Off Topic International Break Thread

Been saying that since April, but ever more obvious since the return after the WC.
He shouldn't be playing in these games. End of....

 

He never wants to miss a game even when he isn’t fit. Poch or Southgate need to tell him.

 

Linked to the story above - I thought this was interesting

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...o-s-loyalty-by-winning-trophies-a3927326.html

Dele Alli: Tottenham players want to repay Mauricio Pochettino’s loyalty by winning trophies
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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Key player | Dele Alli could extend his contract at Tottenham ( Getty Images/Michael Regan )

Tottenham’s stars want to justify manager Mauricio Pochettino’s show of faith in them by delivering silverware this season, says Dele Alli.
Spurs did not add to their squad in the summer but secured two key signings in tying Pochettino to a new five-year contract in May, two weeks before Harry Kane committed to the club until 2024. Despite speculation linking both players with moves to some of the world’s biggest clubs for eye-watering wages, 22-year-old midfielder Dele is expected to follow the England captain by becoming the next star to extend his deal in north London.
“We are playing a sport we love every day and want to try and achieve as much as we can together,” he told Standard Sport. “We enjoy playing together and if it comes to a point where you aren’t improving then maybe you have to think about think about something else but for now, we are in a great place, with a great manager who doesn’t want to stand still.
“We are all excited about the team we have. You can see the direction the club is heading and we want to be a part of it. The manager and chairman have shown trust in the players by backing us and Harry’s deal shows he wants to repay that. As players, it does give you a bit of confidence that we look like we are strong enough to compete again.”
The rise of Dele Alli

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The rise of Dele Alli
1/18
The defining games of Dele Alli's career
Steve Bardens/Getty Images
2/18 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014
The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.

Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice.
Getty Images
3/18 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015
Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side.
Getty Images
4/18 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015
Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.

He didn't look back.
Getty Images
5/18 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015
Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Getty Images
6/18 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016
Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.

The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.

This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced.
Getty Images
7/18 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016
Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.

The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.

The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak."
Getty Images
8/18 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016
Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.

Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI.
Getty Images
9/18 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016
Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity.
AFP/Getty Images
10/18 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016
Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.

Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end.
AFP/Getty Images
11/18 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016
Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.

Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere.
Getty Images
12/18 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016
Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory.
Getty Images
13/18 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017
His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea).
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
14/18 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017
Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane.
AFP/Getty Images
15/18 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017
Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker.
Rex Features
16/18 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017
Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley
AFP/Getty Images
17/18 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018
Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years.
Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
18/18 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018
Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals.
AP
1/18
The defining games of Dele Alli's career
Steve Bardens/Getty Images
2/18 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014
The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.

Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice.
Getty Images
3/18 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015
Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side.
Getty Images
4/18 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015
Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.

He didn't look back.
Getty Images
5/18 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015
Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Getty Images
6/18 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016
Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.

The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.

This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced.
Getty Images
7/18 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016
Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.

The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.

The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak."
Getty Images
8/18 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016
Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.

Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI.
Getty Images
9/18 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016
Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity.
AFP/Getty Images
10/18 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016
Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.

Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end.
AFP/Getty Images
11/18 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016
Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.

Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere.
Getty Images
12/18 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016
Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory.
Getty Images
13/18 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017
His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea).
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
14/18 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017
Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane.
AFP/Getty Images
15/18 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017
Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker.
Rex Features
16/18 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017
Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley
AFP/Getty Images
17/18 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018
Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years.
Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
18/18 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018
Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals.
AP
Dele highlighted the role Pochettino has played in the team’s development, saying: “He’s a great guy. He tries to understand each player as a person rather than just a footballer, which I think is important. I can connect with him. He puts trust in you, but if you aren’t performing or not doing well, he’ll tell you. Everyone has a lot of respect for him.”

 

"Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere."

The Standard, they just can't help themselves, can they? We're going to play Barcelona and Milan, Chelsea are off to play the European giants of Mol Vidi and BATE Borisov.

 

We're not one of the loved 4 who can't do no wrong. Don't forget when we beat real Madrid last year they were a spent force .remind me who won the champions league

 

Expect the same this year with Barca. In fact it's started already I think.

 

And the award for the most self-regarding team announcement tweet goes to...

 

They've made Wales look like hell and added a Tory-esque slogan to the bottom. Is it a party political broadcast?
#TogetherStronger? CYMRUXI? Oh, dear.

 

Wales tearing Ireland a new one!
Ben Davies appears to have found his mojo - missing, presumed dead this season - just hope it returns with him after the break!

 

Giggs has picked a lot of young players and used a modern, positive system.
O'Neill has used his usual tactics with his usual players, basically.
The braver choices have worked very well.

I think that Davies is benefiting from playing in a back four and the ball being played around quickly.
He looks more assured than he has for us this season and he's had a lot more space, too.

 

The pass for Bales goal was a peach!

 

The one for the header that the right-back missed was equally good.

 

Watching the England U21 game. Josh Onomah looks like a young man that hasn't played enough football to be involved in this game and he's just been substituted on 65 minutes. He really needs to make the most of his time at Sheffield Wednesday. Hopefully he can stay fit, as injury killed the second half of his loan to Villa, after a promising start.

 

Seems odd that he started ahead of Tom Davies, who's played plenty of football for Everton, including this season.

 

Aaron Ramsay!!

Classic Gooner defending!

 

Wales concede to a player called Williams. Ramsey with the complete ****-up to give it away.

 

Very odd choice for a team wanting to win a competitive game. He didn't look anything like the player he can be but the minutes probably did him some good personally.

 

I know a Sheffield Wednesday fan and he told me that their manager's been picking lots of young players this season.
Some of their most senior men have been benched for not showing the right attitude and putting the work in.
There's an opportunity there for Onomah, if he's willing to graft and show what he's capable of.

 

Good. He's got the ability. If he had Oliver Skipp's desire to affect the game, then he'd be a monster.

 

Hmm, that sounds familiar...