Dier is a CB who can at most stretch to DM. Sissoko is either a CM or an AM. I agree that Dier hasn't been amazing recently in midfield but they have different positions and roles in the team.
Really? Then, how come he gets to take our free kicks, including on England duty, and is allowed to spray the ball around?
Neither of them closed him down like they should. Similarly, Vertonghen let Mahrez cut inside and shoot. Your main point hasn't been improved one iota.
Perhaps I should rephrase. Great passing isn't usually high on the list of things expected of a DM, so personally (I shouldn't have said "noone expects", on reflection) I am not surprised if he keeps it simple for the most part.
I forgot to add that Dier fancies himself in midfield and that he envisaged himself playing in that position for Man Utd. Hang on, we're not supposed to bring up that little fact, are we? It's an open secret that Sissoko was going to be sold in the summer, but despite that he has applied himself and got back into the team. I respect him a lot for that. I just don't have a meltdown if he misplaces a pass.
Dier may well fancy himself playing in midfield for United. Not sure what that has to do with anything. Sissoko got into the team due to injuries, by and large, though I agree that he has obviously knuckled down. I don't have anything against him; I just think he's not good enough.
Dier thinks himself as more than just a DM. He thought he would play the Carrick role, but they bought Matic instead.
Dier has nowhere near the passing range of Carrick.
The point is that I don't know whether his poor passing and control is down to him being nervous and trying to do too many things at once, because I have seen him do some neat stuff and that includes passing.
That's not what I've seen. He takes up defensive positions and is positionally aware.He's never in position to start with
Fair enough, I guess that's possible. Though unlikely, I suspect, given that he's approaching 30 and has regularly started big games for France. Maybe you're right though.
It doesn't matter that he doesn't, it's what he sees himself as. He's a versatile player, but that can be a curse as you don't master one position. That's why he has lost out to Wanyama, who is a destroyer.
Look, when the goal went in, I was blaming Lloris until I got home. To say that they should have closed him down is all hindsight, because no one expected that from him. I think they thought he was going to cross and so took up positions accordingly; Sanchez turned his head away. It was just a bloody good and very hard shot; it didn't even swerve. Your argument is like saying that Geoff Boycott should've kept out Michael Holding in THAT over in Sabina Park; but the fact is that the final ball was just too fast.
I think I've lost track of your argument tbh - I'm not sure why Dier views on where he should play are relevant to whether he should be criticised for poor passing - but I agree that the lack of a settled position for him is holding him back.
My point is that based on how he sees himself, and therefore what is expected of him, his passing isn't that good and quite often lands us in trouble. But my main point is that people should be fair in their criticism when it comes to Sissoko and judge him in the same way others are judged, but this isn't the case and that's what gets my goat. It isn't that his shooting and passing don't frustrate me, but his shooting doesn't annoy me half as much as Dembele not taking shots.
