Alli needs some Gazza genius
DELE COULD BE OUR NEW HERO
SATURDAY was a milestone occasion for one of British sport’s greatest talents, when a certain Paul John Gascoigne turned 50.
It sparked a deserved outpouring of nostalgia, especially from those fortunate enough to have watched him in his prime.
The Geordie with gifts from the gods was a remarkable footballer. He was special and unique in equal measure.
He was also a flawed genius and to coin an infamous phrase related to George Best – if he could pass a pub or bar like he could pass a football, then perhaps he wouldn’t resemble the pitiful figure he does now.
Gazza’s demons have come within a whisker of killing him and he is now a reclusive shadow of his former self, living a modest but still troubled life on the south coast.
The former England, Newcastle, Tottenham and Lazio midfielder is a living tragedy who is often remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Ability
But in many ways, Gazza personifies another tragedy, one that has cursed English football for the last three decades. Our game has never replaced him.
Where is the next Gazza? A man to emulate his ability on the field, bring fans to their feet with a sublime trick or indulge a game with blinding charisma and personality?
At his peak, Gazza almost led England to the World Cup Final in 1990. That’s how good he was.
He didn’t know it at the time but those famous few weeks at Italia 90 would prove to be the best of his career and go on to define him.
We haven’t come remotely close to reaching a World Cup Final ever since because we haven’t had someone capable of his genius.
Perhaps Dele Alli is gifted enough to fill Gazza’s boots.
The Tottenham sensation has earned comparisons to Gazza following an impressive couple of seasons in the Premier League.
Alli is 21, two years younger than Gazza was when he took that World Cup by storm and made a whole nation and beyond sit up and take notice.
But the true mark of greatness is when someone can produce their best on the biggest stage – and so far Alli has failed to do this.
He made no impact whatsoever at Euro 2016 in France last summer and struggled to impose himself in the Champions League this season.
It might seem churlish to criticise Alli, because there is little doubt he is a huge talent who could go on to achieve great things in domestic and international football.
His biggest task might not be fulfilling his potential but handling the burden of being English football’s new icon.
Alli could do a lot worse than take a drive down to the south coast to see Gazza.
He should speak to him about the pitfalls of being so famous and wanted, listen to the mistakes Gazza made and how he would handle things differently if he had his time again.
Next season could be a defining one for Alli, when he will be showcasing his talents at Wembley due to the fact Spurs are without a permanent home while they complete their new stadium.
It is the stage players like Gazza used to thrive on. Who can forget his remarkable free-kick there for Spurs against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final, or his virtuoso strike against Scotland in Euro 96?
The 2018 World Cup will take place in Russia next summer when, barring injury, Alli will go there with England looking to announce himself on the greatest stage of all.
Alli still has time on his side but the next 12 months should tell us, once and for all, if he can fill the huge void Gazza left behind and give long-suffering fans something positive to dream about.