I just read the article here

[Link]

Everyone knows that for years people have questioned his attitude.

One thing that's occurred to me many times over, is that when people question an 'attitude' they rarely define exactly what that means.

'Bad attitude' is a non-specific criticism aimed at players by people who invariably were incapable of getting anywhere near their standard. Which tells me that the player in question has shown more dedication, desire and commitment than your average punter, sat there with their squidgy belly and snack addiction and promises to 'start running again next week'.

With Delle Ali, I never felt that he was a wrong 'un. I'm not aware of any scandal or disciplinary issues of any note.

I think he just perhaps lost the desire required to be elite.

When you read what he's described, it's no wonder he's struggled.

I get the feeling that back in 2018 when he had the world at his feet, perhaps the undoubted joy and positivity that his success brought merely papered over the cracks of deep-rooted issues.

As adults, we know 6 years isn't that long. But as a teenager, we tend to consider ourselves entirely evolved form the child we were 6 years previously. But that's a myth. If he had issues at 13, they're not magically gone at 19, just because you're playing for Spurs.

Telling the world you're fine is one thing. But telling yourself you're okay - when you're not - is just living a lie that will sabotage personal success.

Unfortunately for him, I think his decline is so stark that there's no real way back from a footballing perspective. But I hope he can sort his head out and find personal happiness as a decent human being.

There is a lot of that about in the culture, but I don't think Alli can be accused of it here.

Firstly, he gave the interview because one of the scummy newspapers found out he was in rehab and was going to run the story anyway, so he couldn't keep it private.

Secondly, if even half of what he says is true (and I've no reason to doubt any of it) then he's been through unbelievable s*** that would ruin most people. This is very different from instances where someone gets caught as (for example) a nonce, and gives an interview in which they bleat about the awful suffering they've been through, but are thankfully now getting the help they need to overcome it,etc and so on.

In fairness, the extent of Alli's career decline has been so sharp that most pundits commenting on it have long made a point of saying 'You just don't know what is happening in someone's life'.

It's almost not a surprise in that respect.

I agree.

These stories come out when things are not going well for these people yet in the good years nothing.

He is lazy it's that simple it's clear to see on the Spurs series he thinks hes too good to train and doesn't need to which Spurs sort of allowed but he doesn't perform 80% of the time on the pitch.

This is nothing to do with his past because if he was like this since child hood he never would have made it to the top level of the game doesn't matter how much talent you have.

(VPN) - [Link]
(Alt VPN) - [Link]

Billy Connolly had a very tough childhood. And it seems to have made him very likeable.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

I make you right mate, it’s hard to have any sympathy for him,as you say thousands up and down the country go through hell who haven’t got his talent and money.

Edited by monkey (15 Jul 2023 10.07am)

Made in Bromley

He was in rehab and the press were hounding his team mates, so he had to explain why he was in rehab. I don't think he's playing a media game, he came across extremely well, and I expect him to come roaring back under Dyche. I understand people getting fed up with all this public hanging out of dirty linen, but I don't think he's just trying to excuse his bad form - he's a young fella and we can't always tell when emotional trauma resurfaces, I'd be much more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.