Dele

[CEB]

The latest episode of The Overlap is genuinely harrowing. Good luck to Dele getting his career/life back on track. He’s had a rough old time of it, it’s not at all surprising how things have gone for him

[Proposition Joe]

Sh!t. Always suspected there must have been something more to his prolonged drop off in form than "laziness/overpaid footballer-itis" etc. He was such a lovely, lovely footballer in that 2016ish Spurs side. As you say, first up hope he can get himself sorted and, if possible, his career too. Would love to see him doing well again.

[Omygawd]

Ability and skill wise he is up there with the greats. Always reminded me of Martin Peters in the way he was playing when at the top of his game. I hope Dyche can get the best out of him again as he really should have been an England regular for years. Don’t suppose there is any hope that the b@@yards who destroyed his early childhood will be held to account.

[Give it to Jabo]

Some welcome humility from him; there ARE more important things than football. Hope he gets his career back on track.

[Proposition Joe]

Some welcome humility

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but all things considered that seems like some really unnecessary shade and proves his point about inaccurate perceptions of him, fuelled by the tabloids.

[Give it to Jabo]

Some welcome humility

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but all things considered that seems like some really unnecessary shade and proves his point about inaccurate perceptions of him, fuelled by the tabloids.

He always appeared to strut around in an arrogant manner, I did say that I hope he gets his career back on track….

I rarely read the tabloids.

[CEB]

Yes, I noticed that about him too. The other footballers would all tut disapprovingly as he strutted around arrogantly. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo being quoted when asked if he’d like to see Dele at Real Madrid:

“Ooooh I’m not sure about that to be honest, walks around like the big I am, he does - and do you know what, I was talking to a lad from Tottenham, and he said that when the rest of the spurs squad were all on the bus to training, he sped past them in a CAR! And not a cheap one either! To be quite honest, I’m not sure there’s room for egos like that here

[Give it to Jabo]

Yes, I noticed that about him too. The other footballers would all tut disapprovingly as he strutted around arrogantly. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo being quoted when asked if he’d like to see Dele at Real Madrid:

“Ooooh I’m not sure about that to be honest, walks around like the big I am, he does - and do you know what, I was talking to a lad from Tottenham, and he said that when the rest of the spurs squad were all on the bus to training, he sped past them in a CAR! And not a cheap one either! To be quite honest, I’m not sure there’s room for egos like that here

There are relaxation techniques available…

[Chief crazy horse]

He'll never recapture the highs of yesteryear.

[LittleMate]

I watched the overlap interview last night. I hope he makes it out of his troubles and shows everyone the kind of football that made the likes of Real Madrid consider him. He's had a lot go on in his life, that led to subsequent behavoural issues. They talk about his sleeping pill addiction but only allude to his other lifestyle issues. They were mentioned as part of a couple of one liners about alcahol and other things (presumably drugs); an open house type policy similar to his childhood.

The Overlap was only being done - and Dele admitted himself that this was being aired in public earlier than he'd like - because he was about to be outed by the tabloid press. I was left hoping for his sake that it was all behind him and he could be on the TV for footballing reasons. Get him anywhere near right and Everton got themselves a player this season.

[The Mindsweep]

Hope he is now in a better place and can find happiness.

That interview will help others

[Proposition Joe]

All things being equal, it's probably good that he's done the interview and this is being talked about but yet another example of our tabloid press being absolute scum.

[CEB]

Hate to say it, but based on the (admittedly edited) documentaries, it seems that Arsenal had the infrastructure to actually support young players to navigate through the game and the instant fame & money. It seems that Spurs just had no continuity and no genuine support structures for players struggling to adjust.

When you think of the money involved, it’s bizarre that a club like spurs hasn’t got a team behind the scenes that are actively looking into player welfare. The fact that Dele has had to come out about sexual abuse, neglect and being groomed into criminality in an interview on sky, and not in, say, counselling/therapy/wellbeing sessions with Spurs when he was there, is totally bizarre.

I mean, genuine question - why isn’t a weekly mental health check in/counselling session a routine part of a footballer’s week in 2023?

[LittleMate]

Not got the answers for you CEB but in his interview Alli says he hid this realy well from everyone. Kept a mask up and ignored sage advice from a number of Spurs players (Dier & Kane were mentioned) who could see his lifestyle was not in keeping with a professional footballer. If someone won't let you in, you can;t address the issues even if you think they are there. Agents are also far from perfact in this. They protect their cash cows with fierce protectionism. The Overlap only got done when it did so the player and his advisers could try to control the message.

[oxo]

Hate to say it, but based on the (admittedly edited) documentaries, it seems that Arsenal had the infrastructure to actually support young players to navigate through the game and the instant fame & money. It seems that Spurs just had no continuity and no genuine support structures for players struggling to adjust.

When you think of the money involved, it’s bizarre that a club like spurs hasn’t got a team behind the scenes that are actively looking into player welfare. The fact that Dele has had to come out about sexual abuse, neglect and being groomed into criminality in an interview on sky, and not in, say, counselling/therapy/wellbeing sessions with Spurs when he was there, is totally bizarre.

I mean, genuine question - why isn’t a weekly mental health check in/counselling session a routine part of a footballer’s week in 2023?

I agree with you that it sounds like Spurs neglected to properly look after their young players.

I do think it's worth noting, though, that people often can't effectively engage with counselling/therapy etc until they're ready to confront whatever it is they're struggling with. I think he's pretty much said the same about this. But yeah, I guess if he'd been better looked after, that moment might have come sooner.

I'm really glad to hear he's getting help now, and I admire him for talking about this publicly.

[Admin]

He'll never recapture the highs of yesteryear.

True. Although "You are the OFF" was always going to be hard to follow.

[greyhound]

nobody wants him.

[Chief crazy horse]

He'll never recapture the highs of yesteryear.

True. Although "You are the OFF" was always going to be hard to follow.

Absolutely.

[Currywurst and Chips]

Played this weekend for the first time in over two years

Cam on as an 81st minute sub then got a straight red within 10 minutes

[Proposition Joe]

Amazing. Good to see him playing again though.

[DuvB]

Played this weekend for the first time in over two years

Cam on as an 81st minute sub then got a straight red within 10 minutes

Disgraceful challenge

[Proposition Joe]

Never a red.