Recently-hired Everton manager, Frank Lampard, has come to the defense of one of the club’s most recent transfers during his Tuesday pre-match press conference.
Dele Alli has been the subject of much talk ever since the Deadline Day announcement that the 25-year-old midfielder was making a mid-season move from Tottenham Hotspur to Everton, but it was the latest criticism of the player that sparked a composed, but defensive, reaction from his new manager.
Responding to Glenn Hoddle’s critique of Dele Alli’s appearance at Everton’s unveiling for the player, Lampard said:
"My personal opinion is that I don’t care what car he drives, what clothes he wears, as long as I get a lad that comes to training every day, wants to improve every day, respects the club, respects his team-mates and produces, and gives everything to produce."
He went on to add:
"The modern-day has moved on, it’s changed, we all have to be aware of that, and I’m not hitting back at any observation because everyone is allowed their own opinion but I can only deal with what is in front of me.via Sky Sports"
Glenn Hoddle had previously remarked on BT Sport that Dele Alli’s casually-dressed appearance made the player look as if “he’d just got dragged off the street, to be honest”.
The Curious Case of Dele All
While the unexpected criticism of Dele Alli’s fashion choices are irrelevant and should not be looked into any further, what does still come into question, however, is the player’s mindset and motivation.
The last few seasons for Dele at Tottenham have brought nothing but disappointing results on the pitch, as well as very passive behavior off of it. For someone who was once considered such an electric player, an absolute joy to watch, now turned into a vague shadow of himself who appears indifferent, has been very concerning for many fans to watch.
It’s clear, part of the problem lies with the different managers Dele has had in just the past couple of seasons. Neither Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, or Antonio Conte were able to put Dele into a position that suited his capabilities on the pitch, but they also lacked off-the-field chemistry and understanding between the player and his managers.
Not all of this has been Dele Alli’s fault, but what he does do from here on out will most certainly fall directly on him.
It is Frank Lampard’s task to get through to Dele and find the initial spark that once kindled the player to perform so brilliantly, but at the same time, the actual will to compete and succeed is not something that can just be taught and immediately obtained.
It’s up to Dele himself to take the fresh start he’s been given and the new resources at his disposal to really create the future for his career that he probably wants and most certainly deserves. Only time will tell what that exact future will look like for the Englishman struggling to regain his form.