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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

dimiSpur

There's always next year...
Aug 9, 2008
5,844
6,750
Whilst I completely understand his limitations, and people are correct in pointing them out, his lack of quality on the ball is made more glaring by the lack of a "creative" player beside him. Dembele, Sissoko and Winks aren't great at getting their heads up and spraying it around.

And yes, I've put Winks in that category because whilst he's the best of that lot at trying to do that, he seldom manages anything more than finding the full backs. I've never seen him ping a ball, on the ground, 15 yards into Eriksen's feet for example, so he can turn and wreak havoc in the final third.

If Dier played next to a Modric, a Jorginho or someone like that, his insufficiencies would be far less obvious and he would get away with it more, whereas now, due to the fact that we lack a real ball playing CM, we expect more of Dier on the ball, and that is something he can't do very well.

Personally I think he's a DM in any case, and a very useful squad player. I would hate to see him leave as he's part of this great squad we've built and if we were to lose him, who on earth would we get to fill that gap? Wanyama is always injured and there aren't too many Kante's knocking about waiting to be picked up.

We should be careful what we wish for in saying we could just sell him for big money. The money is irrelevant when the true world class possible replacements are at bigger clubs.
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
So the car's got four flat tyres and another in the boot that could also use pumping up, but what youre saying is, it's not the nearside front tyre that's the problem?

I'm saying that I think Dier is the least of our problems when it comes to fixing our midfield.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,338
77,592
My main issue with Dier is his awful attempts to block a shot. He has such a half arsed approach to stop a shot it's unreal. He has deflected 2 goals in recent weeks (one for England and one for us) because he doesn't even try to throw himself in front of the ball. Whether you're in defence or midfield, if a shot comes in you have to make yourself bigger in those situations.
 

Wig

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2018
2,812
11,078
My main issue with Dier is his awful attempts to block a shot. He has such a half arsed approach to stop a shot it's unreal. He has deflected 2 goals in recent weeks (one for England and one for us) because he doesn't even try to throw himself in front of the ball. Whether you're in defence or midfield, if a shot comes in you have to make yourself bigger in those situations.
Come on and be reasonable. I can't begrudge Dier deflecting a shot into the goal because that inherently means he's made an effort to put his body in the way of the shot and its unfortunate it's still gone goalbound. I'd much rather give him that benefit of doubt rather than David Luiz's pussy effort of jumping out of the way of Kane's shot last weekend
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Have you seen him play much?

Yeah plenty thanks.

With a DM it’s all a juggling act in some ways it defines how the team plays. Hence the Jorginho/Kante debate. Do you want the destroyer or do you want the creator. As said he’s the only DM that can drop in as a CB. But for me he just doesn’t destroy or even protect enough. No idea if his energy levels have dropped but we constantly look wide open down the middle have done all season. It really is the only position on the pitch where you can have a choice of 2 or 3 types of player but it really does define your style of play.
 
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RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
If you look at Torreira for the scum and the way he plays with such dynamism and speed, always proactive and on the move, and then you look at Dier, it’s chalk and cheese.

Still of the opinion Dier isn’t good enough. A rotation squad player IMO but we need better.
Torreira and Dier are different types of DM. Wanyama is our version of Torreira and sadly looks as though a serious knee injury has done for him, because in his first season I'd have had him over any other comparable player in the league. We have been repeatedly linked with Barrios though who seems to be a similar type of player and would give us a bit more in the way of options and flexibility again.
 

kremlyn

Well-Known Member
Jul 30, 2004
1,823
2,803
The whole premise of this thread is geared to be negative.

He's a utility dm and can do a bit of everything. Even his passing is getting better.

But hes there in my mind for 2 reasons.. his sheer physical aggression and his ability to protect and sometimes move into the defence.

I love it when he drops in to make a back 3. It just looks right.

We're lucky to have him
 

Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
5,694
156,565
The whole premise of this thread is geared to be negative.

He's a utility dm and can do a bit of everything. Even his passing is getting better.

But hes there in my mind for 2 reasons.. his sheer physical aggression and his ability to protect and sometimes move into the defence.

I love it when he drops in to make a back 3. It just looks right.

We're lucky to have him
Some just can’t fathom that...
 

Mornstar

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
4,897
1,589
He's the best pointer we have

skysports-premier-league-football-eric-dier-tottenham-hotspur_3855316.jpg
 

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crokey

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,433
7,467
Poch has 2 lieutenants on the pitch, Harry up top and Eric at the back
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
26,616
Selling Eric Dier :facepalm: Who the fuck comes up with this shit. "I have a bottle of fresh milk, I often use it in my tea, but sometimes it does the trick in a pancake batter too. What do you think I should do with it?". "Oh, sell the shit, why keep holding on to something you clearly have no use for".
 

DogsOfWar

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2005
2,292
3,603
For me, he's played as an advanced CB to cover the space where a number 10 would play.
It allows us to play 3 at the back without playing 3 at the back, a triangle rather than a line.

Carrick used to do it but had the playmaker skillset too which is why he was so highly rated by Ferguson.
Players who can fulfil two roles in a team are as rare as rocking horse shit and I still don't believe Michael got the appreciation he deserved (although he did get the medals at United).

But Dier's role is a specific one that he is particularly suited to and knocking him for not fulfilling another role (destroyer, playmaker etc) are unfair, especially as he is another captain on the pitch.
 

HertsYid

Im here
Aug 18, 2005
1,098
580
really cant get the hate for the guy on here, he has been one of Pochs 1st names on the sheet since he has been here.
he didnt have a good end to last seaosn or start to this but last 5/6 games i think he has looked good. i would like to see him be more consitant yes but no way should we be looking to sell the guy. There are certainly at least a few other midfielders on the chopping block before him!

he deserves legendry status for the 3 challenges in "that" chelsea game where we imploded alone :)
 

Jody

SC Supporter
Sep 11, 2004
7,004
5,813
He's a better dm with Toby and Jan behind him. That first season with him there, dropping back when Kyle and Danny pushed on, was gold.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
Dier can play both...very simple. People should respect the job he does for the team and not continually bash him.
 
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