Dele Alli

[Jordinho]

If Lamela can get a start after a very poor substitute appearance then I think Alli has done enough for a start. It is not as if all the midfield/attacking midfielders have been outstanding so far this season. When I think of his cameo against Real Madrid I am even more sure that this guy is ready to start for us

I don't think Lamela started because of his performance in the previous game. He was just the most experienced player available .

 

[glorygloryeze]

I don't think Lamela started because of his performance in the previous game. He was just the most experienced player available .

Exactly. It's as if many have suddenly gone senile on here..

 

[NaijaSpurs]

I don't think Lamela started because of his performance in the previous game. He was just the most experienced player available .

Exactly. It's as if many have suddenly gone senile on here..

Interesting, especially as last season we ended up with our least experienced striker being first choice and our 2 least experienced midfielders as our first choice central midfield pairing for most of the season. No glorygloryeze, nobody has gone senile

 

[Jordinho]

Interesting, especially as last season we ended up with our least experienced striker being first choice and our 2 least experienced midfielders as our first choice central midfield pairing for most of the season. No glorygloryeze, nobody has gone senile

It did take a couple of months before Poch changed things around. New players, especially ones so young, won't be thrown straight in.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has told The Guardian that he scouted Dele Alli personally a year ago, months before agreeing a deal to sign him.

Alli netted his first competitive goal for Spurs at the weekend against Leicester City in a 1-1 draw.

The teenager looks accomplished enough to play in the top flight and is not over-awed by the jump from League One to the Premier League.

Pochettino said he watched Alli in action in the League Cup last season and was highly impressed.

He said: "Last season I went to see him against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup and it was 4-0: he played centre midfield and was a 17-year-old playing like a 30-year-old and this is his best quality."

The result was a humiliating night for United; while Alli showed in pre-season he was not afraid to embarrass even Real Madrid, nutmegging former Spurs star Luka Modric.

So early into his Tottenham career, Alli is putting forward already a compelling case to start key matches.

It was a little of a surprise even that he began the campaign on the substitute's bench given his impressive pre-season showings, while his goal at the weekend shows he can influence games at the top level.

More chances beckon and Alli has shown already he is ready when called upon. Pochettino may have realised that a year ago, even if he is remaining cautiously patient regarding the talented midfielder.

 

[glorygloryeze]

Interesting, especially as last season we ended up with our least experienced striker being first choice and our 2 least experienced midfielders as our first choice central midfield pairing for most of the season. No glorygloryeze, nobody has gone senile

Yes, but that didn't happen overnight did it? And if it did, at the time people would have understandably raised eyebrows, even if in the end it was the right decision.
Just like starting Lamela was not exactly a total shock on saturday given that he was the most experienced in that position available in the absence of Eriksen.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

It did take a couple of months before Poch changed things around. New players, especially ones so young, won't be thrown straight in.

;
No, Mason was injured at the beginning of last season, he played in the cup midweek and 3 days later started against Arsenal. As for Kane, well lets all be honest, he had been rubbish on loan and done nothing to suggest he would score 30+ goals. As for Lamela, I would suggest that his substitute performance was by far the worst performance by any Spurs player for quite some time and simply did not merit another start. Interestingly, if the rumours are to believed he is off to Italy

 

[Jordinho]

;
No, Mason was injured at the beginning of last season, he played in the cup midweek and 3 days later started against Ar5ena1. As for Kane, well lets all be honest, he had been rubbish on loan and done nothing to suggest he would score 30+ goals. As for Lamela, I would suggest that his substitute performance was by far the worst performance by any Spurs player for quite some time and simply did not merit another start. Interestingly, if the rumours are to believed he is off to Italy

Mason would have played from the first game had he not been injured. His start against Arsenal had nothing to do with the Forest game other than fitness.

 

[afsoc4life]

True, but that really isn't saying much as every Spurs player was distinctly mediocre. I don't think Dembele has it in him to play much better than he did against Leicester, which isn't good enough.

I beg to disagree. Not every Spurs player was mediocre. Dembele wasnt. Dele wasnt. It wasnt a good result - aye but mediocre - Nope. We, one of the league top out of form sides, were playing against one of the league's top in form side. We also have a poor record vs. Ranieri's teams.

 

[Pandy]

I quite fancy Alli to start against Arsenal in the League Cup.

Europa League kicks off around then too, excited to see more of him. He has been incredible in the few minutes he's gotten.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Mason would have played from the first game had he not been injured. His start against Ar5ena1 had nothing to do with the Forest game other than fitness.

The fact that he made his league début in a North London derby when there were more experienced players available is an apt counter argument

 

[NaijaSpurs]

I quite fancy Alli to start against Ar5ena1 in the League Cup.

Europa League kicks off around then too, excited to see more of him. He has been incredible in the few minutes he's gotten.

I quite fancy him to start in the league before then

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Yes, but that didn't happen overnight did it? And if it did, at the time people would have understandably raised eyebrows, even if in the end it was the right decision.
Just like starting Lamela was not exactly a total shock on saturday given that he was the most experienced in that position available in the absence of Eriksen.

Well it was a shock to me considering how pony he had been the week before, especially as Bentaleb lost his place in teh starting line up after an equally sub par performance

 

[glorygloryeze]

Well it was a shock to me considering how pony he had been the week before, especially as Bentaleb lost his place in teh starting line up after an equally sub par performance

As i said before and in other threads, Lamela starting given the alternatives was understandable given the alternatives and their lack of PL experience/injury status etc.
If Bentaleb didn't have competition for his position by those similarly experienced (say if Dembele, Mason, Dier were all injured or didn't have as much PL experience at this pount) then he would likely have had to start as well.

Just because Poch has shown he isn't afraid to throw youth right into the mix, doesn't mean he will do it willy-nilly in EVERY situation.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

As i said before and in other threads, Lamela starting given the alternatives was understandable given the alternatives and their lack of PL experience/injury status etc.
If Bentaleb didn't have competition for his position by those similarly experienced (say if Dembele, Mason, Dier were all injured or didn't have as much PL experience at this pount) then he would likely have had to start as well.

Just because Poch has shown he isn't afraid to throw youth right into the mix, doesn't mean he will do it willy-nilly in EVERY situation.

So if there were no alternative options on Saturday would you anticipate Lamela would again start ahead of Alli on Saturday?

 

[glorygloryeze]

So if there were no alternative options on Saturday would you anticipate Lamela would again start ahead of Alli on Saturday?

50:50. Alli's goal in theory could earn him a start, but then he has only played what 45 min of PL football in total. If no N'Jie or Pritchard you could see perhaps the theory of bring Alli on as an impact sub again. It would still be a punt to start Alli either way.
Personally, if Eriksen is available, both are on the bench anyway.
If Eriksen is again not available i would possibly start N'Jie for the sheer speed to push Everton back.
If N'Jie also not available, then it'd be a toss-up for me as if Alli has a tough time, i wouldn't want him to face the wrath of some of our impatient home crowd with how people are feeling right now.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

50:50. Alli's goal in theory could earn him a start, but then he has only played what 45 min of PL football in total. If no N'Jie or Pritchard you could see perhaps the theory of bring Alli on as an impact sub again. It would still be a punt to start Alli either way.
Personally, if Eriksen is available, both are on the bench anyway.
If Eriksen is again not available i would possibly start N'Jie for the sheer speed to push Everton back.
If N'Jie also not available, then it'd be a toss-up for me as if Alli has a tough time, i wouldn't want him to face the wrath of some of our impatient home crowd with how people are feeling right now.

And what do you say to Mason making his league début against Arsenal in the league even though there were more experienced players available?

 

[glorygloryeze]

And what do you say to Mason making his league début against Ar5ena1 in the league even though there were more experienced players available?

A big call by Poch. One that in hindsight worked, particularly as there was no-one in the team that combined energy AND the ability to play forward balls quickly.
But a decision that is NOT a given that he'll take every time with our young/inexperienced players in similar circumstances.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Anyway by the way things are going I would not be surprised if Lamela is in Italy by the weekend

 

[glorygloryeze]

Sadly, you're probably right