He’s better when teams sit back- facing the opposition half helps his passing. But he isn’t great under pressure and I’d instruct my team to press the fuck out of him; that’s when he’s more problematic for usDier is an interesting one. I can understand why some thought he was better and some thought he wasn't great again.
Let's start with his passing. This was much, much better. Passed with zip and purpose, effective vertical passing and sprayed some nice passes out wide.
However, off the ball he struggled at times.. Got turned easily, and did look a touch slow when trying to battle for the ball.
And the penalty shout against him typifies that, just couldnt adjust quickly enough.
But his passing was much better, so a mixed bag fit for me.
Gazzaniga - calm, authoritative, kept concentration, no wobbles, good decision making when distributing and had no chance on their goal.
Trippier - pretty poor again, improved as the game wore on but was targeted by Brighton when they reserved and didn’t cope well.
Alderweireld - pretty good, probably our best centre defender, mopped up well and read attacks well.
Vertonghen- okay, a couple of iffy moments but generally calm and handled most things that came his way.
Rose - defensively caught out on occasion and one ludicrously selfish/ impetuous moment but also provided good impetus going forward and showed some of that old bite.
Diet - awful. Sloppy, clumsy, positionally indisciplined. Needs a time out desperately.
Dembele - a bit better. Dependable and solid, but those old dribbles don’t work as well as they used to, and he really does slow us down.
Moura - a constant threat and while his execution was a bit off, he was always the most likely to make something happen.
Eriksen - wasn’t in a Denmark shirt with a point to prove so, as per the last two months, he was weak, cowardly and irresponsible for the most part.
Son - first touch all over the place, running down blind alleys, not sure he completed a pass. Bad day.
Kane - improved as the game wore on, worked the channels well, showed for the ball a lot more, took his penalty well and showed a bit more sharpness and purpose with some rasping hits.
Lamela - great appearance, has to start next week v Huddersfield. Not just the goal, his energy full improved us.
Dele - looked energetic.
Overall I’m pleased. Conceding was annoying, and it wasn’t exactly free flowing, but we controlled most of the match away to a good side, Pochettino addressed our deterioration with an obvious but for once timely sub and we could have won by more. Something to build on.
Being caught on the ball in dangerous positions and putting teammates under pressure with errant passes and poor decisions throughout. I like Dier. I think he’s our best DM on form. Today he was bad.Dier was not awful mate.
Being caught on the ball in dangerous positions and putting teammates under pressure with errant passes and poor decisions throughout. I like Dier. I think he’s our best DM on form. Today he was bad.
Not going to agree. I expect much much more from him, and he’s capable of it.Not throughout, it happened a couple of times, which was sloppy. But his passing was much, much improved from the last few weeks.
On balance he wasn't awful.
Being caught on the ball in dangerous positions and putting teammates under pressure with errant passes and poor decisions throughout. I like Dier. I think he’s our best DM on form. Today he was bad.
Not going to agree. I expect much much more from him, and he’s capable of it.
Being caught on the ball in dangerous positions and putting teammates under pressure with errant passes and poor decisions throughout. I like Dier. I think he’s our best DM on form. Today he was bad.
How is Gazzaniga getting shouts for MOTM, literally made routine saves and was dodgy as fuck on crosses lol
I find it absolutely bizarre - bigotry, basically - to see multiple posts describing Dier's performance as lacking. You may as well all be the late, un-lamented BC ranting on about Walker: criticism related to preconceptions rather than performance.
Dier was transformed today. His passing was consistently penetrative, positive, attacking and accurate and his positional play was solid. In the first half, Dier and Dembélé totally dominated the Brighton midfield, winning the ball 20 or more times and entirely stifling every attempt by Brighton to construct an attack, while feeding the ball reliably to our attacking players, often in good positions.
But Hughton has made himself a pretty good team there, one who are very difficult to play at home. They defended with great resolution and organisation, letting us have the ball in un-threatening positions and then pressing when we entered the final third, until Murray unwisely stuck his arm out. Then they had to come out and play. But Hughton and his players had the understanding to work out that they couldn't just fly forward, they had to keep their shape and advance their pressing 20m, so they could win the ball in our half instead of close to their own goal.
It caused a lot of disruption and forced our defenders to do some work, but it also left room for swift attacks and finally one of those bore fruit. From the instant of the second goal, we got the ball back and regained control of midfield, until stoppage time.
They're a tough team to play at home. Good away win, well-controlled for most of the game. Our best players: Rose, Dier, Lamela and Gazzaniga, with Kane and Dembélé just behind.
It's good to see Gazzaniga developing into a confident, assured goalkeeper, just in time for Vorm to move on after this season.
You should know me far better by now to suggest I base any comment on a preconception. I call it as I see it, and today I saw a player selling his teammate short several times, a player who I stand up for most weeks.I find it absolutely bizarre - bigotry, basically - to see multiple posts describing Dier's performance as lacking. You may as well all be the late, un-lamented BC ranting on about Walker: criticism related to preconceptions rather than performance.
Dier was transformed today. His passing was consistently penetrative, positive, attacking and accurate and his positional play was solid. In the first half, Dier and Dembélé totally dominated the Brighton midfield, winning the ball 20 or more times and entirely stifling every attempt by Brighton to construct an attack, while feeding the ball reliably to our attacking players, often in good positions.
But Hughton has made himself a pretty good team there, one who are very difficult to play at home. They defended with great resolution and organisation, letting us have the ball in un-threatening positions and then pressing when we entered the final third, until Murray unwisely stuck his arm out. Then they had to come out and play. But Hughton and his players had the understanding to work out that they couldn't just fly forward, they had to keep their shape and advance their pressing 20m, so they could win the ball in our half instead of close to their own goal.
It caused a lot of disruption and forced our defenders to do some work, but it also left room for swift attacks and finally one of those bore fruit. From the instant of the second goal, we got the ball back and regained control of midfield, until stoppage time.
They're a tough team to play at home. Good away win, well-controlled for most of the game. Our best players: Rose, Dier, Lamela and Gazzaniga, with Kane and Dembélé just behind.
It's good to see Gazzaniga developing into a confident, assured goalkeeper, just in time for Vorm to move on after this season.
Because he made routine saves unlike Vorm.How is Gazzaniga getting shouts for MOTM, literally made routine saves and was dodgy as fuck on crosses lol
You should know me far better by now to suggest I base any comment on a preconception. I call it as I see it, and today I saw a player selling his teammate short several times, a player who I stand up for most weeks.
Insinuating that someone is drunk on the basis that you disagree with them, even strongly, is highly insulting and unnecessary.When I read this I imagined you staggering towards your keyboard, typing a few lines and then passing out on it!!
Wakey, Wakey lol