Eric Dier

andersj

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Thought he was very good yesterday. Gave away a penalty but it was Pogba...

Always been a much better CB than midfielder. Remember Pochettino making the point that Dier could be Englands best CB. Dier, for some reason, insisted on playing in midfield.

Will be interesting to follow going forward if he is used as a central defender. Contract is up in a year too. He will be 27 by then and might be a very attractive option for a club looking for a CB.
 

balaks

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He was excellent tonight and was a real leader at the back. Great to see him looking well and fit after his illnesses over the past year or two. Quietly converting into a very good CB
 

Adam-Utd

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A much better CB than a midfielder that’s for sure!
 

Pogue Mahone

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Thought he was very good yesterday. Gave away a penalty but it was Pogba...

Always been a much better CB than midfielder. Remember Pochettino making the point that Dier could be Englands best CB. Dier, for some reason, insisted on playing in midfield.

Will be interesting to follow going forward if he is used as a central defender. Contract is up in a year too. He will be 27 by then and might be a very attractive option for a club looking for a CB.
Pogba fecking waltzed past him like he wasn’t there. Not sure “but it was Pogba” is a valid excuse for a supposedly top class CB. If an opposition player took the piss out of Lindelof like that we’d never hear the end of it.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Let's wait until end of the season first or at least give him one full season. He could turned himself back to David Luiz or end up being a good CB.

I actually just want to make a note about the game against United when he made a good block on Martial's chance I thought that was also part of a poor defending from him. If you look at him in that chance, he was giving Martial lot of spaces to get away from him rather than stay tight on him. I would call it good recovery block rather than good defending, he made the poor defending initially but made it up with crucial recovery block.

Apart from the two poor defending he made, he didn't put anything wrong against United & West Ham, so that's where I'll give the credit.
 

Rozay

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Pogba fecking waltzed past him like he wasn’t there. Not sure “but it was Pogba” is a valid excuse for a supposedly top class CB. If an opposition player took the piss out of Lindelof like that we’d never hear the end of it.
If it was Neymar we might give him a pass. I thought Dier was good against us. Very aggressive, and a good block on Martial’s shot.
 

wythyred

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Also thought he was good against us.

There is a player in there with Dier however I’m not sure he has the intelligence or natural talent to be able to unlock it.
 

Scroto Baggins

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A much better CB than a midfielder that’s for sure!
He never really matured into that midfield role and kind of stagnated in that position. Not great under the press, never checked his shoulder as a pivot, provided nothing going forward. Was always a decent, not great, CB though.
 

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Thought he was very good yesterday. Gave away a penalty but it was Pogba...

Always been a much better CB than midfielder. Remember Pochettino making the point that Dier could be Englands best CB. Dier, for some reason, insisted on playing in midfield.

Will be interesting to follow going forward if he is used as a central defender. Contract is up in a year too. He will be 27 by then and might be a very attractive option for a club looking for a CB.
If our players had a performance like his, we'll be complaining about it.
 

andersj

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Pogba fecking waltzed past him like he wasn’t there. Not sure “but it was Pogba” is a valid excuse for a supposedly top class CB. If an opposition player took the piss out of Lindelof like that we’d never hear the end of it.
Why did not Winks get down to cover him? That is a lot worse than getting dribled past by Pogba. Anyone can get dribled. Particulary by Pogba.
 
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Sandikan

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Why did not Winks get down to cover him? That is a lot worse than getting dribled past by Pogba. Anyone can get dribled. Particulary by Pogba.
Winks obviously thought Dier had it under control and didn't expect that sublime skill from Pogba.
 

andersj

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Winks obviously thought Dier had it under control and didn't expect that sublime skill from Pogba.
That is not how a team defend. In a team players always cover eachother. Part about being a team.
 
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andersj

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https://theathletic.com/1895584/202...o-levy-vertonghen/?source=user_shared_article

An interesting article about him. A couple of paragraphs on him:

«He is especially close with Jan Vertonghen, who he plays board games with and discusses issues of politics and the wider world. But he’s just as comfortable conversing in Portuguese with Lucas Moura or in Spanish with Erik Lamela. He also has a sharp sense of humour and enjoys sparring with Dele.

Dier really couldn’t be further from the stereotypes that, hopefully less so now, surround footballers. He has a wide-ranging hinterland that includes photography, politics and other sports like tennis — his dad Jeremy is a former professional and the family are big fans of Rafael Nadal.»

(...)

«In his spare time, Dier is studying for a social sciences degree at the Open University and last year, as part of the course, wrote an essay on the 2011 riots titled: “If the radical perspective on riots is poverty, unemployment and inequality, what is the conservative perspective?”»

I think he has the type of personality Man Utd has been looking for lately. Similar to Maguire, Fernandes, Rashford and McTominay. A bright professional and a leader.

Is he talented enough? I think so.
 

crossy1686

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https://theathletic.com/1895584/202...o-levy-vertonghen/?source=user_shared_article

An interesting article about him. A couple of paragraphs on him:

«He is especially close with Jan Vertonghen, who he plays board games with and discusses issues of politics and the wider world. But he’s just as comfortable conversing in Portuguese with Lucas Moura or in Spanish with Erik Lamela. He also has a sharp sense of humour and enjoys sparring with Dele.

Dier really couldn’t be further from the stereotypes that, hopefully less so now, surround footballers. He has a wide-ranging hinterland that includes photography, politics and other sports like tennis — his dad Jeremy is a former professional and the family are big fans of Rafael Nadal.»

(...)

«In his spare time, Dier is studying for a social sciences degree at the Open University and last year, as part of the course, wrote an essay on the 2011 riots titled: “If the radical perspective on riots is poverty, unemployment and inequality, what is the conservative perspective?”»

I think he has the type of personality Man Utd has been looking for lately. Similar to Maguire, Fernandes, Rashford and McTominay. A bright professional and a leader.

Is he talented enough? I think so.
This is all great and he sounds like a very cultured lad, but is he good enough to play for United? I have my reservations.
 

andersj

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This is all great and he sounds like a very cultured lad, but is he good enough to play for United? I have my reservations.
I agree that is the most relevant question. And that is why I think we should keep a close eye on him the next month or so.

In my opinion he is talented enough. Both technically and physically he is one of the best centerbacks in the league. He is physically strong and good in the air, but compared to Maguire his a lot more agile and have more pace. The fact that Pochettino used him a lot as a midfielder tells us a thing or two about his ability on the ball aswell.
 

Scroto Baggins

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I agree that is the most relevant question. And that is why I think we should keep a close eye on him the next month or so.

In my opinion he is talented enough. Both technically and physically he is one of the best centerbacks in the league. He is physically strong and good in the air, but compared to Maguire his a lot more agile and have more pace. The fact that Pochettino used him a lot as a midfielder tells us a thing or two about his ability on the ball aswell.
He is decent as a CB don't get me wrong, but for me would he start over Maguire? No. Although Maguire did not cover himself in glory with Bergwijn rounding him like he was a training cone. But that can happen to any CB in a one on one with rapid/tricky players, that is why one on ones are dangerous. Or a counter attack with a 2 on 2, you need your team covering you if possible, not failing at it like Winks.

Granted Dier brings some flexibility to the table which Pochettino was a huge fan of, because it allowed Spurs to change shape depending upon phase of play and transition. Dier is faster than Maguire sure, but that doesnt say much. Jose has him partnered with Sanchez who is the one relied upon to cover in behind.

Would he be a good squad player? Absolutely. But would he go from being one of the first names on the team sheet under Jose to sitting on the bench here? And is a signing like this top priority? I would say no.
 

The Boy

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Whats happening with his charge into the stands? I was expecting him to be banned for the restart possibly for the rest of the season, but it seems to have completely gone away
 

andersj

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He is decent as a CB don't get me wrong, but for me would he start over Maguire?
But I think he would start next to him. Instead of Lindelof. I remember Dier once being the player at Spurs with highest top speed during a season. He does not have extreme pace, but he is more than ok. Furthermore, he is very good on the ground (despite Pogba making a foul of him).

I’m not sure about him either to be honest. I rarely am sure about centerbacks. I was very positive to Maguire years prior to us signing him but did never feel sure. In Diers case he has also wasted time in a position where his potential is not as high. That makes him a bit harder to assess.

But I do think Dier is a very interesting player worth the risk if he, due to his contract, will be available for a decent fee. At 26 he would normally enter his peak years. Jaap Stam was 26 when he came to Man Utd. So was Steve Bruce, Ronny Johnsen and Maguire. Same goes for Van Dijk when he arrived at Liverpool or Carvalho when he arrived at Chelsea. For a lot of fans that was when they started to really get to know these players. Most of us know Dier already as he has been a high profile player for a very good club in England. I do think that add some sceptism towards him. At the same time it gives him some of the experience he needs to succeed at Man Utd.
 

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Always thought he was a good centre back and a pretty crap midfielder. Same as Rice.
 

awop

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The FA should at least ban him for this faux-Vidal haircut.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Let's wait until end of the season first or at least give him one full season. He could turned himself back to David Luiz or end up being a good CB.

I actually just want to make a note about the game against United when he made a good block on Martial's chance I thought that was also part of a poor defending from him. If you look at him in that chance, he was giving Martial lot of spaces to get away from him rather than stay tight on him. I would call it good recovery block rather than good defending, he made the poor defending initially but made it up with crucial recovery block.

Apart from the two poor defending he made, he didn't put anything wrong against United & West Ham, so that's where I'll give the credit.
Too early to judge right? Back to Luiz esque again.
 

LawCharltonBest

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Remember that summer we needed a DM and the media effectively said it was a either Matic or Dier...

... And I think I was one of the ones who wanted Dier
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Remember that summer we needed a DM and the media effectively said it was a either Matic or Dier...

... And I think I was one of the ones who wanted Dier
Never wanted him, Dier is terrible. Always wanted Fabinho at that time.
 

C'mon FC

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He reminds me of Andreas Ottl at Bayern back then. A player who should never play for a top team nor in 1st devision.
No idea why I keep seeing him on the pitch in the starting squad. Any explanation other than Mourinho wants to get sacked?
 

Inigo Montoya

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He reminds me of Andreas Ottl at Bayern back then. A player who should never play for a top team nor in 1st devision.
No idea why I keep seeing him on the pitch in the starting squad. Any explanation other than Mourinho wants to get sacked?
Absolute coward wherever he plays. How he’s at Spurs is beyond me.
 

FootballHQ

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I don't see the hype from first few posts about him at CB at all, he's ponderous there.

When he first break through at Spurs he was effective enough in the DM position. Big problem in last 18 months is his accuracy of passing has massively declined, constantly gives the ball away move for some reason.