Just thought that our Mr Versatile deserves a bit of praise. It's no coincidence that our upturn in form has coincided with the return of Kane, Alli hitting the sort of form he showed last year, Eriksen starting to tick and Dembele back to his silky, physically imposing best. Lloris has had a magnificent season, our defence has been superlative for the best part of 18 months now, and Wanyama has been a wonderful addition - strong, physical, disciplined, expert at breaking play up.
But Dier, too, has seen his form improve dramatically in the last month or so. He was one of our best players last season and arguably England's best player at the Euros, but he struggled in the early part of this season with injuries, form and a lack of consistency. Wanyama made that defensive anchor position his own, and Dier wasn't quite able to perform at his highest level and his confidence seemed to take a bit of a knock as a result. He wasn't the only one - Eriksen, Alli, Dembele and Kane were all struggling to reach peak form too - but it did seem particularly noticeable with Dier.
His versatility is both a blessing and curse. In the earlier part of the season it was a curse. He was being shoved all over the place - defensive mid, centre-half, right back, etc - but wasn't able to reach the standards shown the previous year.
His transformation into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league last season was a stroke of genius by Poch. By all accounts, he had experience playing there for Sporting, but it was still a calculated risk, particularly given the excellent form of Mason and Bentaleb. It paid off in style. Although our recent conversion to 3-5-2/3-4-2-1, etc, might seem like a change in style, we were effectively playing three at the back at times last year. It was one of the reasons why we were so good for the middle part of the season. Dier dropped back in, effectively player as a sweeper, allowing Rose and Walker or Davies and Trippier to bomb on.
Wanyama isn't as good on the ball as Dier, and can't play that pivot role as well, which is why - without Dier - that system wasn't working so successfully. Wanyama lacks the confidence to receive the ball from Lloris and build things from there. When he has Dembele alongside him, he's an absolute beast, but his game is more to do with breaking play up, winning tackles and overturning possession than passing and creativity. The weakest part of Wanyama's game is probably his distribution, but his all-round performance makes up for that.
The best way of fitting Dier and Wanyama in the same team is to play three at the back. We played Dier and Wanyama as the midfield pairing earlier in the season, and it didn't quite work out. Too defensive, too similar, not enough spark. Wanyama was performing better than Dier, so Eric was dropped.
Still, though, he has played plenty of games this season thanks to his versatility, filling in at right-back and centre-half. In recent weeks he has cemented that position on the right of the three. Playing as a three suits him far more than playing as a pair. It gives him the opportunity to spray those excellent passes, make those brilliant challenges (not many do slide tackles better than Dier) and read the game better than he does when at right back or centre-half. We seem to have found the perfect balance in the last few games - fitting Dembele, Dier and Wanyama in the team, getting the most out of Eriksen, Alli and Kane, allowing Rose and Walker to fly down the wings, and keeping the defence as solid as ever. As long as one of Jan or Toby is there, we can cope with one of them missing. If they were both out, I think we'd have a problem.
Anyway, Dier is back to his best form after a difficult period. He's kept his head down, kept working hard, shown willingness to play in a number of different positions and has always understood that it's the team that matters above everything else. Trippier has made similar statements - always ready to play, always ready to step in to do a job for the team. Dier is the sort of player you want in a young, emerging side - hungry, eager to learn, no ego, no airs and graces, 100% committed to the cause. That's why Poch places so much trust in him and is eager to see him playing in the team most weeks.
He was one of the first names on the teamsheet last season, and he's now a first-team regular again, albeit in a different position. Long may it continue, because he's a fantastic young professional with a brilliant attitude.
I love Eric Dier
posted on 16/1/17
Dier is real team player. On a few occasions when hearing him speak in interviews you could tell he cares about what people are saying about the team and he wanted to prove people wrong. I agree he is captain material.
posted on 16/1/17
Nice read Lane
He has not had a chance in midfield with Dembele this season (as far as I remember), and I felt he got a harsh ride early doors for what was not really his fault but a tactical error going with him and big Vic together.
Even at CB he was judged for not being Toby (although who is?) Despite us still being sound defensively.
RCB is a lovely position for him. He is a good regular fullback, a good centreback, and is comfortable on the ball in midfield. It allows him to utilise bits from all of them and frees up Walker to attack, much like Jan on the other side in fact, and the main man himself Toby.
Such a versatile back three that
posted on 16/1/17
The main issues I have with going 3 at the back long term is when the fixtures pile up we:
A) Do not have any respite for Wanyama as Dier is starting too
B) Have the rookie CCV in the second wave of three, more pronounced if Vertonghen is out for a long period.
C) Currently have little suitable cover for Rose and Walker. Davies will be looking at back three duties ylu would assume, and is not suited anyway. Trippier jury out.
posted on 16/1/17
Completely disagree that Dier is better on the ball than Wanyama
A versatile, capable, defensive player is very handy to have in the squad tho
posted on 16/1/17
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 9 hours, 46 minutes ago
(not many do slide tackles better than Dier)
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A good article and my only contribution is on the issue of slide tackles - a good defender should never have to go to ground. If he has to then it means he's been caught out of position.
To go further, the best defenders don't make tackles, full stop. They don't need to.
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Good point 👍
posted on 17/1/17
comment by Analog (U17200)
posted 12 hours, 2 minutes ago
Completely disagree that Dier is better on the ball than Wanyama
A versatile, capable, defensive player is very handy to have in the squad tho
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Depends what you mean I suppose.
Carrying the ball, Wanyama is better. So strong. Never looks like losing it.
If meant by range of passing I would say Dier is comfortably better. Wanyama not bad by any stretch, but Dier has a better range
posted on 17/1/17
Dier is an exceptional player who has just turned 24, so still learning and developing his trade.
He is in my opinion what we used to call a utility player (Steve Perryman once said every team should have a good utility player).
I think you could probably play him at striker and he wouldn't let you down.
As for comparisons with Wanyama, totally different players in my opinion. Victor is a beast who dominates and bullies opposition players, has better control than I think most of us realised and is very comfortable in a DM role.
Eric has I believe a bit more skill and vision, is more versatile and has goals in him too.
posted on 17/1/17
comment by Nice one Cyril (U20060)
posted 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 9 hours, 46 minutes ago
(not many do slide tackles better than Dier)
_________________________________
A good article and my only contribution is on the issue of slide tackles - a good defender should never have to go to ground. If he has to then it means he's been caught out of position.
To go further, the best defenders don't make tackles, full stop. They don't need to.
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Good point 👍
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????
what about the amazing ledley king tackle on arjen robben when he went to ground to save a certain goal at the lane. probably the best recovery tackle I have ever seen
posted on 17/1/17
"Recovery" being the appropriate word.
Don't get me wrong, everyone loves seeing a great last ditch tackle that saves a certain goal. Certainly up here it gets as big a cheer as a goal sometimes.
But the fact is the best defenders don't make tackles, and anyone famed for his sliding tackles is constantly having to make those tackles due to being out of position.
Paolo Maldini, the best defender in my lifetime as far as I'm concerned, used to average 3 tackles every 2 games. If it's good enough for Paolo, it's good enough for me.
posted on 17/1/17
There are lots of reasons you may make a slide tackle. You cannot be in every area of the pitch at once, and if one of your colleague gets skinned or has one dropped in behind him, and you have to bust a gut to get across, it may be your only option.
My best ever tackle was one. I was at left-back, there a dink over the top, and I ran diagonally all the way across to the right side of the D to block a shot. Did not know much about it once I got there, but certainly not my fault