These long range efforts coming in from similar areas of the pitch Who’s supposed to protect that! Thought it was why we got Hojbjerg? Yet I feel we are too often vulnerable just outside the 18 yard box more than anywhere else on the pitch
Hojbjerg presses higher up the pitch, whereas a traditional DM sits between defence and midfield...which is the exact area these screamers come from
You’d think he wouldn’t be that far up the pitch that he can’t drop back Lo Celso should press higher up...but that needs a fit Ndombele hungry for the ball maybe a classy CB would do a better job of covering that area than our minds do. either way...it’s a hole that needs plugging
I watched Dele lastnight when he didn't have the ball and could see Jose's frustration with him , if the opposition came near him with the ball he would stick his foot in , if the tackle was successful ok if not he does this funny little skippy move then attempts to follow the opposition This is not the Dele of 2017 he was tenacious in the press , if I can see this sitting on the sofa then it's easy to understand Jose's reluctance to trust him For his penalty that is Dele of old but not what the manager wants
I am a huge fan of Dele and want nothing more than the lad to succeed at Tottenham and just hope that he can knuckle down and adapt to Jose's system He has the skill and the engine to do the job but a couple of flicks or a nutmeg will not cut the mustard in this team
Alli has : 1. his benchmark to reach again (2016-17) . 2. squad inspiration (Kane, Son) to maintain a high "baseline" benchmark every season (injuries or not) Up to him now (as I said elsewhere, if not then he knows at least 4 starting XIs he will be in between now and christmas) .
Could you be seeing a fear in the player of getting injured? He has had a succession of injuries that may have left him damaged mentally. It's obviously a mind thing with him and fans are merciless which does not help..
I think Dele is a naturally lazy player. He is not "a runner" but a "brainy" player. When it's working,he's great.When it's not it will tear your hair out!
I think Dele is someone that needs to have the right system and right players alongside him for him to be great. It’s why he’s never really shone for England and once the Poch team began faltering (Walker leaving, Dembele declining, Eriksen’s head going etc) he’s looked a shadow of the player as he relies heavily on the brilliance of others in order to excel. He’s not like Kane or Son, who in my opinion, can join any team in world football and produce the goods regardless of style and teammates. They’ve even proven that here under different managers as well as dealing with the losses/ declines of fellow key players, they still remain at an elite level. This is partly why I’d back the club if they chose to sell Dele. He just isn’t a key player any more and our system won’t be tailored to his needs/ strengths as there are better players who fit the system than he does.
