I read this about the lad, Dele Alli in The Telegraph: "Karl Robinson, manager of MK Dons, the club where he learned his trade, recalls a training session in which he had his players practising a new strategy for corners. He instructed Alli to make a near-post run with a view to flicking the ball on with his head. When the cross came in too low to be met with a header, the midfielder was not to be outdone; he simply volleyed it into the net with his heel.He celebrated his strike by spitting out his chewing gum, juggling it from knee-to-knee, then foot-to-foot before kicking it up into the air, catching it in his mouth and smiling. At the time, he was just 16 years old." Increasingly I think he is the new Alfie Conn. Born to play beautiful football, to express the joy of football as we played it in the playground; to try the outlandish and laugh when it screams into the net and try it again 5 minutes later from further out if the first effort end up on the roof of the stadium. A couple of minutes after the 'sombrero' goal at Selhurst he only tries to lob the keeper with a volley hit on the turn from the half way line, it fell 15 feet short but bugger me it was perfectly on target. A couple of minutes later he nutmegs a defender on the turn and lobs the keeper and it hit the bar. If he scored a hat-trick tomorrow he'd just laugh and wave. Damn it, it's like watching Greaves, Hoddle, Gazza, Klinsmann, Bale. I think he's going to be a superstar and I agree, he'll get 2 tomorrow, it's what he does.
Just want to say thanks to PNP for these match threads - they really are excellent. I know it must be a bit of a burden having to do them but I think the context you give the games, the memory-jog of what happened last time we played the team, even the design and lay-out is really good and definitely appreciated. I'd be more active on the match threads if I could actually type and watch the game at the same time. I love that SoS has resorted to just leaving that caps lock on. Know what you mean, SoS. Would agree with your team too. Only thing is that I'd be surprised if Poch puts Dembele straight back in - I'm not sure if he's done that with anyone, has he? He seems to like to re-introduce them slowly when they're coming back. If Dembele doesn't play, who then? Eriksen drops a bit and play Chadli or Son? I'd still go with Son because I really do see distinct signs of overall quality there. Yes Chadli is a goal-threat but for me he's not up there technically - I never expect him to find the good pass or go past someone. A great option to bring on if you're gonna throw the kitchen sink at a team and need a goal but Wednesday confirmed to me again why I don't think he should generally be in the starting 11. And besides Son has goals in him too and I just get the feeling that sticking with him is a small risk worth taking. He also seems like more of a natural Poch player to me. I just hope Harry's got used to his bloody mask by now. And by the way - does anyone know what that thing's made of and how soft or hard the plastic is around the forehead? Because having a big old, hard bit of plastic jutting up into your forehead must make some difference to heading the ball. Mind you - I was always one for heading the ball mostly with my eye-balls and nose.
'Deli' would fit the 'Alfie' in Amazing Grace. Perhaps the guys going to the match today should try it.
I feel I should be going to the game today feeling incredibly excited. However, I have woken up feeling incredibly nervous and extremely tense. I usually enjoy a decent breakfast on a Saturday, but today a cup of tea is all I have been able to stomach. Anyone else feeling the same ? COYS
its a season defining moment for us. I'm nervy. I'm well over the West Ham loss. It can only haunt me if we mess up today. Let's get at them from the off!!!
I'm getting super nervous now, cheers OSC. Defo a six pointer, win and we are six points in front of the Woolwich scum, lose and we're level. Think I'm gonna drive down to the Dam right now, can't sit around for the next two hours. Finish work at 12 (10:00 GMT) today, taking half a day off, then driving to Bukavu (2 hours), and will catch the match on the shores of Lake Kivu with a few bottles of Simba washed down with double black. A couple of goat kebabs with fresh lime juice and lashings of chilli should settle the stomach. COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No idea what this is, but it sounds a lot of fun. Beats my Stella and Pizza Baguette into a cocked hat.
Brilliant article indeed - can't help but love this lad! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...d-the-rise-of-a-Premier-League-superstar.html
I never look forward to playing the scum at the Lane, always a nervous day. The anxiety in the pubs before and during the game is horrible, you can feel the tension from the fans. Even when we sing you can hear the tension in the everyone's voice! This time it's worse, they're on a poor run, missing players and low on confidence so we're expected to win. The only good thing about today, the scum fans daren't come into any of our pubs before or after the game!
I'm going to get to the point : Please God, allow us, the Yids, to define our season in this season defining moment. No surprises. Amen.
