Eric Dier - key man

[Dennism]

Apart from Harry he is the player we could least afford to lose to injury.

 

[bubble07]

I know some will say that he doesn't see enough of the ball for a midfielder (and they're probably right) and that our better defence is as a result of the collective team display rather than just one person (they may be partially right) but for me there is a clear difference to our shape, defending and positional discipline between Dier playing CM and Bentaleb/Mason playing in there. I appreciate what those two do but IMO anyone that would replace Dier with Bentaleb and seriously believes we would keep our outstanding defensive record are completely wrong. His discipline and positional nous (two attributed in which he is significantly better than the other DM options) sets the platform for the rest of the team to do their thing and, crucially, it allows the fullbacks to push up and create the width knowing that they have sufficient cover if they're caught out of position.

He has really made a difference but he does need to see more of the ball and distribute better and quicker. But I think he can improve on that

 

[Shanks]

He is great, but you need to remember that tactically, Poch is 10 leagues above hodgson. There's no way he'll be used as well or effectively in the euros!

Not sure about this.

Against France, he started, and him, Alli and Kane hassled and played like they do for Spurs - didn't give them time.

Dier was bossing everyone around, defence, wingers, those in front of him - senior internationals he was literally ordering - was fantastic to see.

I just hope Hodgson is brave enough to go with what could essentiall see us do very, very well.

 

[bubble07]

But our key men are Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris

 

[NEVILLEB]

Dier has shored up the defence.

Alli has added the cutting edge to our attack.

Both have transformed the team.

 

[not_tenth-again]

Not sure about this.

Against France, he started, and him, Alli and Kane hassled and played like they do for Spurs - didn't give them time.

Dier was bossing everyone around, defence, wingers, those in front of him - senior internationals he was literally ordering - was fantastic to see.

I just hope Hodgson is brave enough to go with what could essentiall see us do very, very well.

IMO the Euro's couldn't come at a better time for England - if Hodgson is brave. If he is, he could set England up for the next two world cups this summer. By playing Kane, Alli, Barkley, Sterling, Dier, Stones, Butland he would be blooding the nucleus of something very, very special.

Outside of that. Rose and Walker aren't too old, neither are Smalling or Jones, Ward-Prowse looks ok and maybe Clyne could do a job. Shaw and Ings when they're fit are possibilities and Oxlade-Chamberlain from down the road is only 22. You never know Loftus-Cheek might one day get a chance to prove himself for his club - on talent alone he seems like he might have the tools. Honestly, if there is a structured long term plan in place and the development is good, then England should really win a major tournament in the next decade.... I'm being serious

 

[alexis]

Am pleased to say most influential player is too hard to call these days. Toby, Hugo, Harry, Dembele and arguably dizzy alli all have a shout with Dier. He's been huge for us but think he's part of the jigsaw. On this weekends form trippier may even be it

 

[alexis]

IMO the Euro's couldn't come at a better time for England - if Hodgson is brave. If he is, he could set England up for the next two world cups this summer. By playing Kane, Alli, Barkley, Sterling, Dier, Stones, Butland he would be blooding the nucleus of something very, very special.

Outside of that. Rose and Walker aren't too old, neither are Smalling or Jones, Ward-Prowse looks ok and maybe Clyne could do a job. Shaw and Ings when they're fit are possibilities and Oxlade-Chamberlain from down the road is only 22. You never know Loftus-Cheek might one day get a chance to prove himself for his club - on talent alone he seems like he might have the tools. Honestly, if there is a structured long term plan in place and the development is good, then England should really win a major tournament in the next decade.... I'm being serious

Brave shout be good if the FA got behind a strategy same as Germany Spain and Belgium

 

[coopsy13]

That was exactly what I was going to say. Pre-season and probably the first 5 or 6 matches of the season there were a big section of fans lamenting Poch for playing him as a DM, before that started quieting down, quite like when Redknapp started playing Bale as a LW, but but but, he is a left back.

Admittedly, I wasn't too sure of the conversion myself, but he has made the position his own, and imo he is the closest player to Sir Ledley the King at our club, with how he reads the game, and is just cool, calm and collected in everything he does.

Toby has helped Verts shore up the defense, but Dier is the main reason we have such a tight defense this season, and him being able to drop back gives the full backs and to an extent the centre backs much more freedom to bomb forward and 1. Express themselves going forward 2. Help the forward press.

Kane, Eriksen, Alli and Lloris will get the majority of the plaudits but Dier for me is our player of the season.

Don't forget dembele

 

[Dharmabum]

Apart from Harry he is the player we could least afford to lose to injury.

You may add Lloris and Toby...

 

[Japhet]

I know Toby has shored up the defence, but having a stopper in midfield who drops into the back 4 has transformed everything. We can now cover when the full backs push on which we simply didn't do last season.

 

[Dharmabum]

I know Toby has shored up the defence, but having a stopper in midfield who drops into the back 4 has transformed everything. We can now cover when the full backs push on which we simply didn't do last season.

We will just have to agree to disagree but I firmly believe Toby is the man who's shored up the defence - of course with a lots of help - and just as important as Dier. And the fact that the players know Poch's system after much better now has helped too of course.

 

[Japhet]

We will just have to agree to disagree but I firmly believe Toby is the man who's shored up the defence - of course with a lots of help - and just as important as Dier. And the fact that the players know Poch's system after much better now has helped too of course.

I don't know that Toby would have done very well with Mason and Bentaleb in front of him. I think that was right at the heart of our defensive frailties last year (and said so repeatedly at the time).

 

[DaleMurphy]

just wanted to add that he's damn good at getting his head to a ball on corners as well

 

[Krafty]

Dier has indeed been very impressive, and I think his ability to play in midfield but with the added instincts of a centre back have been invaluable.

Whether other players would be asked to do the same if they replaced him (Dembele played very well as the most defensive of the two central midfielders when we beat City 4-1, but was not dropping as deep as Dier does) I don't know, but I really like what Eric has offered us.

 

[MichaelPawson]

Eric's been tremendous, but it's also neat how his weaknesses as a DM are covered by the rest of the squad. Maybe he should show out for ball a little more, but Jan and Toby's confidence with the ball gives Eric's midfield partner two more great targets to pass to if need be. And if he gets suspended again for card accumulation, we've got a ton of bodies in the midfield to fill in for him. I'm excited to see how he will develop over the next few years, especially if his teammates continue to support him well.

 

[KingNothing]

Dier has indeed been very impressive, and I think his ability to play in midfield but with the added instincts of a centre back have been invaluable.

Whether other players would be asked to do the same if they replaced him (Dembele played very well as the most defensive of the two central midfielders when we beat City 4-1, but was not dropping as deep as Dier does) I don't know, but I really like what Eric has offered us.

I get what you're saying, but Dier and Alli played in midfield in that match against City

 

[E8spur]

Eric Dier summed up in pictures

https://twitter.com/neramits/status/663763721731178496

(I've linked an online version so as not to do the naughty copyright pictures thing on SC - wouldn't have linked this twitter account otherwise!)

 

[Krafty]

I get what you're saying, but Dier and Alli played in midfield in that match against City

Which game I thinking of? Must have been the draw with Liverpool

 

[THOWIG]

He's not really playing as a stereotypical DM though is he.