Dele Alli said: “Everyone makes mistakes and it’s important that you bounce back. I felt horrible straight after it but it’s important I put it behind me and make sure I learn from it and keep improving.
“I have calmed down a bit but it’s important, I’m never going to take that out of my game. I’m never going to say sorry for wanting to win or trying as hard as I can. Sometimes things happen and you have to learn from them.
“The manager knows that’s who I am. We’ve had a few talks and he’s been really supportive. It’s good to have a manager behind me who trusts and supports me as much as he does.”
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Perhaps Dele Alli’s version of events has been softened a little so as not to make him look as if Poch screamed at him after that appalling red card against Gent.
What concerns me is that whilst the gangster handbags haven’t been seen for a few games, the diving is alive an well.
Dele may well be ‘only a kid’ but if he wants to make it then he needs to understand that his talent and his will to believe in his talent will decide if he’s good enough.
Certain sectors of the mob may be willing to turn a blind eye to the falling over, the simulation, the cheating and the threatening to duff people up, but long term it’s a stupid strategy that won’t serve him well.
An equally burning issue is what he’s doing when he’s not snaffling goals or acting the goat. The short answer is ‘not much’.
Yes, he’s only 20 but unless THFC have buried his deafness along with whatever is really ailing Erik Lamela the age excuse will always remain an excuse. ‘Oh he’s only 23’, ‘Give the lad a chance, he’s only 24’.
If Dele continues to embrace nutmegging and ‘having banter’ with Eric Dier over becoming a player of substance then he won’t realise his potential, and he’ll remain a ticking time bomb.
