Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has told beIN Sports that Dele Alli “isn’t good enough” to play as a No.10 for Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Pardew was largely complimentary of the 23-year-old and believes that he has all of the attributes needed to be a quality No.8.
Here’s what Pardew said about the divisive England international:
Pardew explains why Dele Alli "isn't good enough" to play just off the striker at #THFC.#beINPL #EVETOT pic.twitter.com/OOKIhKQvBE
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 3, 2019
Having failed in his last two gigs at Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion, Pardew is washed up as a Premier League manager but this author happens to agree with his opinion on Dele’s natural position.
Playing him behind Harry Kane, hoping to get a repeat of the 2016-17 season in which he scored 18 Premier League goals, is putting a lot of pressure on a player who honed his skills as a central midfielder.
Dele will still make his effective runs into the box from a No.8 position and dropping him deeper allows Spurs to get another goalscorer in the team.
It is something that Mauricio Pochettino has tried and failed to do with Christian Eriksen, but Dele has more physicality and defensive awareness to be effective in either a midfield two, or preferably a three.
How to get the best out of Dele again? The unlikely answer may be to listen to Alan Pardew.
