Dele Alli’s numbers have dropped extremely sharply over the last couple of seasons and as a result of that, he was recently dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England squad (BBC).
And his dip in goal contributions is hard to ignore, going from a combined 27 goals and assists in 2016/17 to just eight in the 2018/19 campaign (Transfermarkt – Premier League stats only).
As the Premier League is set to return this weekend, though, and with Tottenham hosting Watford, it’s the perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to bring up one particular goal that Dele scored against the Hornets, a superb curling effort in a 4-0 home win over this weekend’s opponent at White Hart Lane (BBC).
Delightful @dele_official #THFC #COYS pic.twitter.com/IWwJayheff
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 17, 2019
Watford are one of the sides that Dele Alli loves playing against, as he’s scored five goals in seven games against the Hornets (Transfermarkt) and the only side the 23-year-old has scored against more often is Chelsea, but in order to keep his hot-streak up this weekend Dele will have to improve from recent displays, seeing as he hasn’t scored a goal since January 20th, when he bagged against Fulham.
Need the old Dele back
— Special K (@Spurs_SpecialK) October 17, 2019
Can we have this Dele back, cheers x
— SissoliDembele (@bhujel_prajwal) October 17, 2019
Need this dele back soon
— Charlie Bull (@CBull2001) October 17, 2019
15/16 and 16/17 Dele was unplayable.
— Manny (@Mannythfc) October 17, 2019
He’s got so much ability, need to get him firing again
— Larkin (@larkini) October 17, 2019
Can’t remember the last time he scored from outside the area. Such a good player. Get back to your best Dele
— Leon Watson (@LeonWatson) October 17, 2019
However, as supportive as the fans above have been, willing Dele to find his best form, it seems that not all of the Lilywhites are as patient with the midfield talent. Some fans, as you will see below, have been less positive and are instead focusing on the dip in form we’ve all seen from the Tottenham man.
I remember him. Used to be a decent player.
— Pearcey (@Pearcey___) October 17, 2019
That was the last thing he did for the club… 100million seasons ago
— M C (@mike_craig50) October 17, 2019
He’ll never get back to this level again
— 🙁 (@tanvyewest) October 17, 2019
Who remembers the days when dele took shots at goal #reminiscing
— DeanQUARTERPOUNDER (@SaltBeefYid) October 17, 2019
19/20, Dele is delete
— Gratitude (@imamdwprwnto) October 17, 2019