In the wake of scathing criticism of midfielder Dele Alli by former England great Glenn Hoddle, new Everton manager Frank Lampard has opted to look the other way, saying he is more keen to judge the new signing from Tottenham Hotspurs solely on his football, not on fashion style nor in what car he drives.
Lampard coolly shrugged off the former England manager’s remarks on Alli’s choice of attire when the latter was unveiled over the weekend.
Hoddle, obviously unimpressed when the 25-year-old was unveiled to the Goodison Park crowd before Saturday’s FA Cup win over Brentford, criticised that he did not look the part. Earlier in the week Alli had also been castigated by Alan Brazil, the Talksport presenter and former Scotland striker, for turning up to his first training session at Finch Farm last week in a Rolls-Royce.
“I didn’t like the way he walked out on the pitch with what he was wearing,” Hoddle said.
“I thought he’d just got dragged off the street, to be honest. Put a tracksuit on at least, or something.”
Lampard, with his attention more focused on football matters, casually responded that he would not be interfering in what Alli’s coat or car preferences.
“I’ve heard some of the reaction and I have a lot of respect for everyone who has spoken, ex-players, people who I respect and admire in Ally McCoist, Alan Brazil, Glenn Hoddle – I would never go against their word,” Lampard said.
“But when you are working closely with players and working with Dele, my personal opinion is that I don’t care what car he drives, what clothes he wears, as long as I get a lad that comes to training every day, wants to improve every day, respects the club and respects his team-mates, and then produces and gives everything to produce. Everyone is allowed their own opinion, but I can only deal with what’s in front of me. Dele and Donny van de Beek are both great lads.
“Maybe Donny wears an overcoat that is longer than Dele wears, and he has a different type of jacket, but it doesn’t bother me. As long as they produce on the pitch, then I’m very happy.
“Everyone has their own individual personality, and to try to handcuff or restrict that, I think, could be detrimental. As long as the players have the right behaviours when it comes to football and doing the right things, I have no worries.”
Of greatest pertinence for Lampard is how to get the most from a talent who only three years ago was regarded as one of England’s biggest stars but somehow ended up losing his way under successive managers at Tottenham. Suffice it to say that Alli’s deadline-day move to Everton represents a fresh start for both the midfielder and his new club where both could clearly do with a change of fortunes.
Lampard is eager to investigate what went wrong.
“I think the discussions and conversations have to happen,” said Lampard, who may give Alli his Everton debut against Newcastle United this evening at St James’ Park. “There’s such a big eye on Dele’s situation and we are Everton, we signed a big player and we want to get the best out of him.
“I’ve had conversations with Dele around his game, around everything that surrounds his game day to day. That should be our service to every player.
“I mentioned this to Dele the other day, getting everything right for him. Some things will be nice; what can we improve and be positive about, while some things maybe won’t be as nice, whether it’s training or whether it is pushing himself in different ways.
“Quickly we have to find a balance for that and Dele has to buy into it. I feel that he is, and he’s certainly ready to do so.”
Lampard insists he will not be putting Alli on a timescale to for him to get back to the kind of form which made him an international regular that was such a joy to watch in action.
“I don’t want to put a line or a target on it,” he stressed. “He was at an extremely high level.
“We all know that, and I loved watching him play. He was so effective in the way he played.
“Where we are now, the last thing I want to do is sit here now and say, ‘This is where we want to get to’.
“The reason I bought him is I want to see those qualities we spoke about two or three years ago, and I believe I can get them out of him.”
Everton’s squad lineup tonight would likely include Van de Beek.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also poised for a return to the side following the knock he suffered during the home defeat by Aston Villa, was also Rafael Benitez’s last game in charge at Goodison Park.