- Jul 25, 2005
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Those first four words are the issue. He isn't shit but he isn't that good either. Players don't get criticism for no reason, there is always some truth behind it. For me the issue is that he makes some of the worst decisions at CB. Long passes to nobody, headers that go up but not out, shanking clearances (even the other day v Bournemouth he somehow gave them a corner clearing a ball away that you would expect to fly up the pitch), short passes to nobody like he did v Wolves which ended up costing us our lead, he switches off completely at times and people run in and score in front or behind him, he makes fundamental errors like when he headed to Mo Salah to score last season at the TH. He is slow and cumbersome, cannot turn quickly and if a striker gets half a yard on him you just know they are getting a shot in.The lad isn’t shit and would improve most PL teams and therefore would be a good choice for BM.
Even those games where he was superb for 60, 70 minutes there always seemed to be a point where he would lose concentration and do something moronic to cost us a goal. Let's not forget how many goals we shipped last year. We were so easy to score against it was becoming a joke, we would be all over a team, they would have one attack and we were a goal down. I'm not saying it was all down to him but he was there week-in week -out unable to do anything about it.
The truth is that he was barely fit for purpose in a defensive set up with two other CBs to share the load and in this Ange system every inadequacy he has would be fully exposed. He needs a team set up to play to his strengths- I heard Gary O'Neill talking about Craig Dawson and how Wolves make sure the other defenders protect him from getting exposed by getting around him, allowing him to use his aerial and blocking attributes but not having to chase down speed merchants.
Dier has been a good servant to Spurs but he hit his expiry date long ago and I am relieved that we have a manager who can see that. If Poch had come back he would probably be on a new contract to 2029 and skippering the side right now! Lord knows how he will do in Germany but that's their issue. I have no beef with ED, he is a lovely fella by all accounts. I wish him all the best and we move on with the players we have.
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