I still can’t believe that Tottenham sold ‘freak’ talent who would’ve been perfect for Thomas Frank
Tottenham had a superstar on their hands, and the sky would’ve been the limit under Thomas Frank.
Tottenham sacked Ange Postecoglou and appointed the Dane in his place, who has had an exceptional start to the season.
While Frank is overcoming personal records at Spurs, he is also in the process of taking the Lilywhites to new heights.
And it may be insane to say, given the context, but Tottenham really did let go of a player who would’ve given them a greater chance of success.
A superstar is born at Tottenham
I believe Dele Alli is one of Tottenham’s worst-ever signings, not because of all that he was, but all that he failed to be.
The Lilywhites signed Alli in February 2016 from MK Dons for a reported £5million fee before he was loaned back out for the remainder of the season.
Upon his return, he was sensational. I struggle to remember a Spurs midfielder in the club’s recent history with the levels of output Alli had.
- Alli recorded 126 goal contributions for Spurs
- His highest goalscoring season was 2016/17, where he scored 22 in all competitions
He was a phenomenon only comparable to the likes of Frank Lampard. The Lilywhites knew he could go far, and so did everyone who watched him.
In quotes from Goal in May 2017, former Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton said: “I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy, but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent.”
Sandwiched between Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, the world was meant to be his oyster.
But on 31 January 2022, Alli signed for Everton in a move which labelled him as one of the most notable failed generational stars of all time.
The clash of egos which cemented Dele Alli’s fall
Things started to go very wrong for Alli in 2019 due to a combination of injuries, environmental changes and poor man management.
However, the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in that same year and the appointment of Jose Mourinho accelerated his fall.
That interaction between Mourinho and Alli from ‘All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur’ has been etched into my mind since the moment the documentary aired.
The former Spurs coach told him he believed he’d regret his approach in the years to come. It was meant to be the wake-up call the midfielder needed, but it ended up being anything but.
Antonio Conte arrived in November 2021. Another no-nonsense manager that one would expect would be able to get through to Alli. But again, it was anything but.
Conte and Mourinho have managed egos, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Romelu Lukaku. But their relationship with Alli was like oil and water.
What Alli needed was a firm but gentle hand, not the tough love act from both managers. Therefore, instead of motivating him, Alli went on the defensive in what turned out to be a battle among three egos desperate to be heard.
Why Thomas Frank is the perfect manager for Dele Alli
Don’t get me wrong, the Dane knows how to handle egos, having managed the likes of Ivan Toney while at Brentford. But he’s a manager known for humanising his players.
Frank would’ve been the manager to bridge that gap, offering a hand strong enough for players to respect him as much as a Mourinho, but a calmness notable enough for players to love him as much as a Carlo Ancelotti.
And it’s not like this Tottenham side would turn their nose up at the prospect of prime Alli.
Frank’s Spurs are a team that knows how to defend, having conceded 0.7 goals per game according to Sofascore. But this is also a team that could do with a boost in attack.
| Premier League | Statistic |
| Goals | 1.9 per 90 |
| Big chances | 1.4 per 90 |
| Total shots | 11 per 90 |
| Counter attacks | 6 per 90 |
| Ball possession | 55.6% |
| Successful dribbles | 10.6% |
| Accurate crosses | 21.5% |
In seven games, the Lilywhites have netted 13 goals, which averages to 1.9 goals per game. However, the onus has been on Mohammed Kudus to spearhead Tottenham’s attacks.
Kudus has registered 1.9 key passes in the league, while Spurs create 1.4 big chances per game. This is a team that is struggling to create consistently, with two of their best passers sidelined.
For me, this is a classic case of both parties needing each other as much as the other. Frank is that strong but loving manager Alli needs to guide him, and the midfielder is that midfield maestro Spurs craves.
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