The Dele Dispute, a thread.

The hostility and, dare I say, toxicity around the Dele discussion in my mentions last night are so because:

1. That might have been Dele's last start for Spurs.
2. JM singled him out for criticism.

Dele got singled out by JM yesterday - both during the match, where he was overheard yelling “Your flick has cost us that goal" - and after the match when this happened... https://twitter.com/jonathandveal83/status/1341834006321635328

It is *completely* legitimate to be annoyed with a player for attempting a flick if you have specifically asked them not to try first-time flicks.

Directly blaming it for the goal is not a defendable position, though - that's a hell of a reach. https://twitter.com/ComradeYouSpurs/status/1341881835442352128

Dele does try lots of first-time flicks, it's a thing. He likes to play one-touch passes, they are useful for:

1. Quick counter-attacks* (i.e. they allow a team-mate to run free into space);
2. Unlocking set defences (i.e. quick passing exploits any gaps).

*hey, we do those.

The best example of a Dele first-time flick that I can think of is the one that got us into the Champions League final.

I thought Dele played well last night. In a dull first half, he was the one player that was trying things. Creative runs in behind, creative movement & passing, drawing fouls with skill. Sure, he's not his sharpest, because: he's started 5 matches & played 407 minutes all season.

If JM doesn't like Dele for whatever reason, that's his prerogative, but his total exclusion in the PL is IMO an objectively bad use of the squad. He is one of the best players we have at unlocking set defences, something we have struggled with multiple times this season & last.

A lot of people in my mentions and elsewhere regularly parrot the 'you are a fucking lazy guy in training' thing from All Or Nothing, which is a year old.

Since then, JM has said: “He’s working hard in training as everybody else does. We train hard every day.”

I believe we will attempt to sell Dele this transfer window & I believe we will go on to regret this because:

1. He is currently massively under-valued by the market.
2. We could really do with a player right now that helps to unlock set defences. We have one. For free!

Last night was scapegoating, agenda-driven; it was 'preparing the ground'. Many people will accept this at face value & when Dele is sold they will say things like:

'He doesn't have an elite/winning mentality';
'He doesn't work hard enough in training';
'He plays for himself'.

Of course, Dele has no right of reply at the moment. The manager controls the narrative. His only right of reply is when he gets a few moments on the pitch.

Things like this are his only right of reply. https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/1342048561190547459

Anyway look, if JM goes on to win a bunch of trophies nobody is really going to look back and say 'shame about Dele though', so this has the possibility of 'ageing badly', but , I think it's bad management.