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He was immense today. Really did look the part.
+ one broken ankle
Growing into this position. Comes across smart, with some coaching and learning he might just be suitable to play there more.
We still better get a CM tho.
We still better get a CM tho.
Dier has been v.good the whole season. The issue for me was that he seems to get visibly tired after 65 minute onwards but today it wasn't much of an issue. I have confidence in him playing the DM position that's for sure.
We are restricting the opposition to nothing..absolutely nothing bar Stoke who did well playing the ball to their left and crossing it in time and time again. Through the middle though we are really restricting the opposition from doing anything these 4 games and a lot is down to Dier.
We are restricting the opposition to nothing..absolutely nothing bar Stoke who did well playing the ball to their left and crossing it in time and time again. Through the middle though we are really restricting the opposition from doing anything these 4 games and a lot is down to Dier.
Dier impressed big time today. A few players have been criticised for not showing heart, but that can't be said for Dier. He gave his all against United and Everton
Didn't back away from big tackles and wasn't afraid to square up to the bigger boys. I remember last season when he got in Costa's grid and started laughing. He's passionate, talented and is quickly becoming the rock in our midfield that we desperately need.
As for Cleverly. No one likes to see someone stretchered off the pitch. It was a great challenge, just a shame that he's looking at a stint on the sidelines. Hope he recovers quickly.
Didn't back away from big tackles and wasn't afraid to square up to the bigger boys. I remember last season when he got in Costa's grid and started laughing. He's passionate, talented and is quickly becoming the rock in our midfield that we desperately need.
As for Cleverly. No one likes to see someone stretchered off the pitch. It was a great challenge, just a shame that he's looking at a stint on the sidelines. Hope he recovers quickly.
I think most people agreed he had the skill set for DM being powerful, aggressive, not bad with the ball compared to most defensive players and sort of leader like at a young age.
Question was more around his positional discipline and decision making being young but he was great today.
With Alderwierald, Verts, Wimmer and potentially Carter-Vickers at CB it might be best for Dier to become our DM, he has no competition at the moment and maybe just one if we buy during this window.
Also England don't have a proper DM so it could help his England career. Last proper DM I remember England using was old Scott Parker so it's a open position.
Question was more around his positional discipline and decision making being young but he was great today.
With Alderwierald, Verts, Wimmer and potentially Carter-Vickers at CB it might be best for Dier to become our DM, he has no competition at the moment and maybe just one if we buy during this window.
Also England don't have a proper DM so it could help his England career. Last proper DM I remember England using was old Scott Parker so it's a open position.
Parker was criminally underused, same with Carrick. All for the shitty Lampard/Gerrard combo which never worked.
Still early days for Dier in this new defensive midfield role, with still a lot to learn.
But today, he was simply a tank.
But today, he was simply a tank.
I wana hear Dier's own thoughts about this new position. I mean, today showed that he surely is capable of becoming a regular, solid CDM (... he just mainly needs to improve his positioning). And I know he played as one earlier in his career. But it would be interesting to find out if he sees himself as a CDM in the future, or if he wants to return back to CB. I guess, atm, he might say that he doesn't care right now.
To me Dier seems to be the guy who doesn't care where the coach plays him, he just does his best and rolls with it.
Thought Dier looked good yesterday, sharp and played with desire and committment. May turn into a vocal leader for us which we have lacked for a long time.
For a lad who's still only 21 and had only played some CDM for Sporting (albeit very well) prior to now, he's looking like quite the ready player today, and definitely one for the future. The best part of his great performances lately is that he's nowhere near the finished article. Unless we can get someone of Wanyama or, better yet, Krychowiak's level in I am inclined to leave Dier just where he is and let him grow--I am a mite worried about squad depth at his position though.
Tottenham’s Eric Dier has been pleased with his performances in his new role as a holding midfielder, but he admits he doesn’t know if Mauricio Pochettino will continue to play him there.
Dier showed his versatility last campaign, playing as both a centre-back and a right-back in his first season at Spurs – and he has now been given another position, starting all four of the opening games in central midfield, protecting the back four.
While he initially struggled in the first half on the opening day at Manchester United, the 21-year-old has grown into the role and put in an impressively solid display against Everton on Saturday as the Lilywhites kept their first clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw at White Hart Lane.
Given that Spurs have signed two centre-backs and a right-back, while selling central midfielders and so far declining to sign a new one, it seems Dier’s move could be a permanent one. Yet the player says he has not been told what his role will be in the long-term.
“I don’t know, you’re asking the wrong person, it’s up to the manager,” he said. “I think I’ve done quite well since I’ve played there for these four games. Hopefully the manager will keep his trust in me and I’ll keep trying to do well in there.
“I played there for one manager at Sporting Lisbon. I hadn’t played there for a long time but I have played there before so it wasn’t completely new to me. I’ll just do my best.
“I’m happy to play anywhere, I’ll play in goal if he wants me to. The manager has shown a lot of trust in me, I just want to repay him.
“The main difference is that there are things behind you. At centre-back and right-back, everything is normally in front of you, so the fact that there is lots of stuff happening behind you, I think that’s the main thing to try and get used to.
“Maybe when I watch football I’ll look a little bit more [at the holding midfielders] now, as I did when I was playing centre-back and right-back. That’s naturally what you do in your head - when you watch football, you watch people playing in your position.”
While Dier says he has not received any specific instructions, he has brought a valuable physicality to Tottenham’s midfield - and he believes he can offer something in possession as well.
“I haven’t really spoken to him [Pochettino] about it a lot,” said Dier. “He has put me in there and that [physicality] is one of my attributes so I guess that’s what they’re going to get. I just try and play my game in there and do my best.
“I think I can do something on the ball too. I’m not going to be like a No10 – I’m a holding midfielder and try my best to break up play. But when I’ve got the ball I try to distribute it as well as I can.”
While Dier can reflect on his opening four games with some satisfaction – particularly Saturday’s game against Everton – there is some frustration around the Lane as Spurs go into the international break without a win.
They had 20 shots on goal at home against the Toffees but the game ended 0-0, leaving Tottenham with their third successive draw and sitting 15th in the early-season standings.
“I think we did well [against Everton],” said Dier. “We defended well and got a clean sheet, which is important - we needed that. Not to get the goal is disappointing because we had a lot of chances, that’s all we needed really.
“Was it our best performance so far? I think so, if you don’t count not scoring the chances. Apart from that, I think for 90 minutes we played really well, as the manager wants us to, with intensity. We dominated the game for most parts. [Arouna] Kone had a header for Everton but I think that was about it.
“Against Man United, I think we played well - we didn’t really have any chances but I think we played well. Obviously it was a disappointing goal we conceded there but it was no-one’s fault – it was a freak goal really.
“Against Stoke we played really well for 70 minutes – I thought it was our best game until this last one, and in those last 20 minutes we just lacked a bit, probably mentally. We needed to be stronger and hold on.
“Then at Leicester again it was the same thing – we played well for 80 minutes and just needed to hold on at the end. We have got to do better with that, we know we have.
“Against Everton we played really well and it was the opposite really. We defended really well, did everything right and just haven’t managed to get the goal.”
Tottenham have only scored three goals in their opening four fixtures and Harry Kane – who struck 31 times in all competitions last season – is yet to get off the mark.
But Dier said: “I don’t think anyone should be worried, I don’t think Harry should be worried. We’re not worried. There’s a lot of pressure on him now but I’m sure once he gets that first goal, he will score loads.”
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/sport/foot...is_new_role_as_a_holding_midfielder_1_4214203
Dier showed his versatility last campaign, playing as both a centre-back and a right-back in his first season at Spurs – and he has now been given another position, starting all four of the opening games in central midfield, protecting the back four.
While he initially struggled in the first half on the opening day at Manchester United, the 21-year-old has grown into the role and put in an impressively solid display against Everton on Saturday as the Lilywhites kept their first clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw at White Hart Lane.
Given that Spurs have signed two centre-backs and a right-back, while selling central midfielders and so far declining to sign a new one, it seems Dier’s move could be a permanent one. Yet the player says he has not been told what his role will be in the long-term.
“I don’t know, you’re asking the wrong person, it’s up to the manager,” he said. “I think I’ve done quite well since I’ve played there for these four games. Hopefully the manager will keep his trust in me and I’ll keep trying to do well in there.
“I played there for one manager at Sporting Lisbon. I hadn’t played there for a long time but I have played there before so it wasn’t completely new to me. I’ll just do my best.
“I’m happy to play anywhere, I’ll play in goal if he wants me to. The manager has shown a lot of trust in me, I just want to repay him.
“The main difference is that there are things behind you. At centre-back and right-back, everything is normally in front of you, so the fact that there is lots of stuff happening behind you, I think that’s the main thing to try and get used to.
“Maybe when I watch football I’ll look a little bit more [at the holding midfielders] now, as I did when I was playing centre-back and right-back. That’s naturally what you do in your head - when you watch football, you watch people playing in your position.”
While Dier says he has not received any specific instructions, he has brought a valuable physicality to Tottenham’s midfield - and he believes he can offer something in possession as well.
“I haven’t really spoken to him [Pochettino] about it a lot,” said Dier. “He has put me in there and that [physicality] is one of my attributes so I guess that’s what they’re going to get. I just try and play my game in there and do my best.
“I think I can do something on the ball too. I’m not going to be like a No10 – I’m a holding midfielder and try my best to break up play. But when I’ve got the ball I try to distribute it as well as I can.”
While Dier can reflect on his opening four games with some satisfaction – particularly Saturday’s game against Everton – there is some frustration around the Lane as Spurs go into the international break without a win.
They had 20 shots on goal at home against the Toffees but the game ended 0-0, leaving Tottenham with their third successive draw and sitting 15th in the early-season standings.
“I think we did well [against Everton],” said Dier. “We defended well and got a clean sheet, which is important - we needed that. Not to get the goal is disappointing because we had a lot of chances, that’s all we needed really.
“Was it our best performance so far? I think so, if you don’t count not scoring the chances. Apart from that, I think for 90 minutes we played really well, as the manager wants us to, with intensity. We dominated the game for most parts. [Arouna] Kone had a header for Everton but I think that was about it.
“Against Man United, I think we played well - we didn’t really have any chances but I think we played well. Obviously it was a disappointing goal we conceded there but it was no-one’s fault – it was a freak goal really.
“Against Stoke we played really well for 70 minutes – I thought it was our best game until this last one, and in those last 20 minutes we just lacked a bit, probably mentally. We needed to be stronger and hold on.
“Then at Leicester again it was the same thing – we played well for 80 minutes and just needed to hold on at the end. We have got to do better with that, we know we have.
“Against Everton we played really well and it was the opposite really. We defended really well, did everything right and just haven’t managed to get the goal.”
Tottenham have only scored three goals in their opening four fixtures and Harry Kane – who struck 31 times in all competitions last season – is yet to get off the mark.
But Dier said: “I don’t think anyone should be worried, I don’t think Harry should be worried. We’re not worried. There’s a lot of pressure on him now but I’m sure once he gets that first goal, he will score loads.”
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/sport/foot...is_new_role_as_a_holding_midfielder_1_4214203
