Does the Dier-Wanyama partnership work?

[double0]

Just can't believe some people. What is for sure dismissing the partnership of Wanyama and Dier is far to early most partnerships will take time to blend. I back Pochittinho to make it work

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Just can't believe some people. What is for sure dismissing the partnership of Wanyama and Dier is far to early most partnerships will take time to blend. I back Pochittinho to make it work

They are both defensive midfielders, who want to do the same things and be in the same positions. A partnership like that is very unlikely to work.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

After four matches, we've conceded two goals, one goal on a free kick, and one on penalty (so no from open play). One of these "too defensive midfielders" has scored a goal winning us three points. We've seen other defensive players actively participating in the attack, most notably Walker, partly due to the freedom in having Dier and Wanyama there to facilitate other players moving forwards with no added risk. One of the partnership is new to the team, and even if he knows the manager he'd need a few matches of learning by doing. Thus I surmise, after having put up with other severely flawful CM partnerships in the recent past, I do not understand how this specific pairing is so unwanted. I think they've done a fine, albeit not perfect job.

Edit: I am perplexed that a rather big chunk of the voters opted for CM pairings we haven't even seen over a perfectly solid midfield duo.

 

[mano-obe]

Reminds me of when we had Parker and Sandro in midfield, we looked solid but created very little. The beautiful thing is the 3 men playing in front of them and the striker

 

[glospur]

I genuinely find it baffling that people are saying it hasn't made us better defensively. We've conceded two from 4 games and none from open play! If that's not a good defensive record then what the fuck is?

 

[Japhet]

We are a bit wooden with Dier and Wanyama but it could well develop. I much prefer it to the total defensive ineptitude of Mason and Bentaleb. Dembele offers more control in midfield but in his absence I'd love to see Harry Winks get some time. He was outstanding in pre season and has a decent all round game.

 

[CowInAComa]

They are both defensive midfielders, who want to do the same things and be in the same positions. A partnership like that is very unlikely to work.

Apparently Dier will never make a decent DM, so what do we know

 

[Shanks]

I'd say, based on only a couple of games, it has worked well.

Thats not to say it's hugely successfull, or a complete failure, but as far as results go, we are already in a better league position than this time last year (if I remember correctly), along with probably more points at this stage (can't remember, I know we had a lot of draws).

We've yet to lose, we've put in a very strong performance, and seem pretty tight at the back without are first choice keeper.

Yes, two very big defensive midfielders can seem wooden, but it also provides us more attacking flair from other areas (full backs for example). It also allows our creative players to be creative.

We have a good squad, it will get used so I guess we all need to get used to different pairings and formations over the season.

Great that we actually have different options, which can be used depending on what type of team we are up against.

 

[dannythomas]

There cannot be any answer to this poll question at this stage when we have still seen relatively little of Wanyama. We have seen nothing of Sissoko so how do we know how he will gel with either Dier or Wanyama or anyone else ?

All I know is that we were over reliant on Dembele so adding Wanyama and Sissoko to our squad offers a number of potential combinations that were not there before . As indeed does the signing of Nkoudou and the continuing development of our home grown players.

 

[DIEHARD]

I genuinely find it baffling that people are saying it hasn't made us better defensively. We've conceded two from 4 games and none from open play! If that's not a good defensive record then what the fuck is?

Ill hazard a guess... conceding zero in four games?

 

[StartingPrice]

I'd say, based on only a couple of games, it has worked well.

Thats not to say it's hugely successfull, or a complete failure, but as far as results go, we are already in a better league position than this time last year (if I remember correctly), along with probably more points at this stage (can't remember, I know we had a lot of draws).

We've yet to lose, we've put in a very strong performance, and seem pretty tight at the back without are first choice keeper.

Yes, two very big defensive midfielders can seem wooden, but it also provides us more attacking flair from other areas (full backs for example). It also allows our creative players to be creative.

We have a good squad, it will get used so I guess we all need to get used to different pairings and formations over the season.

Great that we actually have different options, which can be used depending on what type of team we are up against.

True dat.

What would actually constitute working?

For a start, it gives us serious options when we want to play a tight game against top teams or close a game out. We have conceded two goals in four games - neither from open play. The first was a freak goal very early in the first match of the season, an hour in, or three games in, Lloris would probably have saved that. And the second was a penalty where replays showed the initial contact was outside the area. We conceded one goal, the penalty that shouldn't have been against Liverpool with Mané (sp?) while going out and playing them, ArseAnal and Leicester both went out and played against them when they had Mané in their side...and conceded four goals. I think it works defensively.

Offensively, we have scored seven goals in four games, almost two goals per game, despite a slow start and with Kane not firing. It might not look like it is functioning offensively, and I can imagine combinations that will facilitate attacking play more. But as long as most of our attacking impetus is coming from the full-backs and our attacking four are getting the ball and doing their thang, we seem to do well enough.

At this stage last season we had 3 points from 4 games, this season we have 8 points from 4 games and already a +5 goal difference.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Seems to me that the Monaco match shows that the call for changing the CM pairing isn't that well founded. Many of the issues and few of the strengths pointed out in this thread (and equivalent posts in other threads) are still present.