There are a few thoughts that come to mind with Dele from the past week.
Last season we saw Dele get sent off for a rash challenge against Gent, he was targeted by Juve and while he got a yellow, he didn't do anything stupid in the face of a great deal of provocation.
Also, in the hardest league in the world, a beautifully weighted final ball is not easy and just last week against Huddersfield there was a sumptuous final ball for Sonny to run on to which opened the scoring from Dele. I love the artistry of a good flick or nutmeg but the ability to create a defence splitting pass is something you can't take for granted this season.
Has he gone downhill? I don't think so, he's now a more 'known' element and so when you're playing Spurs you're going to have a better idea how to contain him and the threat he poses. That is a natural consequence and he will need to find ways to show he can still create chances and get in dangerous areas, I think he already is doing this to some extent too.
He's also getting more negative press and he won't win a penalty this season, even when blatantly fouled, I give you the foul at home to Manchester United where Dele was absolutely taken out and if it had been any other Spurs player the penalty would have been given. Not all of that press is wrong, he does go down too easy, I don't want to excuse that but also having seen Zaha or the worst offender Dwight Gayle, he's far from the only one doing it but it is a label he's going to need to shake.
This is what I don't get:
You say he hasn't gone down hill, then reel off three or four reasons for him not playing as well as last year. Which one is it?
You say he's become a known element.....isn't that a nice way of saying he's getting found out this season?
When I suggested he was running that risk early in the season people didn't like it, yet it's very much the case.
If teams know how to nullify him, and he doesn't evolve, he has been found out. Or become known....potatoe potaaaato.
For me that's not an excuse, Kane evolved when teams found him out. He evolves every time he plays.
Regarding Dele we are talking about a player who just 12 months ago was being linked with Real Madrid and people talking about 200M wouldn't get him.
Is it so outrageous to suggest he should also be able to develope his game.
Look at Davies.....improved from a liability at Anfield last year, to a player who nullified the likes of Isco and Ronaldo while beating Real Madrid. And what does he get for that? Labelled "bang average" because we didn't beat Juventus.
Football isn't rocket science. If you aren't getting better you are treading water, and if you are doing worse than last year then you going backwards.
People can list off every reason under the sun for Dele not playing as well as he can.
But the only thing that counts is the fact he isn't playing as well as he can.
Which begs the question, why is Moura sitting on our bench.