It is a very strange one with Dele. When he first came to the club he was a revelation and he clearly has ability which doesn’t just disappear overnight. The question is will he ever get back to the heights of a few seasons back? He used to try outrageous flicks and tricks which when they came off made him look like a world beater and bought him some space and time . I think unfortunately slowly over time defenders have worked him out and his flicks have become less effective.
I think the problem as much as anything is a complete lack of pace because when a trick does come off it only buys him a momentary bit of space before defenders catch up with him again and I think that lack of pace plays on his mind. I remember him (and Eriksen) having a couple of one on ones with the keeper last year against Man Utd at Wembley with defenders catching up fast with him, and De Gea saved because Ali (and Eriksen) had to rush the shot because of this lack of pace.
Whilst it is difficult to improve the pace of a player, someone who is not naturally quick has to be on his toes and sharp and since he has come back from injury he has looked anything but that. I dearly hope I am wrong and I know he is still young but I think we may have seen the best of him in the modern game played increasingly by rapid athletes. Time will tell
