Michael Kenrick 16/08/2024 9comments  |  Jump to last

Sean Dyche has been outlining Everton's plan for testing out Dele Alli's match fitness in practice games that are played behind closed doors before they decide whether to offer him a new contract. 

“We honestly haven’t gone that far with him as a player, that’s for sure,” said Dyche. “The club have outlined ‘what ifs?’ but with the player I’ve just said, and I have maintained this, that the first thing is just to get back out there, running freely, playing, training and all that side of things. We will have to wait and see on that.

“He is close but not there yet. And don’t forget he’s hardly had any actual football – as in games – for a long time. There is a games programme still, as well. It’s not just a case of getting fit and running around with the first-team group, then he needs games, so therefore a games programme has got to come next. When you’ve been out that long you need a period of building up and getting to true fitness. That could take three or four games. It’s a bit like an extended pre-season, let’s say.

“I think he is respectful of the fact we have helped him where we could. And he knows the players, he knows the environment, he knows me and the staff, so I think it works hand in hand. He is ticking along nicely. Now it’s about building that programme up to the point where he’s playing and then building the games programme up and then a conversation will be had at some point.”

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Reader Comments (9)

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Fred Charters
1 Posted 15/08/2024 at 16:53:24
I've just read that Dele Alli has suffered another “minor injury”.

Why the fuck is he still anywhere near our Club? Just bin him off back to Spurs if that is a possibility or just politely say that's it, goodbye.

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 16/08/2024 at 08:13:59
Quite some tough love there, Fred.

Another way to look at it might be in terms of the investment Everton have made in the former player to this point — I say 'former'… he has not played for 18 months!!!

He has not played… but he has been paid… one helluva lot of mullah. And as this article says:

The club have been hugely supportive to the former Tottenham talent, not only through his injuries but over the personal problems, including an addiction to sleeping pills, that he disclosed last summer. He has also forged a good relationship with Dyche.

He may have something that would bring value to the team; he may not. The outlined plan seems to be a good way to find out one way or the other.

ps: Where did you see the "minor injury" reference? This article does not mention anything.

Liam Mogan
3 Posted 16/08/2024 at 08:42:21
For all that we have wasted huge amounts on some poor players, we've also had some serious bad luck with players we've signed.

Dele signed in the midst of what appears to have been his own personal hell, then couldn't get fit. Gbamin broke down after 2 games and never got fit again (he even ruptured his achilles playing foot tennis on his own - no idea!). Bloassie lost 18 months to one of the most innocuous looking but serious injuries ever and was never the same player. Sigurrdson's career was effectively ended for non-footballing accusations.

Sods law. Perfect storm. Everton that. Whichever way you frame it, it's damn unlucky.

Jerome Shields
4 Posted 16/08/2024 at 08:43:53
I take it he is not getting paid at the moment and Everton are facilitating him getting back to fitness.Contract issues are not Dyche's area.
Christopher Timmins
5 Posted 16/08/2024 at 09:21:01
Past costs are sunk and are irrelevant as regards future decision making. If something can be worked out going forward that is beneficial to both parties, I have no problem with that.

John Wilson
6 Posted 16/08/2024 at 10:13:17
On Dele, we have wasted millions and millions in wages on the wrong players, so in my opinion he deserves a chance- and only because we have seen the miracles Dyche has done with DCL. Any other manager, i'd say no. What Dyche has done with DCL is not just revive but has saved his career. A player like Dele for where we are right now, we could and would not ever attract a player like him. This is not just romanticism here. There is a player in there. We seen Dele's talent at Basiktas, not just Crystal Palace, he is close, as Dyche said, and Dyche will certainly play him to get Dyche match fitness, if it is at all possible Dele is able to play. Dyche concerning games, 4 games for match fitness behind closed doors, and if passes that, he will have a contract, probably no more than a year so it will be a trial - as in a trial, a bit like a loan with option to buy, and as a loan, we would pay his wages for a year, say 30k a week wages. Dele has not been given a penny since his contract with us ended. If he cannot reach the match fitness with behind closed doors, or the games programme set, no contract. Or we have wasted millions on another player, if we don't give him a chance. I'd rather pay an able Dele to sit on the bench than many, many others who have before him and have offered nothing when they came on.
Alan J Thompson
7 Posted 16/08/2024 at 10:25:36
And what have Spurs had to say on the matter of him playing for Everton and do they indeed have any rights to ask Everton for any payment if he does?
Robert Tressell
8 Posted 16/08/2024 at 10:36:36
Sensible and realistic comments from Dyche. Presumably we are no longer paying Dele Alli (since his contract has expired) and Dyche wants to have a look at whether he can get match fit. Nothing more to it.
John Wilson
9 Posted 16/08/2024 at 11:01:35
Watch Dele's Sky Sports, Dele as pundit, interview. Not on long, but listen to him. He is determined. I know some stuff about psychology (as is part of my degree) and on a professional level, I am always reading and analysing psychologist/s reports. You could say I get opportunity to see how people think and what makes them tick. Concerning psychology behind how a player thinks, for someone to play at the top level after being out, for then a year as he says, is massive. Don't discount or believe that the psychology behind Dele is trivial here. Sports psychology is also massive. I believe Dele has the potential to turn his life and career around and he will play and be successful for Everton, why because in his head, he's already done it. https://youtu.be/Wc1AXbMkQWw?si=6tSXti0R1VtojneL

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