Lemonade Money
Les Medley
Oh dear. Was already in motion, but don't let your hatred of Jose get in the way.
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Dele interview
- Thread starter Mulletperm
- Start date
90291Spur
Paul Walsh
It is reasonable to assume that Jose was and is perhaps not the best person to help someone struggling with confidence/mental health issues. Nobody can say for sure how much he might have made things worse, but I'd wager that the odds are pretty high that he didn't help matters.
Muttley
Milenko Acimovic
He's had a setback I believe. Dyche was saying that he's had to head abroad again. I think that means Dubai where Dele visits that conditioning specialist.
Dicko
Paul Stalteri
Gutted. I think the original article I read said he would need at least 6 months in the u23s before they would even consider a new deal. Not looking great for him at the moment. Would be good if he can resolve any injuries and just get back to playing games again
Muttley
Milenko Acimovic
There's nothing more I'd love than to see a smile on that guys face. A trademark Dele goal in a big game would be just amazing.
thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
Dialectic alert.
I hate Jose Mourinho possibly with irrationality AND he was a total a r s ehole to Dele which accelerated the latter'e career collapse!
I wonder if Dele would consider a drop down the leagues rather than aiming to return to the prem. I'm sure there would be L1/L2 teams eager to take a punt on him on a short term deal when he's back fit again
I know he has hopes of being in the frame to be selected for the 2026 squad for the world cup and while I don't want to tinkle on anyones dreams, particularly his, I can't see this as a realistic possibility. The scrutiny on him if he were to start playing in the prem, even if it wasn't unduly negative, would be intense on top of the fact it must be incredibly difficult if not impossible to hit the ground running in that league with so much time away
There is no former Spurs player who I hope does well in his career and his life than Dele
I know he has hopes of being in the frame to be selected for the 2026 squad for the world cup and while I don't want to tinkle on anyones dreams, particularly his, I can't see this as a realistic possibility. The scrutiny on him if he were to start playing in the prem, even if it wasn't unduly negative, would be intense on top of the fact it must be incredibly difficult if not impossible to hit the ground running in that league with so much time away
There is no former Spurs player who I hope does well in his career and his life than Dele
Lemonade Money
Les Medley
Are we talking about the 'Dele's brother' jibe or something else? I just saw that as attempted kidology to get the real Dele back (his career had already collapsed). In my opinion, the problems first surfaced when the evil Mr Pochettino told Dele to stop diving. But we know now, the mental scars were there all along. Bit silly to be pinning it on Jose because of your hate for him, there have been plenty of managers before and since, and I don't think any of them were the main abuser and source of his problems?
Dialectic alert.
I hate Jose Mourinho possibly with irrationality AND he was a total a r s ehole to Dele which accelerated the latter'e career collapse!
thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
We all have our opinions.
FWIW I think you should note I am not 'pinning it' on Mourinho, I have clearly said I feel he 'contributed to' the collapse of his mental state.
It is pretty clear that Poch was the one keeping him in some sort of line.
Obviously Dele's journey was his own (I think we'd all say some of the choices we saw were a little alarming) but I'll absolutely double-down re:Mourinho.
This is an elite manager, someone entrusted to read people and situations. Do you think that knowing he was on camera, his treatment of Dele during those moments had any hint of sympathy for the player, let alone 'elite awareness' of his state of being?
I believe Mourinho was a fatal catalyst in Dele's downfall. There were others, but his seemed particularly sharp. I also believe someone with a bit more awareness and compassion could've possibly helped him find help and keep his career on track. My opinion, I personally don't think it is too silly ;-)
Muttley
Milenko Acimovic
It struck me as narcissistic behaviour from Jose, who by the way is also a dad of a son 4 years younger than Dele. Jose was only interested in controlling Dele and it was classic gas-lighting what we saw on Amazon and the many pressers when Jose was questioned. That is where I think you were also using your instincts to have the same angst as me towards Jose. Poch had been their father. Jose became the evil step dad.
When one of the infamous changing room row happened, Dele could have done a lot worse than knocked Jose spark out in front of everyone. It was rumoured that Jose called Dele lazy in front of everyone. He did what narcissists do and picked the one topic that clearly wasn't true so Dele would say "I'm sorry, you are right boss". Then Jose would have owned Dele forever, the end game for any narcissist. Jose is actually the lazy one and Dele had been with some rough diamonds in his early life and certainly wasn't going to cave in to his over privileged bully of a manager.
It's also think it is why you see the comments about Jose losing a section of the squad in Hugo's book. You see why Ange needs to be careful with this public spacegoating that is happening with Timo who will have close friends in the squad. That whatsapp groups between the players can easily become Ange's downfall if he doesn't sort his own behaviour out. These kids don't have the same maturity as we do. They are young and headstrong and are very impressionable. If a couple of the senior players react to Ange on WhatsApp, the kids could easily follow.
thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
I believe the situation with Ange and Werner is very different TBF. I agree with everything re: Mourinho…
Muttley
Milenko Acimovic
Yeah, it is very different because Ange isn't a complete knob like Jose. Where it is the same is that the players WhatsApp groups and their side conversations between them can be very damaging. Ange has left himself very open, but that could also drive change in itself.
My irrational fear here is that Ange starts becoming Eddie Jones. Hero to zero in this country
DeanoAustin
Rafael Van Der Vaart
Think you might be overestimating many of us who post here...
Dele needed management, and Jose probably didn't help.
But that's 4 years ago now, he has to be accountable/decide what he wants to do with his career.
My opinion is he (somewhat similar to where Eriksen ended) has fallen out of love with the game, he probably knows he has the talent and he should be doing something with it but not sure he really wants to.
Muttley
Milenko Acimovic
I think you have to relate what Richi is going through right now to really understand what Dele was going through. It wasn't all about his mental health. When those soft tissue injuries constantly recur like they did with Dele you cannot get fit to do your job. That physical impairment impacts your cognition and your mental health. Just look at Rose and Lennon. Poor Lennon had to be sectioned in the end. It's inevitably why Richi's mental health is also down as he just can't do the one thing he loves doing the most.
I notice a lot that people want to completely overlook Dele's physical body challenges when having these conversations. Even recently he's been back out with that specialist team in Dubai trying to get his body conditioned. I think people like Dyche see that massive effort Dele does in the background, so desperate to get back playing. Every time his body lets him down, and probably the biggest reason we won't see him back again.
I don't think he's fallen out of love with the game at all. I wish he would. His mental state would be a lot better if that were the case.
We all don't know .. I agree there is a physical part of his issues, there was a lot of conversation of has he lost that first turn of pace/acceleration as part of why he's less effective? there is the fact that his role (at his best) required a fair amount of freedom (do you get that in the modern game anymore? see the conversation around Grealish at City)
I do think, part of his game was joy, I don't see that in him anymore, hence my comment.
@thfcsteff and I have a debate for years re Dele, even in his prime I thought his flaw was the game was too easy for him, he could toy with the best players in the world, I don't think he ever got to the part where it's about work/grind/adapt to keep relevant and keep being effective.
thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
Have you been following his actions in the last couple of years? I think it is exceptionally clear that he is trying very hard to rescue his career.
thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
...which for 5-6 years is a claim simply not backed up by his stats. A consistent runner, consistently took up smart defensive positions, was very responsible for the actions he needed to take off the ball, and sacrificed his natural game for a deeper role at the 2018 World Cup in order to allow an extra attack-minded player to be on the pitch. I think too many people took one look at Dele - his appearance/manner - and wrote him off as a luxury player. He was actually a far more complete footballer than just that...