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Dele Alli

The way we played fits his style of play, playing in the whole behind the strikers making them delayed runs. We almost saw a Dele esc when he took the diagonal ball with his chest.

I think we saw more runs from him yesterday (that were found) than probably the whole last year combined. The key to it imo is that with only 2 up top, he was quite clearly told to be the first to join in, and it looked like pulling in off the back of Trent was a tactic.

Going back to the 433 when he played in midfield, the shackles were always on. In yesterday’s formation we still get tenacious Dele but we also get Dele with license to get right up there.
 
I think we saw more runs from him yesterday (that were found) than probably the whole last year combined. The key to it imo is that with only 2 up top, he was quite clearly told to be the first to join in, and it looked like pulling in off the back of Trent was a tactic.

Going back to the 433 when he played in midfield, the shackles were always on. In yesterday’s formation we still get tenacious Dele but we also get Dele with license to get right up there.

He actually had some rather good games in the 4-3-3 under Nuno, but the balance of that midfield overall wasn't right.

If a midfield three is the way forward under Conte there's a role and place for him. Much more difficult decision in January is that's the case.

Great performance, just needed a little bit more in a couple of situations, but that will come.
 
Personally I would keep him and let Conte work with him because he was excellent yesterday
Like a breath of fresh air
 
here we go again - pls sell him especially when his stock is improving.

Can definitely see that perspective. There have been some false dawns before I guess, though mostly it's been sustained mediocrity.

Wouldn't be against selling him, but also wouldn't be against keeping him around unless there's a significantly large offer on the table.

He's at the very least given Conte and Paratici something to think about. He's at the very least made himself a rather exciting option off the bench in the coming weeks. He's at the very least made one or two potential buying clubs take extra notice. Those can only be good things.

To warrant keeping him around he probably needs to do more of that, fairly consistently, consistently enough to keep getting game time.

There's always been a player in there. If Conte is the right man with the right system to get that out of him remains to be seen, but this was clearly a step in the right direction.
 
He played well yesterday, but i'm not getting carried away. If this becomes his normal level of performance rather than his exceptional performance, and Conte wants to keep him we should. But i still think a move away from us is best for all parties
 
Was smoking two Shisha a day during lockdown before. I know a lot of footballers smoke, but for someone that was already struggling with form that's crazy behaviour from him.
 
Can definitely see that perspective. There have been some false dawns before I guess, though mostly it's been sustained mediocrity.

Wouldn't be against selling him, but also wouldn't be against keeping him around unless there's a significantly large offer on the table.

He's at the very least given Conte and Paratici something to think about. He's at the very least made himself a rather exciting option off the bench in the coming weeks. He's at the very least made one or two potential buying clubs take extra notice. Those can only be good things.

To warrant keeping him around he probably needs to do more of that, fairly consistently, consistently enough to keep getting game time.

There's always been a player in there. If Conte is the right man with the right system to get that out of him remains to be seen, but this was clearly a step in the right direction.
Agree. Yesterdays performance doesn’t really change anything with Dele though, it just highlights the problem with him really. Play him in a system that’s suits him and he is fine, but if we go back to 3-4-3 he won’t be much use to us. So if we are to persist with yesterdays formation then great for Dele, but if yesterdays formation was more due to availability of players then it’s likely Dele will be back on the bench with the usual formation returning. Either way, was great to see the old Dele yesterday - he deserved a goal….
 
Agree. Yesterdays performance doesn’t really change anything with Dele though, it just highlights the problem with him really. Play him in a system that’s suits him and he is fine, but if we go back to 3-4-3 he won’t be much use to us. So if we are to persist with yesterdays formation then great for Dele, but if yesterdays formation was more due to availability of players then it’s likely Dele will be back on the bench with the usual formation returning. Either way, was great to see the old Dele yesterday - he deserved a goal….
But arguably we can play 3-5-2 like yesterday if we have dele breaking from midfield to score or support attack so why not play that way

also we don’t have Romero’s passing from the right currently which will add more to the attacking option whilst fixing that side of defence
 
Personally I don’t see why Dele can’t get back to his best, or at the very least least back to being a worthy squad member for now. For me, you can’t ignore the fact that over the last 3.5 seasons he was a) played out of position so often, and b) so frozen out by Mourinho.

And when you actually look at his output over those 3.5 seasons when starting in attacking midfield, it’s not bad - in fact it’s better than Moura’s over the same period. So even when Alli’s been at his worst, he’s arguably been more effective than Moura at his best.

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Yesterday Alli had a rare outing as the third most attacking player in the team, and lo and behold he looked more like his old self. Personally I’m willing to give him a good few games in that sort of position before I write him off.

(Wish he’d stop fudging diving though).
 

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But arguably we can play 3-5-2 like yesterday if we have dele breaking from midfield to score or support attack so why not play that way

also we don’t have Romero’s passing from the right currently which will add more to the attacking option whilst fixing that side of defence
Depending on the opposition's formation 352 can make it harder for our WBs to dominate....that's the trade off.
 
Agree. Yesterdays performance doesn’t really change anything with Dele though, it just highlights the problem with him really. Play him in a system that’s suits him and he is fine, but if we go back to 3-4-3 he won’t be much use to us. So if we are to persist with yesterdays formation then great for Dele, but if yesterdays formation was more due to availability of players then it’s likely Dele will be back on the bench with the usual formation returning. Either way, was great to see the old Dele yesterday - he deserved a goal….

I think you would have found quite a lot of opposition to the idea that Alli could play in a midfield three in a box to box role before the Liverpool game. Now perhaps a bit less.

In that regard or changes things, but as you say depends on what the plan is going forward.
 
I think you would have found quite a lot of opposition to the idea that Alli could play in a midfield three in a box to box role before the Liverpool game. Now perhaps a bit less.

In that regard or changes things, but as you say depends on what the plan is going forward.
He played there fIrst 3 games under Nuno and was IMO very good
 
I agree, but there's been plenty of disagreement on here at least.
Maybe
People think players become crap but for some it’s a multitude of issues
Dele isnt fixed but yesterday I thought he was very good at times and less so at others. That’s dele
What we do know is that run into the box for the save from sons pass was pure dele… as was the ball over the top to him from Dier that he passed to Kane for (weak pass though when he IMO should have shot)
 
I think we saw more runs from him yesterday (that were found) than probably the whole last year combined. The key to it imo is that with only 2 up top, he was quite clearly told to be the first to join in, and it looked like pulling in off the back of Trent was a tactic.

Going back to the 433 when he played in midfield, the shackles were always on. In yesterday’s formation we still get tenacious Dele but we also get Dele with license to get right up there.
Dele the new box to box midfielder!
 
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