Will Alli be the next Kane?
Some people mature quicker than others, it's a fact of life, it's the same in football, some players mature quicker than others.
If you have a player mature beyond his years then he can play at a higher level, as was the case when Nabil Bentaleb was introduced to the Tottenham first team at the tender age of 19. He simply looked at home, as if he belonged in the Premier League and impressed the days expert analyst Gary Neville.
Last season Harry Kane took his chance and banging in goal after goal to force his way into the Premier League side. For both, there is a fierce will, a motivation to succeed and improve. That is exactly the attitude we need in every player at White Hart Lane.
Pre-season fixtures give the youngsters the chance to play on a big stage in front of big crowds and Pochettino has tended to finish games with a very youthful side who have the responsibility of maintaining Spurs lead and ensuring the side win the games. That policy worked in Malaysia and Sydney, we may see it again against the MLS All-Stars if Tottenham are in that position again.
One youngster for whom it will be an important game is 19-year-old (20 in April) Dele Alli who joined us from MK Dons after playing a starring role in their League Cup hammering of Manchester United. Pochettino was there watching that night and it is reported he came away from that game and told the recruitment team to get hold of Alli at all costs, he was that impressed. When Spurs signed him Pochettino said he had the potential 'to play in the Premier League right now'.
Reports coming out of training is that where DeAndre Yedlin hasn't impressed technically, Dele Alli is impressing everyone. The MLS game, where he'll undoubtedly figure at some stage is the next step in what could be a stellar year for him. Apparently he is another mature beyond his years and this could well be a breakthrough year for him. He could well leap ahead of players like Tom Carroll, who Aston Villa want.
He has the same determination to get to the top as Bentaleb and Kane it seems, he has already stated he is aiming to play for England, the next step for him is the U-20's and U-21's for his country.
Alli is 1.88m (6ft 2in), has skill, technique, balance, vision and an eye for goal. Scoring 16 goals and having 9 assists from midfield in 39 League One games helped MK Dons finish second. He was rewarded by being voted Football League Young Player of the Year. He has a bit of pace about him and is accomplished with the ball at his feet so can dribble as well. He seems to have that all-important commodity, a football brain.
He is excellent going forward, it's the defensive side of his game he needs to work on, tackling and shielding the centre-backs. We play a 4-2-3-1 system with one of the defensive midfielders charged with more defensive duties (Bentaleb) and one with more attacking duties (Mason). Alli fits the mason role. Both have to defend, but one gets forward more than the other.
mason himself was playing League One before he broke into the first team and caught the eye on the US and Canada pre-season tour. Alli will be hoping for a similar outcome with less game time. If his defensive play is improved we could see him more regularly than some are expecting, it would not surprise me if by the end of the season he is an integral part of the squad.
Further Tottenham Reading
Spurs need to solve their motivation problem
The 'jealous of Chelsea' minority
You can help support THBN by buying your sporting goods through the following links.
If you need football boots for the new season try the SALE NOW ON at Lovell Soccer
If you need a new Tottenham shirt or sportswear try Kitbag Ltd
If you want an authentic autographed shirt or memorabilia try Icons
If you have a player mature beyond his years then he can play at a higher level, as was the case when Nabil Bentaleb was introduced to the Tottenham first team at the tender age of 19. He simply looked at home, as if he belonged in the Premier League and impressed the days expert analyst Gary Neville.
Last season Harry Kane took his chance and banging in goal after goal to force his way into the Premier League side. For both, there is a fierce will, a motivation to succeed and improve. That is exactly the attitude we need in every player at White Hart Lane.
Pre-season fixtures give the youngsters the chance to play on a big stage in front of big crowds and Pochettino has tended to finish games with a very youthful side who have the responsibility of maintaining Spurs lead and ensuring the side win the games. That policy worked in Malaysia and Sydney, we may see it again against the MLS All-Stars if Tottenham are in that position again.
One youngster for whom it will be an important game is 19-year-old (20 in April) Dele Alli who joined us from MK Dons after playing a starring role in their League Cup hammering of Manchester United. Pochettino was there watching that night and it is reported he came away from that game and told the recruitment team to get hold of Alli at all costs, he was that impressed. When Spurs signed him Pochettino said he had the potential 'to play in the Premier League right now'.
Reports coming out of training is that where DeAndre Yedlin hasn't impressed technically, Dele Alli is impressing everyone. The MLS game, where he'll undoubtedly figure at some stage is the next step in what could be a stellar year for him. Apparently he is another mature beyond his years and this could well be a breakthrough year for him. He could well leap ahead of players like Tom Carroll, who Aston Villa want.
He has the same determination to get to the top as Bentaleb and Kane it seems, he has already stated he is aiming to play for England, the next step for him is the U-20's and U-21's for his country.
Alli is 1.88m (6ft 2in), has skill, technique, balance, vision and an eye for goal. Scoring 16 goals and having 9 assists from midfield in 39 League One games helped MK Dons finish second. He was rewarded by being voted Football League Young Player of the Year. He has a bit of pace about him and is accomplished with the ball at his feet so can dribble as well. He seems to have that all-important commodity, a football brain.
He is excellent going forward, it's the defensive side of his game he needs to work on, tackling and shielding the centre-backs. We play a 4-2-3-1 system with one of the defensive midfielders charged with more defensive duties (Bentaleb) and one with more attacking duties (Mason). Alli fits the mason role. Both have to defend, but one gets forward more than the other.
mason himself was playing League One before he broke into the first team and caught the eye on the US and Canada pre-season tour. Alli will be hoping for a similar outcome with less game time. If his defensive play is improved we could see him more regularly than some are expecting, it would not surprise me if by the end of the season he is an integral part of the squad.
Further Tottenham Reading
Spurs need to solve their motivation problem
The 'jealous of Chelsea' minority
You can help support THBN by buying your sporting goods through the following links.
If you need football boots for the new season try the SALE NOW ON at Lovell Soccer
If you need a new Tottenham shirt or sportswear try Kitbag Ltd
If you want an authentic autographed shirt or memorabilia try Icons
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