Eric Dier - top lad!

[rossdapep]

Dier's performance in DM was exceptional. I genuinely feel like he's saved us £20m in the transfer market

He's certainly surpassing my expectations. However I am a little concerned that he will be burnt out come early 2016, there's a lot of games to come between now and then and we don't really have an alternative to him. I agree with the sentiment that having not forked out on that CM (Kramer, Witsel, etc) has allowed him to flourish and make that position his own, still doesn't disperse any concerns. Last season Arsenal were shouting about the emergence of Coquelin, yet it's a dangerous game expecting so much from a young player for the duration of a highly competitive season. I'd like to think we would buy an alternative in Jan, just to give him the occasional rest to help maintain his form.

 

[thelak]

The key will be if this crop of youngsters do generally kick on and step up whether a) we will stop them being picked off when Madrid etc come calling and when the players we have now reach a level where they could be on material six figure a week sums at other clubs b) whether Levy at that point will be prepared to add one or two top bracket signings without having to balance the books to keep the momentum going - that's what Utd did in the late 90s / early 2000s

 

[Pat Rice Spurs fan]

He's certainly surpassing my expectations. However I am a little concerned that he will be burnt out come early 2016, there's a lot of games to come between now and then and we don't really have an alternative to him. I agree with the sentiment that having not forked out on that CM (Kramer, Witsel, etc) has allowed him to flourish and make that position his own, still doesn't disperse any concerns. Last season Arsenal were shouting about the emergence of Coquelin, yet it's a dangerous game expecting so much from a young player for the duration of a highly competitive season. I'd like to think we would buy an alternative in Jan, just to give him the occasional rest to help maintain his form.

Hopefully Nabil will be back soon to take some of the burden.

 

[Sweetsman]

Dier's performance in DM was exceptional. I genuinely feel like he's saved us £20m in the transfer market

/
You mean Poch has saved us £20M, don't you? He's the one who has switched him there.

 

[Japhet]

Hopefully Nabil will be back soon to take some of the burden.

Bentaleb doesn't have an ounce of defensive mind set. OK beside Dier but no way is he a like for like alternative.

 

[guate]

I identify more with this team of youngsters than I have for many a year and it's because they identify themselves so much with the club. Even Lamela, who was possibly going to be shipped out during the last transfer window, has demonstrated his feelings for the club and what a revelation he's been this season.
I know it's still early days but I for one am very proud of the team we're building (especially when you compare it with Citeh's team of mercenaries who we outplayed yesterday) and under Mauricio's guidance I look forward to when most of the first team are from the academy while also doing really well in the league.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

/
You mean Poch has saved us £20M, don't you? He's the one who has switched him there.

Levy got Dier in first up.

 

[Sweetsman]

Levy got Dier in first up.

He bought a central defender; Poch has coached him to play DM. At times, he strides out like Beckenbauer, who was the epitome of the libero.

 

[Shadydan]

He bought a central defender; Poch has coached him to play DM. At times, he strides out like Beckenbauer, who was the epitome of the libero.

Nope, he learned his trade as a DMF at Sporting Lisbon

 

[yusrisafri]

The key will be if this crop of youngsters do generally kick on and step up whether a) we will stop them being picked off when Madrid etc come calling and when the players we have now reach a level where they could be on material six figure a week sums at other clubs b) whether Levy at that point will be prepared to add one or two top bracket signings without having to balance the books to keep the momentum going - that's what Utd did in the late 90s / early 2000s

The key in a few years time will be if levy is willing to increase their salaries to commensurate their abilities. If he isnt, then theyre off and we start from scratch again. Its a vicious cycle if we arent able to compete with the big guns.

 

[Always Offside]

The key in a few years time will be if levy is willing to increase their salaries to commensurate their abilities. If he isnt, then theyre off and we start from scratch again. Its a vicious cycle if we arent able to compete with the big guns.

This is where the new stadium comes in ....

 

[shelfmonkey]

He bought a central defender; Poch has coached him to play DM. At times, he strides out like Beckenbauer, who was the epitome of the libero.

I've liked this lad from day one, now he is looking like a future captain, his on pitch demeanour has changed a lot since last season, he seems so much more confident. A very shrewd buy IMO.

 

[diamondlight]

/
You mean Poch has saved us £20M, don't you? He's the one who has switched him there.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so maybe we should never sign any players ever again. The cleaning lady could do a job up front.

 

[18Klinsmann]

I am a little concerned that he will be burnt out come early 2016, there's a lot of games to come between now and then and we don't really have an alternative to him. Last season Arsenal were shouting about the emergence of Coquelin, yet it's a dangerous game expecting so much from a young player for the duration of a highly competitive season. I'd like to think we would buy an alternative in Jan, just to give him the occasional rest to help maintain his form.

Dier's huge presence in front of our back line has been of immense importance this season. Not so long ago Poch was being criticized for playing Dier in this position as many stated that he was "NOT a DM". It seems that Eric is an unusually fast learner and has already proved very versatile for us. To me, he comes across as a natural leader with a strong defensive mindset, but the fact that he has learned his trade in Portugal may have strengthened both his technical ability and his adaptability.
His British background, however, is a huge advantage when it comes to understanding and communicating, and that just might give him the edge over players like Coquelin when it comes to establishing yourself in the long run, but lets keep in mind how quickly things can change in football at the highest level.
As for buying competition for him, I would rather have Bentaleb stepping in. To me, he was one of our standout players last season, and I look forward to having him available again.

 

[JC-Rule]

In time I think he will drop back to Centre back to partner Vertongen.

For now what a great job he doing whereever he's ask to play, whether RB and CM, plus he chips in with the odd goal.

 

[Sweetsman]

Nope, he learned his trade as a DMF at Sporting Lisbon

Are you sure about that? He played in the position only a few times for Lisbon.

 

[Sweetsman]

Necessity is the mother of invention, so maybe we should never sign any players ever again. The cleaning lady could do a job up front.

Should we conclude that you are not happy?

 

[Sweetsman]

I've liked this lad from day one, now he is looking like a future captain, his on pitch demeanour has changed a lot since last season, he seems so much more confident. A very shrewd buy IMO.

Did you see his interview on Spurs TV? He was angry about the criticism of the team. I had Bentaleb as a future captain, because I saw him yelling at a senior player for being out of position. I think we are developing a number of leaders.

 

[bobby soldier]

I'm hoping it is. With kids it's so hard to know what will happen to them. I would've said that Livermore looked like he could be a reliable sort of player but that didn't work out, for Hull rather than us. If you look at Alli at his age there's not much to split him from Beckham or Bentley. I hope Poch can help him become a superstar but first time in the bright lights of the capital it really could go either way.

Having grown up with all the temptations of Milton Keynes and resisted them, what could possibly go wrong with being in London?

 

[rossdapep]

Dier's huge presence in front of our back line has been of immense importance this season. Not so long ago Poch was being criticized for playing Dier in this position as many stated that he was "NOT a DM". It seems that Eric is an unusually fast learner and has already proved very versatile for us. To me, he comes across as a natural leader with a strong defensive mindset, but the fact that he has learned his trade in Portugal may have strengthened both his technical ability and his adaptability.
His British background, however, is a huge advantage when it comes to understanding and communicating, and that just might give him the edge over players like Coquelin when it comes to establishing yourself in the long run, but lets keep in mind how quickly things can change in football at the highest level.
As for buying competition for him, I would rather have Bentaleb stepping in. To me, he was one of our standout players last season, and I look forward to having him available again.

Unfortunately I don't see Bentaleb as a preferable alternative, it would be as well as, rather than a swap. Last season we were so soft in this area and the opposition were allowed to stroll through our defence with ease because quite simply Bentaleb is not a dm. Maybe in time he can learn to become more disciplined defensively but I think you would be taking away his better assets which should be worked on once he returns. Perhaps we could go 3 down the centre in dier's absence and provide more solidity but then that would make us blunt further forward.