Dele Alli being prepared for an early sale

I predicted Dele could play a big role against Watford, but unfortunately Frank didn't use him. I made the same prediction against Brentford... that game could have been a chance for him to show something off the bench.

Very interesting analysis of Dele's issues in the Mirror, arguing that Frank's defensive tactics, sacrificing performance for results in the battle to stay up, has left no place for him in the lineup... but speculating that he could still have a major impact:

Frank Lampard details cause of Dele Alli's Everton issues after failure to start a game

My view is that there has been both a tactical and a financial incentive to leave Dele on the bench -- right now we don't have to pay a dime for him in transfer fees, which is great because we're very short on dimes.

With the position we are in, we pretty much expect Dele to hit the ground running once arrived in a few games. But that didn't happen. And we just didn't have the luxury for letting him ease in as we have to grind something out every game. So it's a wrong talent at a wrong time. He might come good if one of the team with good structure and players working hard enough to carry him a bit (e.g. West Ham).

The team isn't strong enough defensively or at central midfield to allow Dele to play. Frank has been forced pragmatic like his mate Carlo, it is all about keeping it tight and nicking a goal with the resources we have. Next season with a different set up and a full preseason things could be different if he was motivated for it. He's a top quality player if Frank can find solutions.

If we get 20 million and his wages off he books it will be a near miracle. You never know with the moneyed Newcastle or a Middle Eastern club.

I appreciate that it was a gamble but if we need to sell him on and are hoping for £20 million we are going to be disappointed. He's on a 2½-year deal, isn't he?

Stitched up again by Daniel Levy. Loathe him or hate him, you've got to respect him for the job he does at Spurs.

Or in our case keep it tight and then throw it away.

I assume that Dele was bought on the assumption that we wouldn't spend the rest of the season in a grim fight to stay up. If we'd been in a better position, I reckon we'd be playing very different football and Dele would have been given a few starts.

Having said that, its only in the past couple of months that Frank has gone for grinding out results. I guess Dele simply wasn't match-fit and match-ready until it was too late.

Just another of those weird foot-notes in the history of our club.

To move him on would need a free transfer and subsidised wages. Not many obvious buyers though even on that basis. So we may well be stuck with him for a while.

I wouldn't write him off just yet but it's not looking very promising right now.

How long have we been counting down Sigurdsson's contract, four years? And then right at the death, we enter into another one on the same wages for another two and a half years with Dele Alli. But at least we used to play Sigurdsson occasionally.

I wish this was The Untouchables, so the judge could say 'I want you to get the moneymen over at Anfield, and swap them for the clowns in here, and take the clowns in here, and take them over there.'

Mike #1,

I agree, Alli should have been played in both of those games. The Watford game was crying out for his skills and Erikson would have had competition for space in midfield had he played.

Mike -it is clear that Frank had decided that the stakes were simply too hight to have him on the pitch in tight games where every forward was expected to track back.
The likes of Richie and Gordon do it every game and it has been an essential part of the good results.
If we had been 3 up against Brentford, then he may have got his chance but v Palace, he will only be seen if we are absolutely desperate in the final throes of another disaster.
The financial side is opaque, but it is questionable whether his value will shrink more by not playing, and everyone wondering if he is really crap, or playing him and letting everyone see just how crap.

If one acquisition could adequately explain all aspects of our disastrous transfer business since Moshiri arrived here it would be this one.

Just a tremendously bad piece of business.

A player on enormous wages - with escalators if you put him on the pitch to see what he's got - allied to a manager that's patently decided that, no he's not able to help us.

Robert Tressell has correctly summed it up. This man Alli will be staining the bench whilst draining Everton's coffers for at least the next two years. He isn't worth a broken beer glass at Oktoberfest. He isn't worth a match in a housefire.

We really must be the proverbial dumbest person in the room when it comes to recruitment. Kevin Thelwell sadly arrived too late to do anything about Dele Alli. He must wonder what the hell he has walked into.

So who did bring ali in, was he recruited over Frank,s head.. The mind boggles over the happenings at our super silly club..

How can we get £20MM for him when we didn't pay anything for him? What a disaster, he was so good and definitely worth even a failed punt by us.

Sorry but no one is going to offer anywhere near £20M for a player who hasn't even played regularly, never mind performed, for a long time.

In addition, everyone knows we've paid nothing so far and only need to pay anything once he's made a certain number of appearances, think 20 being the first milestone.

I'd imagine a figure nearer £10M is much more realistic – albeit we don't know what clauses Spurs would have put in to stop us cashing in and paying them nothing, probably we need to give them the first £xM if sold early so our only upside is to get him off the wage bill.

He must be better than Rondon.
Play him!

Does anybody know how much we're actually paying Dele? I haven't seen his weekly salary published anywhere, and Spotrac doesn't list it.

I wouldn't write him off yet either. He's 26 and the most naturally talented player in the club, and if Frank can get his head squared away, he might be of great help. He became a world star as a playmaking second forward a few years ago, but hasn't really played that position since. If he's not sellable I'd like to see us try him in that role next season.

Another very strange episode of Everton's transfer policy but the field of responsibility is lessening given that there was no Manager, DoF or even a Head of Academy at the time of his signing. And of the remaining two to pick from, one resides overseas and the other in the same city as the club from which we signed him. Where there's smoke there's a hole burning in somebody's possibly picked pocket,

Mike G (16), it was commonly reported that Alli signed a £100k a week, 6-year contract in 2018. I believe we had to agree to an extra year on that deal to get him to come.

Thanks, DM. So if that's correct it would cost the club around three million in salary to keep him until the January window.

It's also being reported that Spurs would get 25% of whatever we'd sell him for at this point.

If there's no market for the guy and we only get three-fourths of the fee anyway, it might be worth keeping him for 20 more games to see if he can pull his head out of his rump.

I have a horrible feeling that Levy will have stitched us
good style. The question that needs answering is that if we sell Alli for say 5 million what we would we have to pay Spurs? If you think the answer is nothing think again. If you think it might be 5 million you might be 20 million or so short,

Just play the fella up front or try Dobbin. I'm glad Rondon's ban should force Lampard's hand so he has no choice but to be brave. Calvert-Lewinsky looks nowhere near on it but managers are terrified of trying something new – especially at this stage.

He seems to have lost it mentally and has shown zero commitment on the pitch. With his salary he will be extremely difficult to sell. It's now no secret that he has lost it. He may just sit there till 2025, à la Gareth Bale.

This deal would only have been done for one party and one party only. That's Daniel Levy. A deal only on his terms.

He's made Kenwright look like a mug (which we already know he is). Like he did when Pienaar returned, he's shafted us on another deal.

I can't see the problem. We got him for nothing, we will probably sell him for nothing and Spurs & Levy will get 25% of nothing.

All parties knew what they were doing, not just Levy and personally, I think there will be several clubs who will want to have a pop at getting something out of Alli.

Lots of people having a pop at Levy but surely it falls on the player to be honest about what he needs to get back to a level where he actually deserves his massive wages and transfer value?

Any club is going to try to recoup money on a player they have invested in but they can't force the player to be less than honest with any potential employers.

Dele Alli needs to decide whether he actually has the desire to regain his form. Part of his rehabilitation has to be working on whatever is affecting his performance and that can only be determined if he wants to be part of the process.

Alan (17), and the one who resides in the same city as the club we signed him from thinks Levy is his mate. Levy knows how to get the best for his club.

“We've had some good times” – hasn't got a clue!!

Ex-Spurs man scores injury-time winner at The Emirates?

He's a lost soul at the moment. Talented, yes, but we all know talent alone is not enough.

He needs help sorting his head out and his priorities if he still wants to be a Premier League player.

I thought he'd be a better option to Rondon, play a bit deeper, more pace and energy but Frank has thought differently with mixed results.

I hope he comes good because he can be a top-class player for many years but, if not, that judgement is needed this summer.

If he's not up to the task of being a professional player, then he simply needs to be given away or tear his contract up.

It's probably fortunate that more players don't suffer this type of affliction, given the pressures, the temptations and the money etc. David Bentley was one example who in his own words said he simply fell out of love with the game.

Others have trodden a fine line through their careers to varying degrees, on a scale that extends to Gazza. It's a real shame – Dele was a great player. Almost always the talented ones that struggle, rarely the more industrious types.

When you look at this chance he was given and the time scale, there are obviously problems more than we know. Aaron Lennon had a tough time and came through it. The situation of the team regarding relegation would mean nothing if he was okay. Sad.

I'd have liked to see him given a chance in a false 9 role, he would probably offer more than Calvert-Lewin currently in the No 9 role.

This is bad news really, he is talented and maybe Everton is the wrong club. We are not and haven't been for many years an attacking team. The squad is just too slow and pedestrian for a Dele-type player. Such a shame for him and us. I can see him at the Toon or Villa.

Stupid signing in the circumstances.

Peter #32,

Stupid signing in any circumstances...

Lampard landed us with Dele and Donny. One as useful as the other. And Lampard is expected to rebuild the squad. Can't see that happening.

Pat, in some ways the Donny situation is a bigger flop.

At least we can send Donny back, Will. But he's been a great waste of space. He'll end up back in clog land.

I'd much rather see us sign Sander Berge. It's the young, top-end Championship players we need to be signing. Hungry players who want to be here.

Saying that, if Dele had scored a few and moved us away from relegation, then it would have been a genius move. You can kinda see that it was worth the gamble.

Probably right, Pat. It's bananas. One good performance, a crap one (or was it two?), injury, then - nothing.

Tbf to Lampard, he had 1 day, less in fact, to make any transfers in January. So criticism for signing 2 midfielders for £0 outlay really seems a bit unfair.

Yes, Ian, Sander Berge looks an excellent midfielder. The Championship has many talented players. Phillip Billing (but Bournemouth obviously now promoted) is excellent. John Swift at Reading also very good. Jed Spence (on loan only at Forest) or Isaiah Jones as right full-backs (both contracted to Boro) are pacey and exciting.

We were linked much with the excellent Brennan Johnson, but I would imagine we'd struggle if he was to move this summer now his stock has risen.

There will be many more out there too. We should target these players.

Jarred Bowen, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze are just a few recent examples of the talent available for decent fees.

Question: If we still had our Colombian genius, would our manager have played him in any of our last 4 or 5 games?

Watford maybe. The rest, not so sure. Luxury player, stick or twist. Hold what we have or risk pushing on and going for it. Same with Dele.

Meanwhile, I just watched Newcastle dismantle the Arse, pressing & bullying the hell out of them for the full 90.

Do we have the players or the fitness to do that to them on their turf? I dread to think what the result would be if we go into that game needing to win it.

Does anyone remember Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In? (No, it was not filmed in our boardroom...) Well, they used to have sketches called the Fickle Finger of Fate.

I have a funny notion that fate has yet to play its hand for Dele Alli. This has all the hallmarks of a winner on Thursday night or one at The Emirates... Funny thing, fate, just when you think it would be absurd... "Infamy, Infamy... they all have it infamy."

So Dele, somewhere in those dreadlocks you had a wonderful football brain... go find it, even for just 30 minutes... prove it to yourself.

Geez, Pat #34, really? I'm with Fran #39.

Frank signed his contract, grabbed the phone and before he had time for his first meal at the club he got us two Prem midfielders, both capable of helping the club enormously, right in under the deadline.

It's unfortunate that neither has worked out, but I'd say under the circumstances he did brilliantly. It gives me more confidence, not less, that he can rebuild the club on a budget.

Paul, to be honest, I think one of the reasons we are where we are this season is exactly because James was sold. No creativity, just runners hoping they would get a break.

We have played a whole season without a No 10. In this league, you have to be able to unlock defences with skill – not just effort. He was a luxury player, yes, but an essential one to make a difference, goals or assists.

The real problem lay in how the then manager (Benitez) thought he could play without him. He was disastrously wrong and we have paid the penalty for the team set-up and performances without creativity.

Our creativity is almost zero apart from the odd ball from Gordon or Iwobi. We have lost out on the chance to have Sigurdsson pulling the strings through no fault of the club, and then also James Rodriguez through Benitez's dislike for him.

Frank knew we needed somebody in there the get the ball moving and find that pass so he quickly moved on it. Van de Beek was injured before he had a chance to settle in and Dele Alli has not played for what I can only assume are circumstances to do with now needing to battle rather than play our way out of this. Either way, it's a joke that any manager at the club has been left to deal with this situation after the amount of money spent over the past few years.

Blame Kenwright and Moshiri on the mess, and also the shithouse refs, but let's give Lampard a break from this. Lampard is a winner with a squad full of losers and it's a miracle that we are still within a shout to stay up.

I think he realized he had no chance of trying to play football after the Spurs defeat and has since gone into a deep fear of knowing the weaknesses of every player and is being tested beyond his young managerial experience to get something out of them.

I doubt he would have more than 3 of these players in a chosen squad of his own. We have weak-bodied and weak-minded very average players stealing a living at our club and I will be happy to see the back of 90% of them.

We had enough clear chances to have beaten Burnley before our defense capitulated. That was a critical game but, having said that, I am a bit shocked even now that this team somehow got results against Man Utd, Chelsea and Leicester. Pickford can take a huge pat on the back for his performances in those games.

My own mistrust of these players is that they will drag us to the very last game and even into disaster. I sincerely hope I'm proved wrong tonight and I don't need to break another iPhone.

COYB

I hope we manage to keep him as our player. He's a hell of a talent. We could build a team around him

Between this guy, El-Ghazi and DVB January was yet another disaster of a transfer window.

I genuinely fear who we will bring in if we have a sell off in the summer.

His attitude and fire have gone completely flat, for whatever combination of reasons.
He's finished as a top level player, everyone can see that it's just gone for him, it's a really weird situation. He'll end up back at MK Dons, although I'm not even sure he's up for the fight and the rigours of League One.
The game moves on, every 5-10 years, it gets harder, more physically demanding, he hasn't kept up with this, he's been left behind, it's not just going to magically turn around for him.
Even MLS would be above his current fitness levels, he needs to go to an extremely slow paced League to keep playing, the Middle East is probably best for him.

Dele Alli is probably the worst player on Everton's books. His attitude is essentially ‘Snowflake Millenial' (“Oh poor me, I've lost my motivation, mental health crap, blah, blah”), and he costs a fortune. Just what kind of example is this to the likes of Dobbin, Gordon or any of the younger players, or anyone Everton wants to recruit?

“Play well for a few matches at another club, get signed by Everton on a massive salary, and do fuck all on the pitch for season after season” is the worst possible example.

Calvert-Lewin has proved useless without Ancelotti's midfield-winger set-up, but is probably one of the players the youngsters look up to – he's in the press, he gets loads of publicity, no doubt he's the one the girls (and some of the boys) fancy… Sadly he's a League One striker except in a very specific setup.

We need players with the attitude of Richarlison, Frank Lampard, Peter Reid, Kevin de Bruyne, Pickford, even bloody Steven fucking Gerrard.

I reckon Doucouré and Iwobi (who can play in few positions, but has responded superbly to Lampard's faith in him) are resilient enough to keep, and Townsend was a great buy – good attitude… but seems unfortunately fragile.

This club has been colonised by the Everton in the Community mindset. Charity is fine and right when dealing with the poor, unfortunate or unlucky. It's entirely harmful when playing a competitive sport.

So fuck off Dele Alli, Calvert-Lewin, and take with you Gbamin, possibly Keane and any other player infected with the wrong mindset. You won't be missed, but your absence may allow Lampard to build a proper team with proper values.

Fran #39, Mike#43, Dele and Donny may not have involved transfer fees but we're paying their salaries. And they are filling two slots in the squad but contributing nothing. We can send Donny packing at the end of the season but how long will we have Dele on the books?

Dele was a known major gamble, to say the least. Yet Lampard signed him when we really needed someone who could contribute to our relegation battle. Has Lampard been on Mars while he was waiting for a job?

Donny was also a major failure in the Premier League at Man Utd. I'm amazed Lampard and his crew could pick two flops and not identify even one player for the money they're on who we could at least put on the pitch.

Charles,
I agree with you totally.

We are totally lacking a midfield general like Peter Reid or, dare I say it, Jordan Henderson.

Allan, if he was 10 years younger, may have fit the bill but it looks like his legs have gone. I wouldn't mind that Conor Gallagher though but Chelsea will probably want him back there.

Exactly what I have said many times on here.
There won't be a fee.
He's maybe league one level now.

Well that was a half of football from Dele.

I agree Tom. Kicked Gomes for touch where he belongs and, to his credit Dele made all the difference in the 2nd half. Just like with Iwobi, I was as surprised as anyone.

I've been tracking Dele movment in the game against Palace. He did run back and defend and run into space anticipating a pass. I can see his vision and technical ability is still there. Probably fitness and confidence still lacking.

Now we are safe, wouldn't mind to give him a full pre-season and see how things go. If Dele is in his old days, we'll never be able to get him. Keep him and sell Gomes.

Why not give him a run against Arsenal? Dead rubber game — if he can't be motivated against his old enemy and wants to stay with us, then let him go.

Agree Tom 53# — form temporary and class permanent — and he was class last night.

In an open attacking side, Dele Alli is exactly what we need.

Andy #56

Why not make him Captain against Arsenal and see how he does? There is still a player in there.

Dele did well last night and made a difference, he has struggled for minutes so a bit harsh to have a go at him. He is still young enough to have a decent career if he wants it enough.

I have to believe Frank will definitely be looking to have a more attacking outlook next season. If we can get Conor Galleghar on loan and maybe another defensive midfielder, I think Iwobi and Dele would fit right into this system. While it was only over 45 minutes, his entry into the game with the switch in positions for Iwobi turned the game on its head. I am presuming Richi will depart but hopefully another year of experience will benefit Gordon. He is far from the finished article and for me the jury is still out. With good service I think Gray Will also excel. There is a lot of dead wood to get rid of as well including the guy Dele replaced last night. How he managed to get in the starting 11 I just don't know. For me both Dele and Iwobi have to start in midfield against Arsenal. If we get Delft Godfrey and Mina back who knows I think we stand a good chance of beating Arsenal who I don't think are up to much.

Interesting but not surprising that negative comments about Dele came before the match. He certainly shocked a few, and hopefully we will now give him a chance. Especially vs Arsenal

"Worst player on Everton's book" changed the game. Never cease to amaze how people make rash judgements, particularly when Alli hasn't even played that many matches in a blue shirt.

Raymond @63,

So very true, a few have been labelled similar after just a game or two, before they have even settled in to a new country, club, different language. Mykolenko has proved doubters wrong too. Whereas some who have been with us a longer time are clearly not good enough, but enjoying long contracts and immoral earnings.

#52 "He's maybe League One level now."

More league one players, then, please!

Are you ready for this? I could easily see Dele and Iwobi forming a possesion partnership and solving the lack of chemistry between Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Find a #6 that can truck it when transitions need to be detoured and a centre-back good in open field and voila!

I hadn't looked at this rumour or thread until just now and it makes interesting reading. Especially post the Palace euphoria.

I have to admit to being extremely disappointed with Alli's contribution to date. The guy has looked off the pace, disinterested and a shadow of his former self. I couldn't see a role for him, not with Iwobi putting in such performances as an 8 or 10.

I don't want to place too much emphasis on one game, we could make a costly error on the back of that. However, it is true, he changed the game. He looked like he was playing as an 8. He was dogged, determined and showed more than a few glimpses of that former talent from a few years ago. I thought he was fantastic.

I hope Frank starts him today so we can have another look at him against his old foe who will no doubt be looking to wind him up. Agree with Dale's comments that with a commanding Makelele type behind him and Iwobi that could form an energetic midfield. That would however only work in some games against certain opposition. We will need to be able to play with a double-pivot at times too.

I genuinely can see Frank going for Gilmour in the summer, especially since his value has no doubt dropped after a poor season at Norwich. Frank LOVES Gilmour. He is also rumoured to be in for Gallagher on loan. I would take both, Gilmour on a perm and Gallagher on loan, there is zero chance of us signing hm permanently, he is going to be a special player for them, English too.

If my above predictions are remotely true then we will need a midfield clear out. I can see Allan going (and there will likely be suitors) Gbamin, Delph of course (though he has risen in my estimations of him as a player and a man during this tumultuous end to the season) and maybe even Andre (a loan to Portugal was discussed last season, though we will have to subsidise wages for that to happen). Interesting times. I'd keep Tom by the way, give him a chance under Frank, at least a pre-season anyway and I want to see some of these youngsters pushed in cup games.

Nothing to loose in a dead rubber match today, I would give him plenty of game time and see how he gets on.If we show him the love he might just come good again. Now whats the Dele song again???

Dele Alli had a great partnership with Kane before he lost form and his way and Son replaced him. At his best he can definitely provide the sort of service from midfield that any striker needs.

Apart from having natural talent he has several qualities that we have been sadly lacking this season:

Composure on the ball
Positional sense
Awareness
And as Frank Lampard put it “a bit of needle”

Give him a start against Arsenal, get him motivated, and watch him flourish again.

Steve Shave, I've heard the Gallagher rumour. Judging by the smile on his face as the third went in, it's probably true.

Also heard he wants Loftus-Cheek.