Sean Dyche provides an update on game plan for Dele Alli

Why the fuck is he still anywhere near our Club? Just bin him off back to Spurs if that is a possibility or just politely say that's it, goodbye.

Another way to look at it might be in terms of the investment Everton have made in the former player to this point — I say 'former'… he has not played for 18 months!!!

He has not played… but he has been paid… one helluva lot of mullah. And as this article says:

The club have been hugely supportive to the former Tottenham talent, not only through his injuries but over the personal problems, including an addiction to sleeping pills, that he disclosed last summer. He has also forged a good relationship with Dyche.

He may have something that would bring value to the team; he may not. The outlined plan seems to be a good way to find out one way or the other.

ps: Where did you see the "minor injury" reference? This article does not mention anything.

Dele signed in the midst of what appears to have been his own personal hell, then couldn't get fit.

Gbamin broke down after 2 games and never got fit again (he even ruptured his Achilles playing foot tennis on his own — no idea!).

Bolasie lost 18 months to one of the most innocuous-looking but serious injuries ever and was never the same player.

Sigurdsson's career was effectively ended for non-footballing accusations.

Sods law. Perfect storm. Everton that. Whichever way you frame it, it's damn unlucky.

Contract issues are not Dyche's area.

If something can be worked out going forward that is beneficial to both parties, I have no problem with that.

What Dyche has done with Calvert-Lewin is not just revive but has saved his career. A player like Dele, for where we are right now, we could and would not ever attract a player like him.

This is not just romanticism here. There is a player in there. We've seen Dele's talent at Basiktas, not just against Crystal Palace. He is close, as Dyche said, and Dyche will certainly play him to get Dyche match fitness, if it is at all possible Dele is able to play.

Dyche concerning games, 4 games for match fitness behind closed doors, and if he passes that, he will have a contract, probably no more than a year so it will be a trial — as in a trial, a bit like a loan with option to buy, and as a loan, we would pay his wages for a year, say £30k a week wages.

Dele has not been given a penny since his contract with us ended. If he cannot reach the match fitness with behind closed doors, or the games programme set, no contract.

Or we have wasted millions on another player, if we don't give him a chance. I'd rather pay an able Dele to sit on the bench than many, many others who have before him and have offered nothing when they came on.

Presumably we are no longer paying Dele Alli (since his contract has expired) and Dyche wants to have a look at whether he can get match fit. Nothing more to it.

'I have a reminder every day - World Cup 2026' | Dele on title race with Spurs & his future goals

I know some stuff about psychology (as is part of my degree) and on a professional level, I am always reading and analysing psychologists' reports. You could say I get the opportunity to see how people think and what makes them tick.

Concerning psychology behind how a player thinks, for someone to play at the top level after being out, for then a year as he says, is massive. Don't discount or believe that the psychology behind Dele is trivial here. Sports psychology is also massive.

I believe Dele has the potential to turn his life and career around and he will play and be successful for Everton, why because in his head, he's already done it.

Nonetheless that is exactly what I believe will happen.

In my view, the club have looked after the player properly. If there is a return, brilliant; if not, our club have still done the right thing.

On another point, Mike, what are you guys paying Pochettino?

Ibrahimovic is a great example of that, yes he might be a massive cock but he also believed his own narrative and it helped him a great deal in his career.

However, Dele has been, possibly still is, traumatised from his childhood. I am a psychological trauma specialist and spend all day, everyday working with people to overcome their wounds from the past and have done for the past 12 years.

Dele's addiction issues were almost certainly only part of the problem, they would have served a function of numbing the pain of his trauma. So even if he is now "clean" which I suspect he is, he still has to overcome the Complex PTSD he likely has from his childhood. This is very doable but he needs the right specialist support, I hope he has been guided appropriately in this regard. This kind of work can take 6 months to 2years, depending on many factors.

I wrote on here about Dele several years ago in defence of his obvious mental health struggles affecting his playing career, you don't drop off a cliff like that (without a physical injury) without there being a mental health issue.

Footballers are allowed to have mental health problems just like we are, we are just not very forgiving of that generally and feel they should still be able to kick a ball.

If he can process his trauma as well as put his addiction issues behind him AND hold this visualisation of his future return to glory then who knows...maybe he can. I for one would fucking love that and he may just become my favourite player, I love an underdog story. So give me a call Dele, I'd love to sort this out with you ❤️

I don't think for a minute he came to Goodison wanting to barely play. I'm pleased that the club is offering him a potential route back, even if he ends up elsewhere.

As has been pointed out, Dyche has revitalised Calvert-Lewin and a bit of humanity and understanding goes a long way in life.

I was involved in it too before retirement and you speak the absolute truth in alcoholism often being a symptom of something deeper and hidden.

Trauma can also be compartmentalised or controlled to an extent, is my understanding. He could play for Everton and not be affected. He could undertake his trauma therapy independently.

Trauma as I have said before, is analogous to being a walking, talking video camera. I used those words to a judge to describe on a lay level what it is for a trauma affected child.

I know people who manifest trauma such as thinking an abuser is in the same room many years after abuse and such as triggered by something and then smell the abuser's alcohol or smokey breath.

Actually it hasn't been officially announced yet, so no word on salary.

What happened? I don't remember any mention of a setback since.

What “miracles [has] Dyche done with Calvert-Lewin”? I have no idea what you are talking about.

“We've seen Dele's talent at Besiktas [not Basiktas] … “

Really?

When the new coach took over in October he said that Dele was “below expectations in terms of efficiency", adding that he was struggling at the club. Dele did not play a single game after the end of February.

That degree of yours seems to have turned you into an expert on many fronts John. You mention it a lot reminding us all that it provides extra authority for your comments.

I would respectfully suggest that these footy comments are two of your poorer judgments.

I've had mates who were, and still are, proper messed up. One of the young lads who had a traumatic experience when the person stood next to him was killed, confessed on the day we returned to having sunk two bottles of whiskey in one night.

I hope Dele finds himself again. Whether it's with Everton or not remains to be seen, but he is talented and can still offer a lot.

I have actually started making notes. I suppose I would need help with publishing.

Yes, I hope Dele was given the right advice at the right time and is well into the trauma work as opposed to just starting.

When I get a new client, one of the first things I want to loosely ascertain (without talking about it directly) is the volume of trauma; this (amongst other factors) determines the likely length of treatment.

I know Dele has been through a lot, we aren't just talking about a singular sexual trauma here, he suffered ongoing attachment injuries at the hands of his parents. Single incident PTSD is actually surprisingly treatable; even without a highly experienced clinician, the recovery rate is actually 80-85% with evidence-based treatments.

Danny, that's why many soldiers (and I believe footballers fall into this category) struggle. It's not just the horror of the battlefield they are contending with, for many (not all, it is important to say) will have grown up in fractured homes and experienced trauma and alienation. So the trauma will be "pancaking" (a term I use) on top of this and clouding the picture.

Believe it or not, but it is thought that about 80% of trauma caused to children is at the hands of parents (who lack the skills, knowledge or resources) during their attempts to "give care". A startling statistic.

Many footballers will have grown up in rough places, "the ball" offered a way out, an escape, and it's time people started to realise that getting paid £100k a week doesn't mean that they aren't seriously damaged by their past. It does however mean that many fans feel entitled to be entertained by them regardless of what demons lie within.

They are human beings like everyone else, imagine having been through all that Dele has been through, each day a numbed-out struggle probably and your job on a Saturday means that one misdirected pass can lead to 40k people snarling, sneering and jeering at you.

It's tempting to think about what a Dele who is back to his best could offer, but the risk/reward balance doesn't suit us at this time.

It is just a fan forum.

Has your budgie died, your girlfriend said you're crap in bed, or are you just a whingeing person generally?

So, I can't spell the name of the Turkish team. To be fair, I'd prefer your brain to not be so caught up in trivial things, but suppose some use their brains to be grammar Nazis, fair play.

Am I not allowed to have an opinion? Dele showed he could score for that Turkish team. And on Calvert-Lewin, I am not going to answer as there is more than enough information there for you to pick apart, with the caveat the onus is on you to reason what Dyche has done for him.

Come on now, at least try. I'll wait, I promise. Or, you can moan like a bitch, your call.

I'd have gone with "Has you budgie said you're crap in bed?"

Even Paul would struggle to answer that one.

Fecking horrible opening day.

Everton know how to ruin your weekend. Dyche even seems to be saying, I think Paddy Boyland was the one who asked the question too, will be slow to start our new players.

Premier League experience is needed apparently. What's the point in bringing them in!