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 Cheick Diallo Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Ricky Rubio Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/359z-dick-van-arsdale-jersey-suns.html . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Amare Stoudemire Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Dan Majerle Jersey .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. CHICAGO -- With two outs in the seventh inning the statistic was staggering: The Giants hadnt gotten a hit in 40 at-bats spanning two games.Hunter Pence ended the futility with a home run, but it wasnt enough to stop San Francisco from another defeat in its miserable second half of the season.Jon Lester pitched 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and settled for his second complete game of the season, helping the sizzling Chicago Cubs shut down the Giants 2-1 on Friday.We were getting some things going but the boys needed a break and have one of those hard-hit balls fall in, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.Pence ended Lesters bid for a second no-hitter with a homer to left on a 1-2 changeup that cut over the plate. Brandon Crawford followed with a double and it looked like Eduardo Nunez was going to drive in the tying run, but his liner was caught by third baseman Kris Bryant.We ran into a very hot pitcher whos throwing the ball very well and he was on top of his game, Bochy said. Still, youve got to generate some offense.I will say we hit some balls right at them, too. We couldve used a break on Nunezs ball. He just hit it right at him or right there the game is tied.Lester worked around Trevor Browns one-out double in the eighth. After a ninth-inning walk, he struck out Crawford -- his fourth of the game -- to end it with his 102nd pitch.Lester allowed three hits and walked two. The Cubs have won five straight to improve to 87-47. The last time they were 40 games over .500 was the end of the 1945 season.Its pretty incredible, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.David Ross had an RBI double and Dexter Fowler a run-scoring single in the third off Albert Suarez (3-3) as the Giants fell to a major league-worst 15-29 since the All-Star break.Lester walked Buster Posey with two outs in the first inning and followed by setting down 18 straight while getting some help.Bryant made a diving, backhand grab of Crawforrds liner to lead off the fifth and Dexter Fowler made a sliding catch of pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinsons liner to center an inning later.ddddddddddddWe had some chances, Pence said. Crawford hit a double. Brownie hit the double. Nunez crushed that line drive right at him Dennard (Span) hit that line drive. They just happened to be there.The 32-year-old Lester threw a no-hitter on May 19, 2008, for Boston against Kansas City. He acknowledged he started thinking about a second one after the first inning and added, Anybody that tells you different is lying to you.The rookie Suarez retired the first six batters. He allowed three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings, settling down after his 34-pitch third.I thought he did a very nice job, Bochy said. He got in a jam there and couldve let it get away from him but he made big pitches. He found a way to keep it close and gave us five solid innings.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: Brown (illness) started after being unavailable Thursday, allowing Posey to play 1B. Brown tested negative for strep throat. ... RHP Matt Cain (back) was activated off the DL and became the 12th reliever thanks to expanded rosters.Cubs: RHP John Lackey (shoulder) came out fine after a bullpen session and will start Sundays series finale.LONG DROUGHTThe 12 consecutive full innings the Giants were held without a hit tied the longest streak for the team since at least 1974, according to STATS.PENCES STREAKPence has hit in 17 straight games at Wrigley Field, the longest active streak in the majors.CLOSE GAME WOESThe Giants fell to 4-12 in one-run games since the All-Star break.UP NEXTA showdown of stars Saturday as Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.84 ERA) faces LHP Madison Bumgarner (13-8, 2.49). Itll be an interesting day, no question, Maddon said. ' ' '