Dele

[Escalator]

He's got that Gazza and Ginola vibe to him... Great once but coming to us too late. Hope not, but how unfit was he?

Am sure Dyche will get him to his (Dyche) level of physical fitness before we make any commitment to him question would be if he is sufficiently motivated to give a 100% effort on the pitch.

[brap2]

I CBA getting annoyed about it. Squads bare bones, I think there's probably more useful (will be fit, in a position we need) free agents out there but it is what it is.

If he comes in then I wish him the best and I hope he can contribute. Would be an all time great comeback story if he could.

I'm quite surprised at Dyche's loyalty to him considering how unavailable Dele has been during his time here and the fact that it is so long since he played any meaningful football, even longer since he was any good at it.

Maybe it's a bit of a risk free(ish) ego play, can I be the man who gets him back on track?

My bar is quite low for how good you have to be to play in midfield for Everton so if he can get fit enough to run about he might just make it.

[AjaxAndy]

I CBA getting annoyed about it. Squads bare bones, I think there's probably more useful (will be fit, in a position we need) free agents out there but it is what it is.

If he comes in then I wish him the best and I hope he can contribute. Would be an all time great comeback story if he could.

I'm quite surprised at Dyche's loyalty to him considering how unavailable Dele has been during his time here and the fact that it is so long since he played any meaningful football, even longer since he was any good at it.

Maybe it's a bit of a risk free(ish) ego play, can I be the man who gets him back on track?

My bar is quite low for how good you have to be to play in midfield for Everton so if he can get fit enough to run about he might just make it.

I don't think it's an ego thing, Dele used to be an absolute baller.

He'll never get back to that level, but he's still an exceptionally talented guy if someone can get him fit and mentally ok.

I forget the player, but I saw a recent head to head of Dele at age 23 I think it was and some current player everyone would agree is incredible, and Dele had better stats by a decent amount... We all forget just how good he was because of what's gone on in the last few years.

It's no risk, we took all the risk and got no reward already. Now there's only potential upsides and id imagine if we are persevering there's signs and hope that there's something there.

May well never set foot on our pitch or any pitch again, but if he does it'll be because we nurtured him back to physical and mental health, and that would be a pretty awesome thing.

[AjaxAndy]

This was it:

Young Dele Alli vs Jude Bellingham...

Bellingham (21) in 155 games at 21:

30 goals
30 assists

Dele Alli (28) in 146 games at the age of 21:

46 goals
41 assists

This just shows how special Dele really was as a player.

Obviously it's a skewed stat because Dele played as a more attacking player and some of this goals and assists I imagine we're for MK Dons. So maybe ignore the comparison and just reflect on how good a player he was.

If that's still in him even at 60% of his former abilities it's a player we couldn't afford to sign, but potentially could have if we could rehabilitate him.

[Silas]

Im not seeing anything in this but I'm not angry about it or anything. Just don't feel it's going to work out

[MayorFarnham]

Taken in isolation you can make a case for giving him another chance. However, we have very limited funds and have a horrendous record in the transfer market for most of the PL era. It just gives me no confidence that the people currently in charge of recruitment have any sort of a strategy.

[Toddacelli]

Brilliant bit of business. Just took a few years and a faked personal breakdown to get him free of Daniel Levy’s clutches. Masterclass in how to avoid painful add-ons and unrealistic wage expectations!

[brap2]

Them wasting time on this shite actually does annoy me the more I think of it tbh

[Escalator]

Does anyone think he will ever play in an Everton shirt again ? I’m not so sure, he’s not really mentioned in the injury updates anymore, just forgotten.

[777Kidnappings]

I dont think he'll play again. Think theres more to it than him just being injured. What is it now about 18 months and never has it been suggested it would be long term.

[AjaxAndy]

Probably not but never say never. I think the main thing is that if he does then you'd imagine it's because he's found real fitness and some love of the game again.

It's good we aren't just chucking him in and hoping for the best, he's not costing us anything and it seems like we're taking good care of his well being.

If that ever comes to anything it'll be a bonus, but it's highly unlikely it ever will.

[4evablu]

Anyone know if he’s playing any games U-21/23 just to get him kicking a ball again ?
Wont be doing his mentality any good just exercising and training in a gym…

[Bluebridge]

Anyone know if he’s playing any games U-21/23 just to get him kicking a ball again ?
Wont be doing his mentality any good just exercising and training in a gym…

He can’t unless we sign him, can we?

[74Blue]

He can’t unless we sign him, can we?

Not sure tbh. Wonder if we could register him as A. Trialist

[TheRam]

Isn’t there a window for when you can sign free agents?

I think he’s done. I had hope thinking he could get a pre season but it’s October now and still no sign of him.

He was supposed to get some games behind doors wasn’t he? They’ve not materialised.

I feel for him having to go through what he’s been through.