Glenn Hoddle has made it clear that ‘you are never’ going to get the best out of Dele Alli at Tottenham if he is playing in a ‘deeper role’, as he told Premier League Productions.
Alli started Tottenham’s North London derby defeat at the weekend, but he was hauled off during the break.
Very few Spurs players were able to hold their heads up high at the Emirates because it was a shambolic mess throughout.
But it doesn’t help Alli’s cause that he only lasted 45 minutes of a game that was probably one of the worst performances Spurs have produced in recent times.
During his playing days, Hoddle was an absolute magician in between those pockets and a big reason why he is a Tottenham legend.
And he sent this blunt message to the under-fire Nuno Espirito Santo and how he is using Alli’s talents.
“Where Dele Alli played, you are never going to get the best out of Dele Alli playing in a deeper role of a three,” said Hoddle.
“He has got to be in-behind the striker, getting into the box.
“There is real long-term concerns there with Tottenham. The performances, their ability, at the moment, it’s not there.
“There is a lack of movement. There is a lack of willingness to receive the ball. Certainly a lack of running off the ball. A lot of work for Nuno and his staff to do.”
Alli’s fall from grace has been a pretty remarkable one and there aren’t many positive signs that the goalscoring midfielder will return to his best.
He drifted away towards the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign, he was brought back under Jose Mourinho and then left out in the cold again.
And now, it has to be questioned whether he even deserves a place in Tottenham’s XI.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
