Dele Interview

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WorkyTicketFTM

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2022
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If you haven’t already, you should definitely give the Overlap a watch. Great series.

This one is a little different though. Lads took loads of ****e over the last few years and this was a real opener. Hope he can find his feet again.

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It shows what people carry around with them that none of us see. He was the poster boy of English football, but this was in his background. I remember saying he was one who got too much too quickly and fell out of love with the game. Shows how daft we can be when jumping to conclusions. Hope he gets back to loving his football again as he always played with a smile when he was in his early days.
 
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Well, what we had to work on was, he showed precocious talent, but like a certain player we had from Man City, for some reason, lost the plot.

Now however we have some back story with what the man has been dealing with.
He needs support and help... then he may become the player he was meant to be. The President of the FA Prince William has already come out with backing
 
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Sunderpitt said:
Well, what we had to work on was, he showed precocious talent, but like a certain player we had from Man City, for some reason, lost the plot.

Now however we have some back story with what the man has been dealing with.
He needs support and help... then he may become the player he was meant to be. The President of the FA Prince William has already come out with backing
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Okay let me backtrack - Rodwell was just a tosser and deserved the abuse
 
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Yorkie said:
Okay let me backtrack - Rodwell was just a tosser and deserved the abuse
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I'd totally agree with your assessment, but you can always make a case for players if you wish.

You could easily say he had a humble beginning in the backstreets of Southport, thrown into Everton's first team at sixteen and put on a very high pedestal by people. He was then sold for big money, by his boyhood club, to Man City where he found himself plagued with injuries.

He was often left out of the side which he later said was because foreign players were favourites of the manager and English players ignored. Having so much pressure put on such a young boy, who was hailed as a furure England star, can't have been good for his mental wellbeing.
 
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Smug in Boots said:
I'd totally agree with your assessment. however you can always make a case for players if you wish.

You could easily say he had a humble beginning in the backstreets of Southport, thrown into Everton's first team at sixteen and put on a very high pedestal by people. He was then sold for big money, by his boyhood club, to Man City where he found himself plagued with injuries.

He was often left out of the side which he later said was because foreign players were favourites of the manager and English players ignored. Having so much pressure put on such a young boy, who was hailed as a furure England star, can't have been good for his mental wellbeing.
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All of this might be true but he blamed SAFC for his **** time, said he wanted to leave and get back in the England team to make his son proud.

While there was probably some truth to it the main reason (imo) was to blame the club who's reputation was rock bottom and get himself another decent contract cause "it wasn't his fault really look at the club he was at!"
 
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young2077 said:
All of this might be true but he blamed SAFC for his **** time, said he wanted to leave and get back in the England team to make his son proud.

While there was probably some truth to it the main reason (imo) was to blame the club who's reputation was rock bottom and get himself another decent contract cause "it wasn't his fault really look at the club he was at!"
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Now you’ve put it like that, he was probably right<laugh>
 
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rooch 3 said:
Now you’ve put it like that, he was probably right<laugh>
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<laugh>

To be honest I'm sitting thinking the lad probably did and does have some mental health problems. Then I'm thinking but why didn't he tell anyone, then I'm thinking well why should he. He blamed the club and his time here, well maybe it was part of it (the club probably was a hard place to be for players already struggling with mental health).

We don't and never will know. All we can say is all of it has gone and we are much better club and I actually think someone who was struggling could come in and have a chance to turn it around these days.
 
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young2077 said:
All of this might be true but he blamed SAFC for his **** time, said he wanted to leave and get back in the England team to make his son proud.

While there was probably some truth to it the main reason (imo) was to blame the club who's reputation was rock bottom and get himself another decent contract cause "it wasn't his fault really look at the club he was at!"
Click to expand...

I'm just playing devil's advocate mate.

Let me be clear for the sake of anyone who'll jump on me for daring to retain a little cynicism for incredibly wealthy young men doing a job they should love ... I'm purely speculating based on what I've seen and have every sympathy for Dele if everything he says is true.

The comparison with Rodwell can be made, they've had similar careers but arrived at a point when others would be blamed ...

... managers for dropping them, the media for building them up too much , the public not knowing the facts, addictive mental health issues, etc.

Dele and Rodwell have to take some responsibility as do we all. They both grew out of their upbringing to become incredibly wealthy, dream moves to big clubs, chosen by their country and having the finest coaching, mentoring and medical care.

If the wealthiest clubs aren't making themselves available to listen to the concerns of young players then there's something rotten at the highest levels ...

.... something our own club is managing very well in what seems to be a good environment for young players.
 
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Hopefully this maybe what he needed to do and get it off his chest, one hell of a player in there and he's still young enough to resurrect his career. I'd take him if he was available in a heart-beat!!!!
 
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Smug in Boots said:
I'm just playing devil's advocate mate.

Let me be clear for the sake of anyone who'll jump on me for daring to retain a little cynicism for incredibly wealthy young men doing a job they should love ... I'm purely speculating based on what I've seen and have every sympathy for Dele if everything he says is true.

The comparison with Rodwell can be made, they've had similar careers but arrived at a point when others would be blamed ...

... managers for dropping them, the media for building them up too much , the public not knowing the facts, addictive mental health issues, etc.

Dele and Rodwell have to take some responsibility as do we all. They both grew out of their upbringing to become incredibly wealthy, dream moves to big clubs, chosen by their country and having the finest coaching, mentoring and medical care.

If the wealthiest clubs aren't making themselves available to listen to the concerns of young players then there's something rotten at the highest levels ...

.... something our own club is managing very well in what seems to be a good environment for young players.
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I think people forget about the human side of football. Look at Jack Clarke for example. Sold by Leeds at 18 for 10m and has to move to London and join a dressing room with stars like Kane, Son and the rest. Is it any wonder he maybe struggled a bit. Can you imagine that pressure placed upon you at 18?.
Totally different example to Ali obviously but i do think we are quick to write young players off.
 
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Yorkie said:
Not directed at you Fell as I'm sure you meant no malice. But so many people have made judgements about Deli Ali without knowing ****e. Happens all the time.
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100% mate and I am guilty on this one. To be honest I am harsh on footballers a lot when form drops off, and I never know what might be going on in their lives. Bit more empathy with everyone from everyone would go a long way.
 
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Yorkie said:
Not directed at you Fell as I'm sure you meant no malice. But so many people have made judgements about Deli Ali without knowing ****e. Happens all the time.
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Nobody should feel guilty about that. As supporters we can only be expected judge what we see on the pitch.
 
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