Eric Dier and the Defensive Dilemma for Spurs

[FootballWhispers]

Good evening guys,

Hope you're all well.

Today we've done a piece on why Eric Dier is a weak link in the Spurs defence.

"The uncertainty in his game is evident at times. His positioning can be erratic, he’s caught out in no man’s land and there are occasions in which he’s still acting as a defensive midfielder. He’s taking risks a centre-back shouldn’t be taking as well as committing fouls a centre-back shouldn’t be making."

As always we welcome any feedback.

Cheers,

Sam

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think they are all valid examples of Dier's mistakes this season. But I think we have to qualify it by saying he's a just turned 23yo having his first full season as a CB. He's also had many very competent games - as he was Sunday.

He's also playing next to two of the best CB's around right now. And I'm not sure they were foot perfect at 23.

I would also point out that he made many mistakes as a CM last year, but then he wasn't the last "man" and therefore they often went unexposed or unpunished.

Personally I have always believed that his future has always been as a CB, he's aggressive, robust but technically comfortable - good qualities for a CB, whereas his lack of 360 picture, his slight immobility (he's not the quickest on the turn or in tight spaces) and lack of incision or risk averse conservative passing make him unsuitable as a CM long term.

 

[cliff jones]

Losing your man at set pieces, whether playing offside on his own, or not wanting it enough
Wycombe, Gent, Everton, Gent

or getting caught out dwelling on the ball by a high press,
City, Liverpool and countless other recent near misses

I agree he needs to wise up. In fact, we need to sign another CB in the summer if we are to play 343 or 352, and try to compete twice a week.

Squad man, deputy for Big Vic, till/unless he learns.

But he certainly has the scope to improve, and seems a good lad to have in the dressing room.

 

[Flashspur]

One of the best defensive records in the PL and he is a liability...give me a break fellas

 

[Flashspur]

Hey @UpTownSpur you cant help yourself can you mate. Hiding there, spamming people then sneaking off. You've got as much spine as a freshly laid

 

[UpTownSpur]

Hey @UpTownSpur you cant help yourself can you mate. Hiding there, spamming people then sneaking off. You've got as much spine as a freshly laid

Stop being a whiney little girl and spamming up threads by moaning about ratings! Take them like a man! Like I've taken your one about my comments about Ramadan, even though I know it's a revenge rating.

Your post offered nothing of any interest, which is usual for you. There are clear issues with Dier as a CB - he's making basic mistakes and unnerving the whole defence. We all like Dier and hope he becomes a top CB but that's not a good enough reason to play someone and not look for an alternative. His ability to concentrate for 90 mins is questionable IMO.

 

[Kiedis]

What we do know:

1. He's not as good as Alderweireld and Vertonghen.
2. He's been especially dodgy in the last 4-5 weeks.
3. He's been a mainstay in the best defence in the league since Alderweireld got injured in the start of October.

What we can hope for:

1. He'll get better.

 

[michaelden]

I would also point out that he made many mistakes as a CM last year, but then he wasn't the last "man" and therefore they often went unexposed or unpunished.

This is key to why he isn't the same this season

 

[dricha1]

Is there an argument to putting Wimmer in the middle of Toby and Verts? Or shuffling Toby and Verts one to the right and playing Wimmer as the left CB?

Either way I wouldn't give up on dier yet, he is as others point out is part of the best defence in the league. He has made mistakes, he has also made some important tackles (such as on Davies at the weekend).

I think we have 2 world class centre backs and 2 other quality centre backs, who albeit are a little raw, have massive potential to improve. I don't think any other squad In the PL have the quality we have at centre half position.

 

[dontcallme]

Good article.

I like that while it shows Dier's errors it does acknowledge him changing position a lot for us.

He started in centre defence of a back 2, has gone to right wing back to playing defensive midfield and now in central defence again in a back three.

This is great for his development but errors will occur as he adapts and learns different positions.

 

[mark87]

In his first season he played at CB, then last season CDM, and now this season CB in a different formation.
Being moved about continuously doesn't help especially when you're as young as he is and still learning to play at the top level, if he was to play at CB in a 3421 next season I'm very confident we will see a better Eric Dier as the lad needs some consistency in the positions he plays at this stage of his career.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Just gonna leave this here...

https://vine.co/v/ixrQnvVi1dX

*steps out of thread quietly*

 

[Trix]

It it ain't broke.......

 

[TriXed]

Eric is our utility player. I prefer him as DM but we now have other options compared to last year. He's our 3rd choice CB now as well. He's young and he will improve, nit picking at him achieves nothing and anything of note Poch and the team will be trying to improve.

 

[sammy1882]

I think he's better suited to play CDM than CB but Wanyama's been so good there this season and we've needed CB to cover/a formation change so that's where he has played. As people have mentioned changing position isn't easy and I guess Rose is an example of improving once the positioning and role are learnt more thoroughly. I wonder where poch sees Eric playing in the long run?

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

I think they are all valid examples of Dier's mistakes this season. But I think we have to qualify it by saying he's a just turned 23yo having his first full season as a CB. He's also had many very competent games - as he was Sunday.

He's also playing next to two of the best CB's around right now. And I'm not sure they were foot perfect at 23.

I would also point out that he made many mistakes as a CM last year, but then he wasn't the last "man" and therefore they often went unexposed or unpunished.

Personally I have always believed that his future has always been as a CB, he's aggressive, robust but technically comfortable - good qualities for a CB, whereas his lack of 360 picture, his slight immobility (he's not the quickest on the turn or in tight spaces) and lack of incision or risk averse conservative passing make him unsuitable as a CM long term.

He was clearly at fault for Everton's second on Sunday, even his mum would admit to that.

Dier is good, but the weak link in a Spurs back three, as has been evident and very costly three or four times this season when Poch sets the side up to pay three at the back. He's been exposed for what he is, and Klopp exploited that in spades in our game up at Anfield.

I'd be very surprised given the fact that Poch does not appear to want to use Wimmer that another center half isn't brought in over the Summer, especially if Poch wants to play three at the back more often. Dier for me is a very good squad player who is comfortable against sides that do not press but lacks pace and concentration when a team will stand toe to toe with us.

To a certain extent Dier isn't even an option in midfield now with Dembele, Sissoko, Winks, Wanyama to compete against, so it looks like for now anyway he will be used in defence.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

One of the best defensive records in the PL and he is a liability...give me a break fellas

You are truly blind if you can't see the weakest link in our defence, despite the fact that we have one of the best defences in the PL. Gent, Liverpool, Everton hell even Wycombe found that out.

Dier is a good squad player but some of the best in Europe (assuming we make CL next season) will exploit our main defensive weakness.

 

[Blake Griffin]

To a certain extent Dier isn't even an option in midfield now with Dembele, Sissoko, Winks, Wanyama to compete against

does not compute.

 

[danielneeds]

He's been pretty good all things considered this season. But his big weakness is a lack of concentration at set pieces. It's cost us recently, and all the way back to last season, when he lost Huth at WHL, it could have cost us a real chance at the title.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Not a bad article, actually.