Eric Dier

[kmk]

It pisses me off when people suggest getting rid of loyal players like Dier.

Players like Phil Neville, Darren Fletcher, Nicky Butt, John O'Shea and Wes Brown all won multiple league titles with Man Utd despite not being World Class.

They understood Fergie's philosophy well and did their jobs without ever moaning just like Dier does.

 

[danielneeds]

Once you’ve had a player in your squad who collects modern art, it’s difficult to go back to having a squad without one. So I say - keep.

 

[Trix]

Is it though really ? Are there really that many better realistic targets than Sissoko/winks. Just think they work fantastically together. Apart from obvious in PL De Bruyne Silva I’m struggling to think of anyone I’d rather have in our CM right now. The only thing sissoko/winks really lack is goals + assists.

The position as a whole is a weak spot. If either get injured what then? We are rotating everywhere else on the pitch bar CF as things stand we can't do that in CM. Wanyama hasn't been good for a long long time, and Dier is good at many things but great at none imo. CM is definitely in need of a quality reinforcement even if only to rotate in and out with Winks and MS.

As I have said every team needs utility players like Dier but the top sides don't have them as first choice starting players.

 

[Hakkz]

The position as a whole is a weak spot. If either get injured what then? We are rotating everywhere else on the pitch bar CF as things stand we can't do that in CM. Wanyama hasn't been good for a long long time, and Dier is good at many things but great at none imo. CM is definitely in need of a quality reinforcement even if only to rotate in and out with Winks and MS.

As I have said every team needs utility players like Dier but the top sides don't have them as first choice starting players.

This is where he can't be compared to O'Shea and Brown. They were always backup, and seemingly happy with it (they still got to win a lot of throphies so..).

 

[Trix]

It pisses me off when people suggest getting rid of loyal players like Dier.

Players like Phil Neville, Darren Fletcher, Nicky Butt, John O'Shea and Wes Brown all won multiple league titles with Man Utd despite not being World Class.

They understood Fergie's philosophy well and did their jobs without ever moaning just like Dier does.

What makes him a loyal player?

He's paid very well here and if he gets a better offer who knows just how far his(or any player for that matter) really goes. He was certainly making noises about leaving two summers ago when he thought he might have to play CB every week. Until their resolve is tested then the only thing you're basing his loyalty on is the fact he's been here a while. Is he any more or less loyal than say Aurier Eriksen or Kane? Fact is no one knows and it's a shit argument until he proves it one way or the other.

 

[Trix]

This is where he can't be compared to O'Shea and Brown. They were always backup, and seemingly happy with it (they still got to win a lot of throphies so..).

Indeed which is why I raised the point in the first place. Where does he fit now in the pecking order when winks and MS are playing like they are, and how does Poch deal with that. Whatever the answer three Cm's is not enough

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

This is where he can't be compared to O'Shea and Brown. They were always backup, and seemingly happy with it (they still got to win a lot of throphies so..).

To be fair, this is harsh on Wes Brown. 34 league starts (48 all comps) playing at RB in the team which won the league and Champions League double in 2007-08, whilst setting the record for most minutes without conceding a goal in the process. Injuries prevented him ever reaching that level again, but that season he was one of the best full backs in the world.

 

[crokey]

To justify selling Eric you have to completely ignore the monumental impact that psychology has on a game of football. These are the types who don't see the issues with booing in the stands, who completely ignore the fact that the word "confidence" is used by every player, manager and pundit every time they speak publicly.

He is a man who who plays dirty when dirty is needed, who breaks things needing broken and who influences the 10 other lads on the pitch to do the same. Eric Dier is right in the centre of the pitch, the perfect position for someone who has his absolutely vital attributes.

When available, he has started and completed almost every single big game since Poch has arrived. He is the manifestation on the pitch of everything the manager wants us to be. Poch will never sell one of his most important General's, IMO.

 

[Roynie]

What makes him a loyal player?

He's paid very well here and if he gets a better offer who knows just how far his(or any player for that matter) really goes. He was certainly making noises about leaving two summers ago when he thought he might have to play CB every week. Until their resolve is tested then the only thing you're basing his loyalty on is the fact he's been here a while. Is he any more or less loyal than say Aurier Eriksen or Kane? Fact is no one knows and it's a shit argument until he proves it one way or the other.

Good point, well presented!

Where, I think, his value lays is in his versitility. The ability to seamlessly switch from DM to CD mid-game, I'm not sure we have too many of those, although you may well have better info on that than I do.

 

[thePessimist]

To justify selling Eric you have to completely ignore the monumental impact that psychology has on a game of football. These are the types who don't see the issues with booing in the stands, who completely ignore the fact that the word "confidence" is used by every player, manager and pundit every time they speak publicly.

He is a man who who plays dirty when dirty is needed, who breaks thing needing broken and who influences the 10 other lads on the pitch to do the same. Eric Dier is right in the centre of the pitch, the perfect position for someone who has his absolutely vital attributes.

When available, he has started and completed almost every single big game since Poch has arrived. He is the manifestation on the pitch of everything the manager wants us to be. Poch will never sell one of his most important General's, IMO.

Listen up guys, this is spot on!

 

[Gassin's finest]

It's a squad game innit? Are we learning nothing from this season?

 

[coys200]

I think Rice still has a lot to prove. He hasn’t played at the highest level as in Europe and internationally. Also invariably when West Ham do play a top team they get spanked. It’s also a very different skill set needed playing as a DM in a mid table team as opposed to a top 6 team. 75% of his game now is about defending. If he plays for a top 6 can he be creative and useful against a low block is he technically good enough. It’s all well good making a multitude of last ditch tackles as he has to for West Ham. Completely different dictating the tempo of a game as Winks is doing.

 

[JayB]

I think his resistance to playing CB a couple years back had to do with him having established himself as a first-XI player for England lining up as DM, but Henderson was preferred to him at the World Cup and I'm not sure he's any nearer the first XI now than he was then.

He doesn't really have the mobility, dynamism, or quick passing game that managers are looking for in their lone No. 6's these days. For me his future is definitely as a CB, and if he continues to stubbornly insist that he be played in midfield I can see why some would consider the possibility of moving him on. Given the England consideration, though, I'd be surprised if that were still the case.

 

[Trix]

I think his resistance to playing CB a couple years back had to do with him having established himself as a first-XI player for England lining up as DM, but Henderson was preferred to him at the World Cup and I'm not sure he's any nearer the first XI now than he was then.

He doesn't really have the mobility, dynamism, or quick passing game that managers are looking for in their lone No. 6's these days. For me his future is definitely as a CB, and if he continues to stubbornly insist that he be played in midfield I can see why some would consider the possibility of moving him on. Given the England consideration, though, I'd be surprised if that were still the case.

It 100% was. Point still remains though, as his loyalty hasn't been tested. Anyhow not sure what we are discussing his loyalty for anyway. It has no bearing on where he is in the pecking order now, or whether we need to bring in players to play in his position.

 

[JayB]

It 100% was. Point still remains though, as his loyalty hasn't been tested. Anyhow not sure what we are discussing his loyalty for anyway. It has no bearing on where he is in the pecking order now, or whether we need to bring in players to play in his position.

I'm basically in agreement with you in that I think we need a better option at DM, and I doubt that Wanyama will re-establish himself. I do think that Dier would worth keeping if he were willing to transition back to CB, and if he digs his heels in on that question then I can see why we might look to cash in.

 

[wrd]

I wouldn't want to lose him because he seems perfect for the dressing room however he must himself realise that Winks and Sissoko are offering more than he currently and that's before the prospect of bringing in reinforcements which was pretty much universally agreed we need more bodies in midfield. He may decide he's better competing for that CB spot if Toby goes but if Toby stays then he might have to be content as a utility player unless we change the system to have 3 midfielders.

 

[spursfan77]

To justify selling Eric you have to completely ignore the monumental impact that psychology has on a game of football. These are the types who don't see the issues with booing in the stands, who completely ignore the fact that the word "confidence" is used by every player, manager and pundit every time they speak publicly.

He is a man who who plays dirty when dirty is needed, who breaks things needing broken and who influences the 10 other lads on the pitch to do the same. Eric Dier is right in the centre of the pitch, the perfect position for someone who has his absolutely vital attributes.

When available, he has started and completed almost every single big game since Poch has arrived. He is the manifestation on the pitch of everything the manager wants us to be. Poch will never sell one of his most important General's, IMO.

Exactly. Its why he was so pissed off with the Mourinho approach and tapping up when he was at Man Utd.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Dier’s our version of Phil Jones, covers multiple positions but at the end of the day he needs to accept that he’s a squad player at our club. Like Jones, he can do a job but he isn’t good enough to play week in week out for a team challenging for honours. Winks and Sissoko have cemented their positions therefore to include Dier also will be at the expense of one of our creative players. Similar to Dembele (putting his beast mode to one side), Dier is a sideways passer... the game has evolved and we need creativity, and not negativity in the middle.

 

[fortworthspur]

wait, he's been out a couple of months because of his appendix so now he sucks? its a short trip to the doghouse around here.

 

[dtxspurs]

Dier’s our version of Phil Jones, covers multiple positions but at the end of the day he needs to accept that he’s a squad player at our club. Like Jones, he can do a job but he isn’t good enough to play week in week out for a team challenging for honours. Winks and Sissoko have cemented their positions therefore to include Dier also will be at the expense of one of our creative players. Similar to Dembele (putting his beast mode to one side), Dier is a sideways passer... the game has evolved and we need creativity, and not negativity in the middle.

Eric Dier is most definitely better than Phil Jones... Dier played 2 sweet assists last season (vs Chelsea and Everton), he's a more creative passer than Winks is at this point.