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The man who convinced Tottenham to sign Dele Alli was David Pleat - the clubs longest-running servant who has been enjoying a consultancy and scouting role since 2011. His affinity with Spurs stretches back over four decades to 1986 and includes spells as manager and director of football, and he was so determined regarding Allis ability, and his expertise so highly regarded, that the club was persuaded to spend £5m on a 19-year-old from League One MK Dons.Allis subsequent season needs no reminders, and Pleat says he has been pleasantly surprised by the youngsters rise to England star, but it is the rise of the club itself, citing manager Mauricio Pochettinos methods and the Argentines great relationship with chairman Daniel Levy as a key factor, that Pleat is even more encouraged by. Pleat believes Tottenham have had the best season for many, many years and the future looks good - and, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, he insists Alli was never close to signing for Liverpool, as reports have suggested. They met him and had talks but Milton Keynes werent selling him at the time. he said. There was nothing agreed with the clubs and they said he wasnt for sale at that point.When the chairman at MK Dons was ready to sell him I was informed by their manager, because he knew wed be interested, and we did the deal. The rest is history. It was David Pleat who persuaded Tottenham to sign Dele Alli from MK Dons Alli is a great lad and Im pleasantly surprised with how well he has done. I was fortunate to watch him and Im fortunate to look over a broad spectrum for Spurs, from youth football to the highest level.Ive enjoyed my attachment with Tottenham whatever Ive done. I enjoy watching young players and good players in all teams, and that can continue. The club is on a great footing. Despite a gloomy end, that does not mask what I consider to be one the best seasons the club has had for many, many years.The team have broken all sorts of records and are a truism of those great sides of the past. All the greats - the Linekers, Hoddles, Perrymans, Jennings - I think they have all said this is one of the best teams for many years.The chairman has recognised the qualities of the Argentinian manager, knows the type of football he plays, and that its the type that Tottenham fans appreciate. I dont think there is any doubt about it; Daniel has an excellent relationship with his manager. He lets him get on with the football and has provided funds for players. Alli waiting to wake up from Spurs dream Dele Alli says he is still waiting to wake up after his stunning rise at Spurs Those players have been identified and brought in by Tottenhams revamped recruitment department, of which Pleat is an integral part, which is now widely considered among the best in Europe. Pleats expertise is regarded as crucial, having watched scouting methods evolve over four decades both at Spurs and across world football, and he believes Tottenham are building both this and the rest of the club in the right way.Where they have done brilliantly, everyone at Tottenham, is giving the youngsters the opportunity to play, Pleat said. They cant just go out and buy £50m-£60m players.It isnt easy but Tottenham have been building slowly and the signs are good. Its a better way of doing things if you feel youve got longevity with certain players, and young players, and if staff are making the commitment for a long time. Pleat has had four spells as Tottenham manager including three as caretaker In the past you look maybe four or five times at a player and certainly the manager himself will have had a look himself, unless he is really inept. Now its more modern, tracking players.I went to Kiev many years ago and saw their unbelievable scouting system, where three guys, almost 24 hours a day, were watching almost every game going on around the world. That was in Ukraine and now this country is getting along the same lines. The scouting is getting more sophisticated.But its very difficult to compare Tottenhams with other clubs, unless youre inside those four walls. People say, Oh this clubs all over the place, that club is bad at this. All I can say is that Tottenhams is being run very smoothly and theyre happy with it. Allis key moments Key moments in Dele Allis memorable first season at Tottenham So what will Tottenham do in the transfer market this summer? Are they still in a position to take gambles on lower-league players like Alli after competing for the Premier League title and returning to Europes top club competition?Next year they will continue to improve, and theyll add a couple of players to it, he said.Its a balance. If they feel they can get the right player to do a certain job they will look at all sorts of things. They wont say, Well because hes this age, we cant possibly sign him, but they will still look for young, hungry players with a good attitude because that is what the manager likes. They can take a gamble. They did because they backed me with Dele Alli. So they will do if they can find one thats very good value. But, generally speaking, theyve got to find players that have got some pedigree and already proven themselves at a decent level. Also See: Tottenham season review Pochettinos five-year plan? Dele Alli: Key moments Son dismisses exit rumours Troy Aikman Jersey . 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Demarcus Lawrence Cowboys Jersey .com) - Colorado may be ahead of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference standings, but they are a club that the Avalanche may want to avoid in the playoffs.SAN DIEGO - Philip Rivers gingerly eased himself onto the stool at his locker, clearly sore after injuring his leg and then having the wind knocked out of him.While beat up, at least Rivers and the San Diego Chargers werent beaten as they had been in their previous three games.Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd on the games third play from scrimmage, and the Chargers held on for a lacklustre 13-6 victory against winless Oakland on Sunday, extending the Raiders losing streak to 16.The Chargers (6-4) snapped a three-game skid and welcomed back Ryan Mathews, Manti Teo and Melvin Ingram, who had been out since September.Oakland played well today, and it probably wasnt our best offensive day, but they had a lot to do with it, Rivers said.We found a way to win, and that is what its all about.The losing streak by the Raiders (0-10) is the equivalent of a full season. Monday is the one-year anniversary of their last win, 28-23 at Houston.Rivers was hurt after a 28-yard completion to Floyd was negated by a holding call against left tackle King Dunlap midway through the third quarter. The Chargers had to settle for Nick Novaks 52-yard field goal that made it 13-3.He had the wind knocked out of him in the fourth quarter and was walking gingerly on the sideline as backup Kellen Clemens warmed up.I will be fine, Rivers said.He went back in after Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 25-yard field goal to pull the Raiders within a touchdown with four minutes to play.The Chargers were coming off their bye, which was preceded by a 37-0 loss at Miami on Nov. 2, their worst in 18 seasons.Rivers was 22 of 34 for 193 yards.I didnt throw it as good as I need to throw it, but they covered us some — credit to them, he said. A lot of times there wasnt a lot there.The Chargers came up with a huge play on third-and-3 after the Raiders closed within a touchdown when tight end Antonio Gates tipped a pass to himself between safeties Charles Woodson and Brandian Ross for a 15-yard gain to the Oakland 45.Awesome catch,, Rivers said.dddddddddddd I think I should have thrown it to him sooner.Woodson was in position to break it up or intercept it.Thats a play I should have made, Woodson said. I felt I let the team down. I dont know how many times I caught balls like that. ... Thats how the seasons going. Its been that close a lot of times.Oakland got to the San Diego 7 with 4:10 left, but the drive stalled and Janikowski kicked his 25-yarder.A desperation pass by Raiders rookie Derek Carr fell incomplete short of the end zone as time expired.Carr was 16 of 34 for 172 yards.Obviously there is a lot of anger, Carr said. Obviously there is a lot of disappointment. But no ones giving up; no one is going to give up.Novak extended his franchise-record streak to 32 consecutive field goals by making a 23-yarder late in the second quarter. He then pushed a 48-yard attempt wide left as the half ended.Carr fumbled on the games first play from scrimmage when he mishandled a shotgun snap, and San Diego linebacker Donald Butler recovered at the 22. Two plays later, Floyd leaped to catch a touchdown pass over T.J. Carrie.Carr almost led the Raiders to an upset of the Chargers on Oct. 12 but was intercepted with 1:13 to play to preserve San Diegos 31-28 victory.The Raiders crossed the 50-yard line only twice Sunday. They got to the San Diego 23 on their third drive before settling for Janikowskis 42-yard field goal.NOTES: Each team punted nine times. ... Raiders first-round draft pick Khalil Mack had his first career sack. ... Mathews had 70 yards on 16 carries. He limped out of the locker room, his right knee heavily wrapped. It was his first game back since spraining the knee in a win against Seattle on Sept. 14. ... Chargers rookie Jerry Attaochu, also returning from an injury, had a sack. ... Chargers C Rich Orhnberger (ankle) and NT Ryan Carrethers (elbow) left and didnt return.___Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '