The Great Dele Alli Mystery: Bottled Lightning, A Phenomenon & Totally Unique

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Carl Anka and Jack Pitt-Brooke to explore the myriad of events which led to Dele Alli making his Besiktas debut last night at just 26 years old... The panel reflect on a meteoric rise, their first impressions of a totally self-confident phenomenon who quickly became a symbol of both Pochettino's top-table party-crashers and England's new generation. Was Dele failed by a succession of coaches, is he a player born in the wrong era tactically, or even a victim of the gaps in his own footballing education such was the speed of his rise to the top? Plus, did anyone think the Everton loan would work out and do we need to challenge the narrative of what success actually looks like for Alli? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices