[Football] Delle Alli: Where next?

[WATFORD zero]

Both Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard footloose and fancy-free. Hollywood beckons...

 

[Rdodge30]

Spurs I hope

 

[southstandandy]

Shoreham FC last I heard

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I reckon Sterling and Barkley will join them. All incredibly talented ex-England players, but have seemingly lost their form, professionalism and love of the game after being drowned in millions and millions of pounds.

I was thinking about him yesterday when I saw him mentioned/featured in something. I honestly no idea where (or even if) he is playing football these days. Or who he's contracted to.

What I would say about all of these types of players who might be viewed as 'damaged goods' is that it's probably par for the course with young players getting too much too early. Statistically, there will be players who go 'off the rails' (we've seen it with Connelly to a point, I guess), just like members of the general public of around the same age. Part of might be their fault, but part of it might not be. Who are we to judge them if they have a dip in form, or a run-in with the law – we don't know what they might be going through (again, look at Gilmour and the stalking case).

Anyway, what's I'm really saying is – to a point – be kind.

 

[macbeth]

actually think palace could be a possibility

 

[Lurchy]

I was thinking about him yesterday when I saw him mentioned/featured in something. I honestly no idea where (or even if) he is playing football these days. Or who he's contracted to.

What I would say about all of these types of players who might be viewed as 'damaged goods' is that it's probably par for the course with young players getting too much too early. Statistically, there will be players who go 'off the rails' (we've seen it with Connelly to a point, I guess), just like members of the general public of around the same age. Part of might be their fault, but part of it might not be. Who are we to judge them if they have a dip in form, or a run-in with the law – we don't know what they might be going through (again, look at Gilmour and the stalking case).

Anyway, what's I'm really saying is – to a point – be kind.

Barkley has been let go by Nice today after making 27 appearances last season.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I was thinking about him yesterday when I saw him mentioned/featured in something. I honestly no idea where (or even if) he is playing football these days. Or who he's contracted to.

What I would say about all of these types of players who might be viewed as 'damaged goods' is that it's probably par for the course with young players getting too much too early. Statistically, there will be players who go 'off the rails' (we've seen it with Connelly to a point, I guess), just like members of the general public of around the same age. Part of might be their fault, but part of it might not be. Who are we to judge them if they have a dip in form, or a run-in with the law – we don't know what they might be going through (again, look at Gilmour and the stalking case).

Anyway, what's I'm really saying is – to a point – be kind.

 

[Badger Boy]

Very strange situation and you do wonder what's gone wrong for Dele. Not Lingard, he was never particularly talented but looked ok with good players around him. Dele didn't even have that a lot of the time, and you don't roll in 18 Premier League goals in a season without having talent.

 

[crookie]

I reckon Sterling and Barkley will join them. All incredibly talented ex-England players, but have seemingly lost their form, professionalism and love of the game after being drowned in millions and millions of pounds.

Bit harsh on Sterling to lump him in with others IMO. Was excellent at Man City, poor first season at Chelsea I'll admit but such a car crash there last season, did anyone emerge with much credit ? The other 3 though yeah, sad waste of talent

 

[Badger Boy]

Bit harsh on Sterling to lump him in with others IMO. Was excellent at Man City, poor first season at Chelsea I'll admit but such a car crash there last season, did anyone emerge with much credit ? The other 3 though yeah, sad waste of talent

Actually, I think that in a year or two we'll definitely be including Sterling in the conversations about Dele and Lingard. Barkley is still playing at a good level, Ligue 1 in France with Nice. Sterling was a tap in merchant for Man City, a very successful one without question but playing in an incredible team masked his individual failings and Pep wasted no time in getting rid of him.

 

[zefarelly]

It must be so easy to go off the rails being given so much money and fame so young. Had it happened to me I suspect I would have been found dead in a ditch by age 27. it would have been fun whilst it lasted though

Fair point, well made . . . . If I'd got that mythical record deal at the same age It would have been easier to do the same than get through the 'difficult 3rd album' stage

 

[ac gull]

Chelsea

 

[jcdenton08]

Saudi Arabia or MLS

 

[Happy Exile]

Don't remember where I saw it now but a quite forensic analysis of Dele Alli's career I saw laid a lot of the blame at his manager / agent, who I believe is an old school friend of his. I think it might have been suggested that he wasn't the greatest influence or guide for him, but for whatever reason is trusted above all others.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Actually, I think that in a year or two we'll definitely be including Sterling in the conversations about Dele and Lingard. Barkley is still playing at a good level, Ligue 1 in France with Nice. Sterling was a tap in merchant for Man City, a very successful one without question but playing in an incredible team masked his individual failings and Pep wasted no time in getting rid of him.

Sterling arrived at City in 2015 and left in 2022, Pep arrived there in 2016. I'd say he wasted a bit of time getting rid of him?

 

[Live by the sea]

Both Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard footloose and fancy-free. Hollywood beckons...

Not with their looks .

 

[herecomesaregular]

I always worried for Dele after seeing this clip. However, I do hope he gets his groove back and plays well again for someone.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

It must be so easy to go off the rails being given so much money and fame so young. Had it happened to me I suspect I would have been found dead in a ditch by age 27. it would have been fun whilst it lasted though

Has he gone off the rails though? He likes a party from time to time but so do thousands and thousands of other people. The only difference with him is is it’s not compatible with being an elite athlete.

If I had to guess I’d say he just isn’t dedicated enough. He likes the lifestyle but not the sacrifice and hard work.

 

[Shooting Star]

Comments about Sterling are absurd. Not only did he thrive at City but he's a proven international player, integral to our success at Euro 2020 and did decently in Qatar until he had to return home due to the break-in at his house. Not anywhere near the same category as Alli, Lingard and Barkley.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Has he gone off the rails though? He likes a party from time to time but so do thousands and thousands of other people. The only difference with him is is it’s not compatible with being an elite athlete.

If I had to guess I’d say he just isn’t dedicated enough. He likes the lifestyle but not the sacrifice and hard work.

Doesn't "going off the rails" mean partying too much? As you say, for a professional footballer the bar is very low, especially during the season. Far lower than for us normal folk. If maybe I had a couple of lemonades too many on a Thursday evening and so coasted a little on the Friday then it isn't really a problem. If it happened every week then maybe it starts to be a problem. If it happened every Wednesday night too and was compounded with getting stoned and then sleeping over in the office in order to be there on time Thursday but then I hid in the server room to get over the hangover and on the Friday was too knackered to get out of bed, that could be considered going off the rails. For a footballer however, partying when a big game is coming up would be going off the rails. Frankly these days they would probably consider too much pizza in the week to be a problem, let alone getting less than 8 hours sleep without a horlicks!