- Aug 9, 2008
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If we had a pure DM (like Sandro for example) we'd find that we had too many at the back waiting for the counter-attack, so a pure dm is wasted playing against a team that sits back.
What Dier gives us is a player with great DM skills but who is also good at passing such that if teams are sitting back he can contribute to our attacking play by acting almost like a deep lying playmaker. So I'd disagree with your statement, but if you had written 'Dier' rather than 'defensive midfielder' in the highlighted sentence, I'd agree.
You are correct that Veljkovic would bring the same skills (albeit a limited amount of experience balanced out by the Spurs Academy 'I'll play my heart out) which is why I'd love the club/player to find the right compromise for him to stay.
But I cannot see us buying a 'Dier' look alike in the TW as such players are like gold-dust - and whilst the likes of Bentaleb do not have the same DM skills I think he's got enough that with a bit of Poch coaching he'd be fine, not as good as Dier with defensive skills but a cm pairing with Mason or Alli and I think we'd be ok or DEmbele as an alternative. So whilst I'd prefer to have Dier as an option, we're not sunk if he's not.
BTW Winks is a good allround midfielder - he can play as a number 10 but usually to be found as a cm, and in the last 12 months has often assumed the DM role alongside someone like Onomah. So he's certainly another option who Poch could develop
The only person I'd have him paired with if Dier is out or playing in defense is Alli. Too flimsy with Mason and Dembele is doing really well further up the field so you would not want to stick him in DM. Alli also loves to put a good tackle in and is becoming quite intimidating so would in theory work best with Bentaleb out of what would be available.
Either way a Striker and possibly another German based midfielder! someone Son knows quite well maybe?!