Dele Ali!

[Upton_Blade]

Anyone who saw him when he was in his prime can't dispute he's an absolutely class player but if he was anywhere near that level still then we wouldn't be talking about him as 1) A Free Agent and 2) An option for a Championship club.

The other issue is he's basically a No10. We're already playing O'Hare there and he probably isn't the best player on our books for that position so why would we take a (probably expensive) punt on Deli?

 

[Blade56]

Retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be

Been beating that drum for years, nobody listens………………….until

 

[Blade56]

Let’s just clarify, this isn’t even an SUFC rumour, nothing linking him to us, not even Jimmy Rubbles patron right?





It’s happening

 

[BrisBlade]

He would be the best player in the division if he rediscovers his love of the game and his form. It's a big IF though and we've been here before. It's not a position where we struggle for quality, so only worth it if he's going to be a positive presence in the dressing room. And he would have to be up for a fight for game time with Souza, Hamer, Blaster, and O'Hare.

I'm surprised Leeds aren't looking given their interest in Hamer.

 

[Aston max]

Been beating that drum for years, nobody listens………………….until

It's the boredom !! There's only so much gardening, decorating etc you can do
Get phonecalls every couple of weeks with job offers but my doctor and wife won't let me work

 

[Blade56]

It's the boredom !! There's only so much gardening, decorating etc you can do
Get phonecalls every couple of weeks with job offers but my doctor and wife won't let me work

I took up a great new hobby, climbing my collection of ladders, not going to good

 

[brownblade]

Where's this rumour then?!

In the previous Dele thread I was all for him joining. He's had another year injured since, sadly.

But if he's actually injury free, he could actually be a great effective striker for us. "NEVER BEEN A STRIKER" I hear you say. Wrong, he did play some games up top with Spurs and he had all the attributes for it. Might also help his fitness not to be in the midfield bustle.

Just thread fodder as presumably he's not actually linked with us.

 

[Aston max]

I took up a great new hobby, climbing my collection of ladders, not going to good

It's the high blood pressure and heart problems it causes dizziness

 

[Blade56]

It's the high blood pressure and heart problems it causes dizziness

Actually, it’s wasn’t the falling off the ladder, it was the landing

 

[Antarctic Monkey]

I fell off a 50 foot ladder yesterday...

I was only on the first rung though!

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

It's the boredom !! There's only so much gardening, decorating etc you can do
Get phonecalls every couple of weeks with job offers but my doctor and wife won't let me work

You sound like Jack Rodwell.

 

[Bladey_blade]

For the 160 millionth time on this forum, there is no such thing as pay as you play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So if we offer him £300 a week and a £5k appearance fee, what is that then?

 

[jono_t2000]

So if we offer him £300 a week and a £5k appearance fee, what is that then?

Err a weekly salary regardless of playing

 

[mattbianco1]

He's a free agent. Everton and Lille are apparently interested

Everton just released him ?!?

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Blade56 Ruining good threads again with shite

 

[Blade56]

Blade56 Ruining good threads again with shite

Trust me, signing Ali at this stage of his career would be:
1. Less interesting than falling off a ladder
2. More painful than falling off said ladder

 

[Blade56]

It's the boredom !! There's only so much gardening, decorating etc you can do
Get phonecalls every couple of weeks with job offers but my doctor and wife won't let me work

Take up golf

 

[Aston max]

Take up golf

I played rugby and football to a good level
Cricket ( only village) squash good level, tennis so my eye to hand coordination is really good
But give me a golf ball and club and I'm fucked!! Can't hit the damn thing

Anyway my dad always said golf spoilt a good walk

 

[Blades1971]

I hope not. Too much baggage.

 

[Shadota]

He's said publicly that he's been addressing issues off-the-field. If he's managed to resolve those, and is still even half the player he was in his early days at Spurs, I'd sign him tomorrow.

Move O'Hare to LW, Dele comes in as CAM, and then Hamer can join Blaster and Souza in a rotation for the 2 deeper positions. Simples.

 

[Blade56]

I played rugby and football to a good level
Cricket ( only village) squash good level, tennis so my eye to hand coordination is really good
But give me a golf ball and club and I'm fucked!! Can't hit the damn thing

Anyway my dad always said golf spoilt a good walk

I was same when I took it up just after second lockdown. Exercise is easy but keeps you fitter than you realise, just the thing for the stress levels and blood pressure.

Only regret is I didn’t try it years earlier

 

[Davalon]

A sad story all told but my assumption would be that if he has conquered his demons, more attractive propositions will be put to him than us (not that I believe we'd be interested anyway in the Champ).

 

[Aston max]

I was same when I took it up just after second lockdown. Exercise is easy but keeps you fitter than you realise, just the thing for the stress levels and blood pressure.

Only regret is I didn’t try it years earlier

On holiday soon, I need to organise myself for more exercise, I'd go swimming but our local pool is full of over 70,s ladies (so no eye candy whilst I stroke my lengths)

 

[Eskimo]

Good question earlier. Which notable footballers have successfully conquered their demons and returned to a really good level after problems with drink, drugs or severe mental illness. There must be some good examples. I can only think of those who have fallen away

 

[Massive Attackers]

Good question earlier. Which notable footballers have successfully conquered their demons and returned to a really good level after problems with drink, drugs or severe mental illness. There must be some good examples. I can only think of those who have fallen away

Tony Adams?

 

[Sithblade]

Everton just released him ?!?

I think Everton had to pay Spurs about 10 million if he'd played a extra 10 or 20 so extra games. Presumably by releasing him when that contract expired they would no longer have to pay it by signing him as a free agent.

 

[Sid1978]

Good question earlier. Which notable footballers have successfully conquered their demons and returned to a really good level after problems with drink, drugs or severe mental illness. There must be some good examples. I can only think of those who have fallen away

Paul Merson.

 

[Bladezz]

We had no money when we desperately needed to loan a left winger and striker.

I don’t see where we would have found some money from?

 

[Champagneblade]

We have Tom Davies who we are carefully nurturing to fitness, we have RND gingerly coming back from a long lay off and we have Rhian Brewster’s spaghetti hamstrings to look after.

No need for a “hold my beer” type signing to eclipse those current bits of careful ongoing maintenance.

Signings like this are Hail Mary, into the dying seconds throws. Had we lost Gus and Vini with no chance of replacing then this would be the type of punt we’d be forced into.

Fortunately for us we did not end up in that situation.

He hasn’t done anything at Everton or in Turkey.

 

[The Fox]

I have some sympathy with his struggles and hope he can find somewhere to enjoy his football, just not with us.
However hes been on £100k a week ,and has earned around £50m in career salaries and probably still want to be in the similar earning bracket

If he really wants to find his mojo ,enjoy the career he has left ,and rehabilitate his football life then just go and play for a club that wants you ,accept thier salary structure and be grateful a club wants to give you a job you love. .