Frank Lampard has said he will judge Dele Alli on what he produces for Everton and not on his choice of clothes or car. The new signing has received strange criticism since his deadline day move from Tottenham, with Alan Brazil questioning his use of a Rolls-Royce and the former England manager Glenn Hoddle faulting the clothes he wore at Goodison Park on Saturday.
While admitting the pundits have a right to their opinion, the new Everton manager said he would not “handcuff” the midfielder’s personality and is more concerned with the 25-year-old’s efforts to relaunch his career than lifestyle choices. Alli, and his fellow new recruit Donny van de Beek, are in the Everton squad for the Premier League trip to Newcastle on Tuesday.
“I’ve heard some of the reaction and I have a lot of respect for everyone who has spoken, ex-players who I admire in Ally McCoist, Alan Brazil, Glenn Hoddle; I would never go against their word,” said Lampard. “But when you are working closely with players and working with Dele, 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 teammates and then produces and gives everything to produce.
“The modern day has moved on, we all have to be aware of that and I’m not hitting back at any former players’ observations because everyone is allowed their own opinion but I can only deal with what’s in front of me.
“Dele and Donny are both great lads. Maybe Donny wears an overcoat that is longer than the one 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.”
Lampard has spoken with Alli about the downturn in his career at Spurs, however, and said Everton’s coaching staff will do all they can to revive the fortunes of the England international.
“The conversations have to happen,” Lampard said. “There’s such a big eye on Dele’s situation and we signed a big player and we want to get the best out of him. My job is to do that.”
