I think we all had high hopes for Dele, but he’s simply not delivered, and in my opinion, this is down to him. There’s a saying that you don’t criticise and try to change the person, you criticise and try to change behaviours, but with this guy, the behaviour is a direct result of the person and the person is no damn good!
Dele has enough raw talent to have elevated him to where he is, but rather than apply himself with graft and honest effort to make the best use of that talent, he used it to take shortcuts. At 19, 20, 21 even 22, talent and youth can suffice, but you have to start working and growing your talent for when that spring green of youth starts to wane and honest toil replaces it in being the vehicle for your talent.
Dele Alli has taken shortcuts and is now trying to beat the “too little too late” odds. He’s cheated at training, he’s cheated his teammates, and he’s cheated us: now he’s just cheating. Two penalties, one a blatant dive and the second played for, with no honest effort being made to actually try to score.
Add the sly and sneaky fouls and obstructions, and the picture just gets clearer and clearer: he’s a weak-willed slacker who will cheat rather than compete with honest effort. That is who he is – the behaviour is simply a reflection of that. What I also find amazing is that he has probably the best example of where hard work will get you, playing right next to him!
He was waning under Poch, Jose very quickly saw through him, and he’s now being given a dog’s chance with Nuno, so Levy can try to cash in.
The problem goes deeper, though. We are seeing a rot at the club and I can’t help but feel that there are a few players in the squad who need to be cut out to save the rest – Dele Alli is one of these.
Naturally, the road leads back to Levy (and I wholeheartedly endorse Legoverlass’s post), who won’t get rid of the dross because the market has dipped, and he can’t realise yesterday’s prices.
Of course, the ever greedy, avaricious gnome, cannot see that by cutting away the deadwood the remaining timber will likely thrive and increase in value…