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Eric Dier- defender or midfielder ?

Is Dier better in midfield or in defence ?

  • He is a defensive midfielder

    Votes: 67 21.6%
  • He is a central defender

    Votes: 97 31.3%
  • He is a utility player who should only play when others are unavailable, or in the domestic cups.

    Votes: 101 32.6%
  • We should just sell him in one of the next 2 windows. He’s just not good enough.

    Votes: 45 14.5%

  • Total voters
    310

ebzrascal

Well-Known Member
Sep 13, 2009
2,635
4,670
I think his best position is DM in a 4231 formation when he can drop into the back 3 but he is a also a decent right back and CB if required. I think he has lost focus after Wanyama arrived I'm not sure he has reacted well to the challenge on his position in the team.
 

MattPhilpott

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2013
844
3,176
Always seen him as a CB in a back 3 imo. Struggled in a pair as sometimes his positioning is out, but he always played great at CB alongside Toby and Jan.

In CM I just don’t think he is good enough, he believed the hype that he is a quality midfielder and now seems reluctant to play anywhere else. His best midfield role is when he is sitting in front of the defence in a disciplined fashion like he used to...he now seems to charge forward all the time, making his position redundant.

With Vic, at least you know as soon as he moves the ball on he will return to his sentry role in front of the defence.

The main problem with our midfield is you have:

Dembele - Great player but only available for 60/70 minutes a week
Winks - Promising but has a potential injury scare lingering over his head
Wanyama - Destroyer, but question marks over injuries
Dier - Having an identity crisis and not really having the skills to play as a CM

Think we need to go all in for a couple of midfielders, Rabiot is my clear favourite, but I think looking at him, maybe Herrera at Utd (contract expiring) Diawara, Cook, Loftus Cheek, all would be good options
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
He is a pretty limited midfielder, but if he gets to play a role that suits him, then he is very good. He really had a stinker against Liverpool, but I don't see the need to create a narrative where he's been largely bad since the start of the 16/17 season.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Anyone that still thinks he can play in midfield for a CL team needs their eyes tested. It’s painful to watch him trundle around he offers absolutely nothing. I’m not saying Skipp is anywhere near ready but this afternoon at his level he showed exactly what you want from a DM. Incisive forward passes, breaking lines and high energy all over the pitch. Dier offers none of that, how Pochettino can’t see it is beyond baffling. Dier doesn’t even break up play anymore.
 

L-man

Misplaced pass from Dier
Dec 31, 2008
9,979
51,364
The man is a shithouse who loves to talk the talk but I have never once seen him step up

I think he once gave a 6.5/10 performance for us but everything else is below average. Just a diabolical footballer who offers us nothing except a lump in the middle
 

agrdavidsfan

Ledley's Knee!
Aug 25, 2005
10,918
13,352
Neither, the most overrated footballer I have ever seen.

Jack of all trades master of none.

The new Gareth Barry except Barry was better.
 

Guntz

Loves a good meme/gif
Aug 15, 2011
7,271
54,780
Thinks he’s Pirlo, when in reality he’s a beefier Gary Doherty.

Mid table hardman unfortunately, need to move on.
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,732
14,447
He makes Mark Noble look like Pirlo.

I think all you need to do, is watch the game back, and look at the difference between Eric Dier, and Inter's number 77 (whose name I am forgetting). He bossed the midfield. And is exactly what we have been missing from our team.

Not sure when Poch will finally grasp just how limited Dier can be in that role.

As much as Icardi deserves plaudits for a wonderfully taken goal, I have to find fault in Dier, who completely lost him at the top of the box, and just stood their, flat footed, and didn't react.

Not good enough, and sadly emblematic of what's wrong with the team at the minute.
 

wirE

I'm a well-known member
Sep 27, 2005
4,676
5,582
Continues to make personal errors. I'm not sure what to make of it, but he needs to be benched
 

kaz Hirai

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2008
17,692
25,340
The man is a shithouse who loves to talk the talk but I have never once seen him step up

I think he once gave a 6.5/10 performance for us but everything else is below average. Just a diabolical footballer who offers us nothing except a lump in the middle

Was excellent when he first went into midfield tbf

Aggressive, pressing, tough tackling , never giving opponents a second .

Now he's like a very very poor man's Tom Huddlestone
 

jolegend

Well-Known Member
Jul 8, 2005
3,888
3,076
A nothing player. Doesnt do anything positive. Makes mistakes. Cant pass. 2 yards slower than the opposition.

Poch also needs to take responsibility for persisting with him.

Not good enough. Sell him.
 

SdB

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,367
1,878
It's the fact he strolls around pointing that annoys me most.
Lazy fucker these days.
 

Rout-Ledge

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2005
9,611
21,718
I hate it when he shoots from outside the box. It’s so selfish. His attitude is shit now, and giving the ball away in dangerous positions seems to be the only thing he does consistently.
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
6,884
12,677
John O'Shea, just never winning any titles.
Need a better team where he can be the useful versatile squad player.
 
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