Dele Alli’s performance against Burnley was at first glance unremarkable, but if we look at the job he was clearly asked to do, then José Mourinho can’t have had any complaints. The role Dele was given was that of a defensive midfielder.
If we look at the 24-year-old’s heat map, and the averaged position, then we get a sense of things. So, no, we didn’t get anything dynamic from Dele, but we perhaps got a glimpse of something I’d place greater value upon, discipline.
Passing accuracy up, total successful actions up, not very sexy, but I take a view we’ve had plenty of cosmetic stuff, and something of substance is not just overdue but extremely welcome.
If Mourinho can harness the goof-ball business of nutmegs, and encourage a more substantial footballer to emerge, then maybe a more rounded player can come out the other end of all this. Flicks and tricks alone are not going to be enough. This was only 28-minutes, but it was one that evidenced that he is capable of getting his act together.
More, please.
I’d rather date her mum, bit a decent convo while I’m reloading 🌚
She’s not my type and to be honest, normal people under this COVID-19 house arrest have bigger issues to face, mate
His mrs split up with him recently.. Perhaps this was the problem. If she was my mrs she would most certainly distract me from everything.
Dele with hunger and desire back would be marvellous. The new signing we need.
Focus is what that boy needs
Nailed it!
As an attacking entity I don’t mind the flicks and tricks, provided they are employed ONLY in the last third and ONLY when being inventive & trying to unlock a stubborn defence where the percentage, simple, killer balls are just not on.
This is Dele’s downfall with Jose – too lacklustre – no accuracy, no urgency, not ruthless enough, not a clever cu*t.
No discipline.
The through ball to Sonny late in the Burnley game showed promise – he took the correct option but the execution pushed him too wide. That will not wash with Jose – he needs to be dropping those on a plate consistently.
If Jose can coach this into Dele we might get him to fulfill some of the early potential.
He needs to get the finger out though it’s getting late in the day for him!
Exactly H. When we first signed him, he was a CM with a bit of bite to him you may recall. He put quite a few tackles in that even Souness remarked he liked the nasty edge he had to his game. That all soon disappeared though perhaps Jose can help him bring it back.