we’ll see the best of Alli as long as he’s being played alongside Moura and Son (and maybe Bergwijn). Think he needs another no.10 alongside him (ala Eriksen) to free him up to make runs into goal scoring positions. Thought that player might be Lo Celso, but don’t think Jose has played them together in the front three much so far.

Maybe he’ll prove me wrong and excel as a more traditional no.10, but I don’t see it.
 
I’m concerned (not that much given covid and the us elections and all that) that Dele is not a Mou-type player. As far as I can tell, mou prefers the hustle and bustle type - moura, for example. Didn’t he not play hazard that much at cheat$ki? Hopefully I’m wrong as on his day dele can be a game changer.
 
I’m concerned (not that much given covid and the us elections and all that) that Dele is not a Mou-type player. As far as I can tell, mou prefers the hustle and bustle type - moura, for example. Didn’t he not play hazard that much at cheat$ki? Hopefully I’m wrong as on his day dele can be a game changer.

I have also wondered just where Jose sees Ali fitting into the team from what he has done so far, however Jose took over when we were in trouble and sinking. Its all guess work but for me Jose had to try and stop the rot and because of that he has used several ways of trying to do that.

With a break now from playing and maybe a couple of signings it would not surprise me to see a different set up next season which would include Ali to the fore. As i say i am only guessing that is what will happen i guess we will see, to be honest i am quite looking forward to see what his plans are. COYS
 
I think he might have dodgy hamstrings. Always seem to go on him.
His hammy must be close to as bad as mine.

One time I got a call from some mates that were short of a player for a game. My wife drove me to the arena, I got out of the car, tied my shoes and ran on to the pitch. Ref started the game, I made a run. Snap.

I was back in the car before the wife had managed to put the car in reverse! She laughed the whole way home.
 
I know he’s lost his mojo a little but he still scored 8 Prem goals in a season unsettled by injury and in a disjointed team. Mourinho was positive about his incision and the need to play closer to Kane when he first arrived , so hopefully a pre season and a settled way of playing will get him back to his best.

82E87D12-91FD-4A88-849E-AE27AD29F1F4.jpeg

1 in 3 was Lampards goal return at Chelsea too...

618518E6-98E8-48D2-A25F-FE48BFCD1D75.jpeg
 
His hammy must be close to as bad as mine.

One time I got a call from some mates that were short of a player for a game. My wife drove me to the arena, I got out of the car, tied my shoes and ran on to the pitch. Ref started the game, I made a run. Snap.

I was back in the car before the wife had managed to put the car in reverse! She laughed the whole way home.

I'm with your wife on this one. I hope she doesn't let you forget it...
 
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