He is the only true Trequartista amongst English footballers currently.
Dele Alli is England's best young midfielder playing in Turkey
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I think you are on the right lines with that however Alli is a much better goal scorer than either of those mentioned - in fact he is SUCH a good goal scorer people are struggling to accept he doesn't play up front. It is his movement that is his outstanding attribute.
It's difficult to make a comparison to other players, he's a bit like Draxler but with the goalscoring instinct of Muller, which is still pretty convoluted. He's a unique talent and a signing that I could definitely have seen us making if Fergie had stayed a few more years.
He is actually more like Gerrard during his time partnering Torres. All be it with superior positional sense.
Ok fair enough, I just don't think about language like that. To me, Baggio & Totti were no.10's. So if he'd be compared with them, he'd be a 10.
Love seeing the word Trequartista in English forums.
Rooney played one season as a true centre forward. He always played as the player just behind the striker making runs to go beyond the striker. If you watch how Alli plays, he is usually just behind, and on many occasions much further up the pitch than Kane.
He has looked poor in the midfield, whether it was for England or Spurs, yet as soon as you move him closer to the opposition box, he's a different player. He's tall and quite often used as a target man when Kane drops off. He also knows where the back of the net is. All of his attributes are of a pure centre forward. You won't see him dropping close to the centre backs to get the ball and spray it out wide or chasing the opposition strikers to put in a tackle.
Lampard and Scholes even in their younger days were far superior central midfielders with much better passing and positional sense. Scholes developed as a midfielder who controlled the tempo of the game with his movement and passing, something Alli just doesn't have in his locker, not yet anyway. Just because Scholes once played in a more attacking role doesn't automatically make Alli similar to him. There are some similarities to Gerrard but even he was a much better distributor of the ball. Spurs don't have a player like Gerrard, Scholes or Lampard in their latter years because they just don't need that type of player.
I wouldn't say "poor" but he's definitely not nearly as good when forced to play a disciplined central midfield role. But let him roam around the opposition box and he's an absolute monster. He truly is one of the most lethal finishers I can remember watching in a Spurs shirt - he sniffs out and creates half chances from nothing (smart position, anticipation, etc) and just always finds the back of the net.
I am, because usually those comparisons are with the players from the same generation. Alli or Pogba; Alli or Thiago etc. Alli or Barkley if we're scouserly optimistic.
More like a shadow striker perhaps
Alli is a perfect ACM for the 4-2-3-1 and couldn't play upfront as a second striker imho, in fact he needs space because of his long legs. Among the recent greats, I can see him being like Kaka or Rui Costa, if forced to make a comparison.
Much more sensible. For me that is.
He's a player that comes onto the ball and brings it forward. He plays in the middle third of the pitch and is tasked to do as much damage as possible in the final third. He doesn't have to be like anyone. He's an exceptional talent.
People speak of him as if he's some luxury number 10 that is marked by center halves and not defensive midfielders. I don't know if it's to somehow discredit him but he scores lots. He's creative and I'm a huge fan.
Alli has been in very poor form recently. That dive v Huddersfield today was shocking and he's always moaning at his teammates which must be very annoying. I noticed today that he was making several incorrect runs also, not on the same wavelength as the likes of Eriksen.
Edit - I should have made a new performance thread for this. I'll do it now.
Edit - I should have made a new performance thread for this. I'll do it now.
Like Kaka yes. Rui Costa was a true midfield playmaker which Alli is not.
Alli is so overrated. I predict that unless someone is stupid enough to pay big money for him next summer, his rep will inevitably fizzle out to the generic upper level PL midfielder that he is.
Typical overhyped English twat.
Kaka? Did you even watch him? No I am no talking about style or quality... I am talking about role/type. Kaka is similar to Mkhi role. They still most of the time stationed behind the no 9 off the ball. Alli is similar to Griezmann that he tried to ghost into the furthest position of the formation, which is forward role.
Rui Costa and Kaka are different in style, but not the entire role/type.
I've wondered what people would think of him if the goals dry up a little bit. Didn't take long for the vultures to circle
So my comments since the start of this thread stating how average Alli is don't look quite so far fetched now. I said a few weeks back he is on par with Lingard, that's how bog standard I think he is.
He will continue to show average/poor form over the next few years and fade away into the average premier league player that he is. He might pop up with a goal here and there and he will get over hyped again but eventually this thread will die because he will become irrelevant at the top level.
He will continue to show average/poor form over the next few years and fade away into the average premier league player that he is. He might pop up with a goal here and there and he will get over hyped again but eventually this thread will die because he will become irrelevant at the top level.
of course people start slating a young player when they're going through a bad patch.Very good young player but a-bit of a gobshite.
It was 'good patches' on and off for the last 2 seasons. The 'bad patch' is his normal level.
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No it was good to great for two seasons. This is his first bad patch and of course you're in here saying he's no better than Jesse fecking Lingard as soon as it happens.
I've been saying he's no better than Lingard long before his recent form. I've never rated him and i've said that from the start of this thread.
jaysisYeah and you've been completely wrong that entire time.
He's clearly better than Lingard ffs. I mean you may not rate him as highly as others but that's just plain wrong.
He's still working hard, some great touchs today but he's lost his instinct and thinking too hard, still has 2 goals and 1 assist, I think this season, the boy will come good again.
Puhlease.....
Then its I who should be asking you if you ever watched Kaka at all. Kaka in Ancelotti's Milan played the exact same role Dele Alli currently plays for Spurs. The only slight difference being he was stationed on the right. He pretty much operated like a high breed between an AM and second striker. Milan used to line up with a 3 in attwcj. Kaka( think Dele Alli), Seedorf( Think Ericksen) slightly deeper and target man/center forward. He used to score a good amount because at times he'd be ahead of the striker. A perfect example being his goal at OT in the champions league when he embarassed Carrick, Evra and Heinze.
Rui Costa was a proper midfield play maker. He was similar to an Iniesta or Laudrup. A player equally comfortable and in deeper midfield as in a role supporting a striker. Kaka in comparison was more of an out and out attacking midfielder with technical skills, who concentrated operations in the final third of the field .He was closer in role to the likes of Baggio and Totti.
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It's like some of you lot couldn't wait for him to have a bad run of form so you can come on here and tell everyone how you always thought he's overrated. It's just a dip in form, nothing more.
Really?
Can you distinct a second forward from a no 10 from off ball movement. I am not sure where I put in in this thread or another thread, but I get showed another poster using Griezmann and Kaka to point out the distinct off movement.
Too lazy atm to go that route again so Imput Kaka compilation YT video and Alli's. Take note of the difference of where Kaka often found himself to receive the ball vs Alli (can use Griezmann too). Hint: a group has other player in front of them most of the time (second wave of attack), while the other group being at the tip of the formation (stay shoulder to shoulder or off ball running behind the defense line).
It's getting even more blatant watching their games, while goals should still sufficient to see.
You are mistaking Rui Costa's style with Kaka's as different role forward vs no 10. Kaka was less tasked in pulling the whole play together but not a final third specialist as you speak. Kaka was tasked heavily as ball carrier transit from deep midfield to final third which is similar to Mikhi.
Edit: the second stint Kaka is closer to second forward = closer to Alli. I give you that. However, the Kaka that made the name was different one.
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For me why you think that Kaka was 'a different one' was because he was very good at carrying the ball from deep areas, especially when he was younger and fitter, it was a strong facet of his game due to his excellent close control and ability to run at people with the ball. Hence Milan usually used him as the man, to get them and the ball higher up the field un their wingerless tactical set up. But I assure you, he was more of a trequartista than say, Mhikitaryan, who is more of a 'with drawn AM' in the mould of a Lampard when used as a 10. For Kaka more often than not was the direct striker support for Milan's lone central attacker. At times arriving in the box before him. Delle Alli in comparison, has a style based on operating in space, even though he too can beat his man with close control. He uses his intelligence and excellent off the ball movement to consistently end up with large pockets of space to play into. That is why in the videos above, its rare to find him surrounded by many players when assisting or scoring. There was a PLTV Thursday episode last season in which Phil Neville and Matt Holland broke down that particular aspect of Delle's style, with the relevant video footage. Sadly, I've been thus far unable to track it down. For it would put across the point I'm trying to make to you, way better than I can explain it. And you are not wrong in pointing out similarities to Griezmann. For he too operates in the manner I describe above, whilst in central areas. Its why he could lead the line so effectively to Atletico.
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Guys, it's better to watch these videos to analyse a style of play
I see. He's a "free-role forward", a support striker free to move where he wants.
Rui Costa was truly a playmaker, rather slow.
Kaka was extremely fast: insane speed and had better technical skills: we are talking about a brilliant Ballon d'oR.
In terms of positioning like Thomas Muller/Griezmann/Kaka.
Not very comfortable with these comparisons though.
I haven't watched the Spurs in the last months.
Rui Costa was truly a playmaker, rather slow.
Kaka was extremely fast: insane speed
and had better technical skills: we are talking about a brilliant Ballon d'oR.In terms of positioning like Thomas Muller/Griezmann/Kaka.
Not very comfortable with these comparisons though.
I haven't watched the Spurs in the last months.
Everything about his new agent move suggest he is a normal footballer.
That is; he knows his worth and wants to extract the maximum financial remuneration for it.
I could see him at City or similar on £250k next season.
That is; he knows his worth and wants to extract the maximum financial remuneration for it.
I could see him at City or similar on £250k next season.
He wouldn't make it into the city lineup, I do not think he wants to make a move to the bench.
Could replace David Silva for the long-term.
So possible for him to run down his contract for that.
They already have a ready made replacement for Silva in Bernardo Silva.
Thought he was more of a rotation alternative to Sterling out wide?