Jamie O’Hara urges critics to leave Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli alone

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Dele Alli’s poor form for Tottenham Hotspur has resulted in him losing his place in the England squad, but can he win it back for the European Championships next summer?

Sky Sports pundit Jamie O’Hara has urged critics to leave Dele Alli alone as he felt that the Tottenham player performed well at Anfield over the weekend.

O’Hara stated that Alli needs time to get back on track and he needs the limelight taken off him in order for him to prove his worth to the world once again.

Alli started Tottenham’s defeat at Anfield on Sunday, as he, Christian Eriksen, Serge Aurier and Danny Rose were the players mostly criticised.

Speaking to The Debate on Sky Sports PL (28/10/19 at 10:55 pm), former Spurs midfielder, O’Hara feels that the stick Alli has been getting has been ‘harsh’.

“I don’t think it’s a lack of work rate,” O’Hara told Sky Sports. “There has been questions marks over his desire. I think that’s there. I thought he actually played quite well. He dropped into midfield and that’s when he dropped out of the game.

“The biggest thing Poch said for me there is ‘he’s a kid’. He’s 23-years-old. It’s very easy for everyone here to build him up and knock him down. He’s getting a pounding right now. I just think, leave the kid alone, let him get back to full fitness and playing without the limelight on him.

“Everyone questioning him on the field and off the field. Everything about his game is under scrutiny right now. Let him find his form and feet again. I think it’s been a little bit harsh. I have criticised him. We either keep hammering him and he falls away or we put our arm around him and build him up because he can still be a big player for England.”

Alli burst onto the scene as a teenager when Spurs secured the services of the goalscoring midfielder from League One side MK Dons.

When Alli arrived at Tottenham, it didn’t take him too long to showcase what he was about and with it earn an England call.

Before he knew it, he was banging in goals for fun, including an incredible strike against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. But since last season, his form has dipped and the critics have been going at him ever since.