You can get moments in a football match when everything else goes out the window for just a second. After the tragedies in Paris last Friday night, football needed a magic moment to show that it’s business as usual for the world’s greatest game!

It was fitting that last night’s friendly at Wembley had a moment that showed it can still create some joy even in the darkest of times.

The fact that the whole stadium respected the French national anthem and even the home support tried to belt out ‘La Marseillaise‘ was a great gesture and showed solidarity within the game.

But the goal from England youngster Dele Alli was hugely significant in my opinion. It showed that we carry on and enjoy the game as best we can. Last night was never going to be about the result but we may have glimpsed at a new Three Lions hero!

I’ve been extremely impressed with Alli this season.

I remember watching MK Dons boss Karl Robinson talking about him last year. He was buzzing about this talent and stated he was virtually ready to step up and shine in England’s top flight and break into Roy Hodgson’s England set-up.

Now many a manager in the lower leagues has come out with similar statements to inflate the value of their players, but there was something about Robinson that day that suggested he wasn’t talking bull and he truly meant what he was saying.

From that moment on, I kept and eye out for MK Dons and especially watched out for their teen sensation.

The midfielder looked like a man playing with boys at times in League One. He also seemed very assured and composed when he had the ball. Those are key qualities for any youngster to possess at that early age in their development. At that level he was bullying opposition midfields and was also scoring for fun.

Then it was announced that during the final day of the winter transfer window that Tottenham Hotspur had completed a deal to bring the young lower league star to White Hart Lane. The original deal saw Alli stay with MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season, where he helped them secure promotion to the Championship. He also secured the Football League young player of the year award.

A lot of eyes where on the nineteen year old at the start of this campaign. How long would he have to wait for his chance? Was he ready for the Premier League?

Well he answered those questions straight away. He’s only missed one league game this season and has started in eight of them! In those thirteen games he’s impressed and has managed two goals.

The nineteen year old is full of energy and he likes a tackle. He’s also got a keen eye for breaking up play with vital interceptions and that helps his side build up more attacks.

He was particularly strong against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City, showing he has no time for reputations, its’s all about playing his own game and getting results in a Spurs jersey.

Obviously there is still room for improvement but that will come with age and more top flight experience.

The fact is that Dele is at a perfect club that will help his development and allow him exposure to show off his skills. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has a fine history of giving youth a chance and getting the best out of them.

His strong and bright start for Tottenham this season, didn’t go unnoticed with England boss Hodgson who picked him in his last Euro 2016 qualifiers in October. He obviously did enough to convince the England management team to take him seriously and play him from the start against the French.

He once again repaid the faith shown in his ability. He was the man of the match against Les Bleus and his goal showed him at his best.

Alli won the ball in the engine room with a thunderous tackle. He would get the ball back off Wayne Rooney, before hitting a screamer past his club colleague Hugo Lloris. 

A new international superstar may have just been born last night at Wembley.

Roy Hodgson said this about Alli’s impact after the game:

“It was as close to a faultless performance as you can get,”

Many speculated on who might step up and takeover the dynamic midfield role, that’s been vacant since Steven Gerrard retired from international football after last years World Cup. Not many would have been looking at England’s third tier for the answer.

But Dele Alli has shown that he has all the attributes to stake a claim to make the plane for next summers Euros and I wouldn’t bet against him going to France and bossing a few games and coming back a big star for his country!

Posted on November 18th, 2015 by scott
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