Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli has been in quite brilliant form this term.
Paul Merson
Arsenal legend Paul Merson delivered his verdict on Spurs star Dele Alli’s omission from the Player of the Year shortlist, when speaking live on Sky Sports‘ Gillette Soccer Saturday programme at 12:05 on Saturday April 15th, suggesting that he would not have had a chance of winning the award anyway.
The 21-year-old former MK Dons man has been in sensational form for Tottenham this season, scoring 16 goals and chipping in with five assists in 31 Premier League outings, and has been a major driving force behind their rise to second in the table.
But Merson explained why Alli’s omission from the POTY shortlist may have been a blessing in disguise for him, highlighting how he would have struggled to win the award, when speaking to Sky Sports:
“I was surprised but I know how it works so I wasn’t surprised. He should be in the running, of course he should, but it’s very rare that you get in both of them. It’s a bit weird the rules, how they work, in my opinion. It’s probably a shame that he wasn’t in the main one, but if he was in the main one, he wasn’t winning it so he’s better off being in the young one.”
Tottenham’s Dele Alli celebrates
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is the strong favourite to win POTY this season, with some bookmakers listing him as short as 1/10 to win the award.
The Frenchman has been pivotal to the Blues’ successful campaign thus far, and it could be argued that he has been the most consistent performer out of those who have been nominated.
Despite Alli’s omission, at the age of just 21, he will surely have plenty of opportunities ahead of him to win the award that recognises individual brilliance.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli celebrates
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