Home » Analysis: Dele Alli vs Wolves

Analysis: Dele Alli vs Wolves

By The Boy -
Total actions / successful 51%

Far too many of those pesky black crosses again from Dele, and I am sure that his apologists will dismiss this as not giving us the full picture. This is, for those struggling, the big picture. The odds of a tossed coin being heads or tails is always 50%. Do you really accept a so-called ‘special player’ like Dele to be as reliable as a coin toss?

Dele’s passing accuracy was good, at 82%, and in particular, we got two smart passes, including this fabulous ball into Kane.

This was the second nutmeg of the day and whilst it was a wonderful move, the end ball/shot in was reckless and failed to achieve anything.

In conclusion, this was a mediocre game, bar two nutmegs. This may sound cold, but against better opposition, the nutmegs may have been less likely to have occurred.

You can only play the team in front of you, but you cannot play Wolves every week. The BBC has a column this morning asking if Alli has ‘turned the corner’ at Tottenham – but that’s the secret to comedy they say – timing.

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CzechSpur
CzechSpur
2 years ago
Reply to  Bertoliver

Judging by comments on Spurs social media pages, some people actually bought Levy’s perceived “relatability” from the Amazon thing, as hard as it is to believe that.

I found some background aspects in the doc quite fascinating (like Jose’s talks with Kane and Dele, training), as well as some things they probably – and bafflingly – didn’t think to edit out (Hitchen’s admission re transfer windows stands out in this regard).

We didn’t learn much, but there were some points of genuine interest, I thought.

Bertoliver
Bertoliver
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Pass completion can be manipulated. If you play in the back four your passing accuracy is bound to be higher as you spend the vast majority of your time passing along the back line to your fellow defenders with often no opposition in sight
The further forward you go where you are outnumbered by the opposition the harder it is to find colleagues.
I am not making a big case for Dele but in the last two games he created a goal and a disallowed goal at Leeds and yesterday created two chances that Harry and Dier should have done better with.

Bertoliver
Bertoliver
2 years ago
Reply to  CzechSpur

Personally I thought the whole Amazon thing was a fiasco. Even though it was clearly edited by the club I cant think of anyone in the club who came out of it with an enhanced reputation. Worst of all was our beloved chairman sharing his educational trials with Danny Rose. Whereas the City version was All our version turned out to be nothing.

CM*
CM*
2 years ago

I am not sure I would expect Dele of three-four years ago this season, after not being played the entire season by Mourinho. Footballers are human yeah? Not machines. Being left out by a manager of Mourinho’s fame and accomplishments sends a serious message of no confidence. How do you expect that sinks into Dele’s psyche? Plus I am sure he is not match fit. He is not playing the full 90 minutes as of yet. I think what most commentators were saying yesterday and perhaps overstating the case but with which I agree is that there is a good footballer in there. You don’t go from being a great footballer to a sh*te one just like that. It’s clear that he has the ability and the footballing mind, but what is clear to see for all is that he is short on confidence and he is a bit rusty but nothing that can’t be regained with playing time, a hand around the shoulder, and a supportive coach.

Last edited 2 years ago by CM
Bertoliver
Bertoliver
2 years ago
Reply to  Paddio

What exactly do you mean that Rodon has more leadership ability than Toby?
What evidence do you have for such a statement? Don’t get me wrong Rodon is young and has potential but to compare him to Toby even in the short term is plain wrong even though he Toby is clearly on the wane and perhaps may look for pastures new in the close season. At his peak in his time at Spurs I don’t believe their was a better centre back in the league.
Toby has played at the highest level both at club and international level and for successive years the team he played had the best defensive record in their league. Those sides were Athletico soton and Spurs twice

eddie
eddie
2 years ago

I thought I had watched a different game to the commentators and pundits gushing enthusiastically over Dele yesterday.The old Dele is not back and is unlikely to be any time soon.

He did look as though he was more interested,but let’s be honest Wolves were atrocious,yet were still able to cut through us at will several times.If young Silva could hit a barn door from 10 paces he could have had a hattrick by halftime.

Dele did look more involved but did nothing remarkable and didn’t really influence the game.He still feels it necessary to keep trying his tricks and flicks,but doesn’t appreciate there is no subsatnce in them.

Even last weekend people were raving about his pass to Sonny,but as I remember it he was half stumbling ass he hit the ball and the defender got a touch on the ball which on another day could easily have been diverted away from Son.

I’m sorry he has a long way to go yet,however I suspect Levy’s apparent insistence that he plays is to put him in the shop window for a summer sale.His value to Levy has diminished terribly like a number of others,who remakably also seem to be getting game time.

Paddio
Paddio
2 years ago
Reply to  john lindus

Maybe right in a way, dele needs his goal threat, if its not there opp sides can be less concerned of the impact he has on his game.

Paddio
Paddio
2 years ago
Reply to  legoverlass

Rodon has more leadership ability than Toby. But youve also reggie starting where Joe may benefit with Davis starting for his own development.

CzechSpur
CzechSpur
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

He was never going to win some people over – they would probably say he was just playing to the cameras and he always hated Dele for no apparent reason other than a wish to fall out with somebody, anybody.

Jimbo
Jimbo
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

As fiftysomethings we all know that youth is wasted on the young. I seriously doubt any twentysomething would heed that bit of fatherly advice, however sage.

Elevenstonedidiots
Elevenstonedidiots
2 years ago
Reply to  mikeyhughes

Good point Spurs have too many ‘on their day’ players and not enough 7/10 week after week, hang your hat on them Hoijbergs. Ali, Moura, Ndomebele and Lamela can all produce moments but cannot be relied upon to put in for 90 minutes, game after game.

legoverlass
legoverlass
2 years ago
Reply to  mikeyhughes

If Moura misfires then hook him off and replace him with Ali or Lamela. I think he has done enough in recent matches compared with many others to hold a starting berth. Diers selection is one that I just cannot fathom past the fact that he is a “mate”. In saying that he was a favourite of the “special one” and for the life of me, I could just not see what Mourinho saw in him other than he probably spoke Portuguese and bummed his chat all the time. In my opinion, Toby with his experience alongside Rodon with his potential is the best CB pairing we have at the moment. One positive from yesterday was Tanganga at RB who I thought looked solid and strong.

mikeyhughes
mikeyhughes
2 years ago

The problem with Dele right now is he is thinking about things as opposed to doing them naturally, without thinking about them, as he used to in the past. An element of doubt has crept into his mind, no doubt fuelled by the Egotistical One under whose guidance he lost his confidence.
Hopefully having seen the back of Mourinho, Dele’s confidence will slowly ebb back given enough game time. It is harsh for Lucas though being second fiddle to da dreadlocks boy right now. Although Lucas can have his moments when nothing goes right too. Funny how us fans always seem to favour the ability of the player who has been dropped isn’t it? Both players are potentially very good, but both are also somewhat erratic and can misfire in games. That’s what happens when you pay the sort of prices that Levy pays. In life you get what you pay for.
I can’t see any change in the fortunes of THFC I’m afraid for the foreseeable future unless someone takes Levy to one side and tells him to stop interfering in transfers and game plans. It is not his job or his remit to do that. Things will never improve or trophies come our way whilst he persists in interfering. An under-performing player cannot be turned around by being forced to play (Dele) nor can a player who simply hasn’t got it in the first place suddenly acquire skills he is incapable of likewise (Mason).

Last edited 2 years ago by mikeyhughes
Legoverlass
Legoverlass
2 years ago

Selecting Ali to start has the mark of Levy all over it. This is nothing to do about what is best for the team it is all about Levy trying desperately to add value to an existing asset. Moura should be starting ahead of Ali based on form and performances. He is more direct and is is one of the few players we have who can run at the opposition and open up spaces like Treore did against us. Levy is influencing team selection once again in his usual micro management narcissist psychosis.

john lindus
john lindus
2 years ago

Harsh. 51 to to 49 for a tossed coin to whch way it falls as other factors are in play such as which side is facing up when the coin is fliped it is is inclined to to fall heavier side when spining giveingn tails more wins than heads.- i thought he played well he put himself about and hopefully he has understood succes of the field comes from being a succes on the field

HarryKaneIsInOurHearts
HarryKaneIsInOurHearts
2 years ago

No way in hell he’s getting into that England squad anytime soon unless Southgate really has some serious injury woes to contend with. Grealish, Foden, Madison, Greenwood even Ward-Prowse and Lingard, they’re all ahead of Dele by miles this season. Dele used to be one of the first names on the England team sheet and now he’s just sheet most of the time.

England Mike
England Mike
2 years ago

It’s not through a lack of footballing ability of how the young man has found himself being rejected, quite simply there has been an attitude problem in his whole demeanor in which he has failed to consider.
Too big for his boots is a more revealing way of saying it, Mourinho clearly took umbrage with Dele, which the player could not take on board to understand there was an issue, hence the stalemate.
I’m not sure how much he has to offer to the club as a player now, because I’m not convinced he can reach the level he was at three seasons ago.
However I have a strong suspicion that there are a few players that are in the good books of Levy, and that poses a question for any new manager in how he uses them with that in mind.

Sao Paulo Spurs
Sao Paulo Spurs
2 years ago

Dele had an OK game. I’ve got nothing against the lad and considering he has hardly played this season, i thought he put in more effort than usual. Which is good. However, i think the presence Gareth Southgate in the stands had more to do with his increased effort than his desire to do his best for Tottenham.

les binder
les binder
2 years ago

Dele has to realize that he is doing a JOB OF WORK and not many people ENJOY their job, they do it to pay the bills. They do however respect their colleagues and put the effort in! He did better but must work at all times, including training!
I of course refer to his interview after the game and would strongly suggest anyone who needs to understand how a true professional responds to situations when the career is put under stress watch Kyle Sinklar’s interview on BT tv following his omission from the Lions Rugby Squad (Yes an egg chaser!)

Is Gascoigne gonna have a crack?
Is Gascoigne gonna have a crack?
2 years ago

They were talking about Leicester on the radio, I think it was O Hara, not sure, saying how the owners were running on the pitch hugging the players etc and you would NEVER see Levy doing that in a million years. The connection between owners and the actual football is the main premise unlike the developers wet dream ENIC have set up….so Leicester get the FA cup and we get a win v a team who were spiritually on a beach and not interested. Glory Glory.

Mike
Mike
2 years ago

For a creative attacking midfielder you don’t need a high pass completion rate per se (because they are trying to get that final pass to someone who can take a shot.. so they should be taking risks not just moving the ball forward 10 yards)… but you do need a good number of ‘key passes’ completed and hopefully an assist or two. I’m not sure he does enough of these against good enough opposition… and he does like to ‘show off’ on the ball to the detriment of performance.

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