I've been watching Dele pretty closely over the last few games in an attacking midfield role and it's beginning to pose a conundrum to me. As much as he's impressed in certain games in those positions, I feel there's a trend beginning to show itself.
Yesterday, Leicester came to defend deep and counter. They did this to great effect and I can't complain too much that they took the three points. Dele was employed seemingly on the left with freedom to move to a central attacking position. It was a role that left him frustrated for most of the night. However, against Southampton - who demonstrated greater will to attack and get forward - he was fantastic in the role, creating chances and scoring a great goal.
It's a clear pattern from the games I've seen him play in attacking midfield. When the teams give him space to work in he's fantastic. When they don't it limits the impact that he can make on the game.
Now this is no criticism. He's young and developing fantastically, and currently possesses a great skill set to be utilised. His powerful running is fantastic to watch, his aggression in the tackle commanding and his passing very respectable.
With this in mind I feel he needs to be playing deeper alongside Dier for games like Leicester or West Brom. He needs to drive with the ball. He needs to provide a stronger partner for Dier, who seemingly struggles with the extra workload that having Carroll alongside him brings. He needs to make runs from deeper, exploiting lack of movement in opposition and link up with a front 4 rather than be a part of it.
Against bigger sides I'm in favour of playing Alli in that front 4 where you can use the extra presence in midfield, but also have a willing runner for counter attacks and Toby's special diagonals. Space is everything for Dele, and by playing him as we did yesterday we're not getting the best out of him.
Thoughts?
Dele Alli - Centre or Attacking Mid?
posted on 14/1/16
comment by Analog (U17200)
posted 6 minutes ago
Might be in the minority but I much prefer Dembele deeper and Alli further forward
Alli's touch/passing in a deeper role is quite limited in comparison to Dembele. He struggles to keep the ball under pressure, whereas Dembele is key for us in that zone
In the final third however, Alli is the more effective of the two. He can make runs beyond Kane, is a better finisher, and will rack up more goals and assists
For me he is quite similar to Gerrard in some aspects, but remember Gerrard's peak years came as a #10 behind Torres
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Agree
posted on 14/1/16
comment by Genius Greaves is 100% behind Poch & The Belgian Revolution! (U1302)
posted 6 minutes ago
Dembele MUST start on Saturday!!!!
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Can only assume he wasn't 100% fit/match ready last night. Dembele over Carroll everytime
posted on 14/1/16
posted on 14/1/16
I miss Bentaleb. Think he gives us a technical assuredness on the pitch. And he can put his boot in too. Closest player we have to Dembele in my opinion.
For me Our main problem is what we do with the ball once we approach the opposition box. The top teams are able to probe looking for that killer pass.. We don't have the intelligence within our team to do that. A ball out wide with Rose/Walker is usually whipped in which usually ends with the ball been given away.
We need better wide players and highly creative midfielder to take the next leap. Eriksen just not cutting it for me.
posted on 14/1/16
the carroll experiment has to stop now, surely.
posted on 14/1/16
comment by Analog (U17200)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Might be in the minority but I much prefer Dembele deeper and Alli further forward
Alli's touch/passing in a deeper role is quite limited in comparison to Dembele. He struggles to keep the ball under pressure, whereas Dembele is key for us in that zone
In the final third however, Alli is the more effective of the two. He can make runs beyond Kane, is a better finisher, and will rack up more goals and assists
For me he is quite similar to Gerrard in some aspects, but remember Gerrard's peak years came as a #10 behind Torres
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You're more likely to be under pressure on the ball in that front four than the midfield two against teams that want to sit back though?
Realistically I think both in the same side take turns to go back and forward anyway though. That is the system we need to use most.
posted on 14/1/16
comment by Son, Son, Son, Here he comes (U8011)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Analog (U17200)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Might be in the minority but I much prefer Dembele deeper and Alli further forward
Alli's touch/passing in a deeper role is quite limited in comparison to Dembele. He struggles to keep the ball under pressure, whereas Dembele is key for us in that zone
In the final third however, Alli is the more effective of the two. He can make runs beyond Kane, is a better finisher, and will rack up more goals and assists
For me he is quite similar to Gerrard in some aspects, but remember Gerrard's peak years came as a #10 behind Torres
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You're more likely to be under pressure on the ball in that front four than the midfield two against teams that want to sit back though?
Realistically I think both in the same side take turns to go back and forward anyway though. That is the system we need to use most.
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Against teams that sit back I suppose it's slightly different, but Alli deep against those types of teams would also be wasteful as it's not like he's got great vision to pick passes
He's more of a clever player with his flicks and combinations in the final third
posted on 14/1/16
See I see his greater strength being the ability to run powerfully with the ball through the centre from deep.
Example of this would be yesterday when he ran through from near the halfway line and forced a good save from Schmeichel. When marked up from a more forward position his threat was easier nullified.
posted on 14/1/16
My preference for us to play 4231 was always based on Eriksen playing in the number 10 role behind Kane. Well he never plays there so we might as well play 433 instead.
Play Alli in a 3 with Dier and Dembele (will never be completely sold on him but credit where it's due). Dier stationed in the DM role, Dembele to be an all-rounder as he offers a bit of everything and Alli would be the one we'd be looking at to break from midfield at times into or towards the box for goalscoring opportunities.
posted on 15/1/16
comment by Ledley's knee surgeon: Football Manager legend... Lionel Messi; he's won it 5 times! (U20121)
posted 13 hours, 35 minutes ago
My preference for us to play 4231 was always based on Eriksen playing in the number 10 role behind Kane. Well he never plays there so we might as well play 433 instead.
Play Alli in a 3 with Dier and Dembele (will never be completely sold on him but credit where it's due). Dier stationed in the DM role, Dembele to be an all-rounder as he offers a bit of everything and Alli would be the one we'd be looking at to break from midfield at times into or towards the box for goalscoring opportunities.
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Playing a 433 requires wing forwards really, or at least one, whereas Eriksen and Lamela prefer to come inside and show for the ball