This lad was good at getting on the end of a long ball, finding space in the box, could show a good first touch and finish difficult chances - but would also miss plenty of sitters. They were his qualities and I believe Conte asked him to show that tonight, not playing CM like Nuno had him.
We no longer have Alderweireld's long balls, nor an Eriksen picking him out unmarked in a busy 18 yard box. He doesn't find a yard to take on a long shot anymore which is likely related to very low confidence.
Because he plays CAM I think people expect him to create, but I never saw that as his core game. His quality was(is?) his finishing which is massively dependent on positioning, chances provided and confidence.
Tonight he was up against that blond lad wearing #21 (had to Google him of course, Zan Karnicnik, 27, 4 caps for Slovenia) who must have had the game of his life. He set the tone in the 2nd minute beating Dele to a ball he had no right to really, seeing it out comfortably for a goal kick. He went on to win everything it felt like especially against Dele, and got Sessegnon his first yellow.
Dele did put himself around tonight, found himself arriving late in the box, finding a bit of space, threaded a couple of balls, but too often seemed to be trying to run in behind the back line leaving his area of the field completely vacant. I don't think his team mates trust him like they used to and often seem to avoid passing to him - arguably with good reason.
He did show his other trademark a few times though, which are his petulant complaints to his team mates - often aided by throwing his arms out (see below - the guy on the penalty spot)
There's no doubt he has fallen off a cliff in terms of his level, but I don't think he was as terrible as some suggest tonight. He certainly didn't have a good game with his most memorable attacking moment for me being his scuffed left footed cross which went nowhere near anything of any use, and defensively allowing that number 21 to skip past him (as Dele hung out his back leg to look like an attempted tackle) only to move forward and record an assist for the first goal.
But the praise I will allow him is that he did find himself in good positions on several occasions which honestly on another night with higher quality passing could have seen him bag a brace.
He turned into a shadow after the red card formation shuffle really, and looked too tired to competitively continue whilst suitably disappointed for being hooked off not long into the 2nd half.
Last night I didn't see the write off many are describing and did in fact see some of the things I remember him doing well in his early seasons. Things need to be going well for him as his game simply doesn't offer enough away from his limited (but potentially valuable) core qualities.
I don't see him getting a run of games or subsequently a flurry of goals anytime soon unfortunately for all of us - but not for the lack of his effort in my seemingly unpopular opinion.
Conte: "I have found players that want to work and have great commitment but sometimes it is not enough"
For me this sums up Dele right now.
