Player Focus: Alli Primed to Make International Step Up
The danger of any teenager coming through the ranks at a major football club is the hype placed upon his tender shoulders. Fans often demand to see their team place faith in youth, even when weighing up the risks in the hope of unearthing the next superstar. However, too much top-level game time when younger can affect a player in the latter stages of their career. Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are two prime examples. Teenagers breaking onto the scene must be handled with care if they are to realise their potential, of that there is no doubt.
Two of those attracting the most interest in the Premier League are Anthony Martial and Dele Alli. The former became the most expensive teenager in football history back in September when he signed for Manchester United. His form may have tailed off of late, with Louis van Gaal deploying the Frenchman in a wider role to accommodate Rooney in attack, but his blistering start to life at Old Trafford rightly drew the plaudits.
In recent weeks, though, the attention has switched to Alli. Given Martial’s fine early-United performances, the focus was not on the Tottenham midfielder, who quietly went about his business earlier in the season, capitalising on injuries to Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason and Mousa Dembélé to forge a strong midfield partnership with Eric Dier. Since establishing himself in the first team, Alli can rightly be considered undroppable at White Hart Lane for the time being.
A commendable outing in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday won him further adulation from his peers, with Mauricio Pochettino lavishing praise on the 19-year-old. “From the beginning of the season he started to show he is a very good player. Very young, but very mature,” the Argentine manager enthused of Alli with a glint in his eye. Pochettino has regularly spoken highly of the midfielder, but the teenager appears to be one the Spurs manager generally enjoys working with and the player and club are seeing the benefits.
Alli’s WhoScored rating this season (7.13) is bettered only by Martial (7.51) of teenagers in the Premier League. The former’s figure ranks sixth in Europe’s top five leagues of those to make five league appearances from the same age range. While it’s easy to hype up a youngster in the early stages of his development, Alli appears to very much be the real deal. Pochettino spoke of his maturity, which is evident in a player so young. That he was playing his trade in the third tier of English football less than 12 months ago highlights his impressive rise up the football ladder, though it’s how he has taken everything in his stride in such a short space of time that denotes his mental strength.
It’s the mental side of Alli’s game that stands him in such high esteem at Spurs. Of all English players to register at least 100 minutes of Premier League action this season, only Jack Cork (every 21.8 minutes) is making an interception more frequently than Alli (27.3 minutes), reinforcing his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘ball interception’. His reading of the game is one of his stand out traits and has contributed towards his total of 59 tackles and interceptions combined in the Premier League this season. Only three English players - two of whom are Spurs teammates (Kyle Walker with 72 and Eric Dier with 60) - can better that return.
The defensive solidity he provides helps shield a Spurs defence that has shipped just 10 league goals this season - only Manchester City, Arsenal (both 9) and Manchester United (8) have conceded fewer. However, it’s the energy he brings to this current Spurs side that has swiftly endeared him to supporters. Pochettino is building a young and hungry squad capable of challenging well within their means while a new stadium is built and players such as Alli are crucial to the Argentine’s high-pressing system coming to fruition.
Spurs are currently on the longest unbeaten run (11 games) in the Premier League and sit just five points off top spot. The North London side are averaging more tackles (23.9) and fouls per game (14.3) than any other team in England’s top tier this term. The commitment to the cause is clear for all to see, with Pochettino’s side harassing the opposition at any given opportunity. Alli is perhaps the perfect example of a player buying into the manager’s philosophy having won possession in the midfield third more times (36) than any other Spurs player in the Premier League this season.
He gained international recognition for his fine form last month, making his debut against Estonia, and has again been included in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the upcoming friendly meetings with Spain and France. His performances against Manchester City and Arsenal further accentuated his immense talent and potential, but importantly signalled how he’s capable of holding his own against the better midfields in the league.
The 2010 World Cup winners and Euro 2016 hosts will provide the perfect test for Alli, should Hodgson indeed utilise the teenage midfielder in the coming days. Spurs’ middle man has proven, though, that he is capable of mixing it with the Premier League’s finest and now he has the chance to do so against the best in the world. If Alli can transfer his club form onto the international stage, then he certainly won’t look out of place against Spain and France.
Does Dele Alli deserve his place in the England squad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
