Eric Dier - Signed

[Luka Van der Bale]

You're great at seeing the point

I think it's very generous to say Sherwood would make a good scout. It's strange to claim Suarez is the exception to the rule when we have little evidence to suggest this is the case.

 

[guiltyparty]

 

[KingNothing]

View attachment 15019

Well he did Ghost past the West Ham defense..

 

[crokey]

Well he did Ghost past the West Ham defense..

A Stark contrast to Dawson

 

[HildoSpur]

Eric Dier cost $4 million. He has been immense - aside from the ridiculous stat that he has scored 2 goals already, including the winning goal on his debut, he has shown to be calm, composed, has superb movement in and around the box making him a danger at set pieces and is very versatile looking equally at home at centre back and right back.

If he keeps this up he will be the signing of the century.

Did I mention I liked him?

 

[armstrong17]

i've been buying him for years on fifa career mode, so i'll take the credit for scouting this one...

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

I was very much a fan of this signing anyway, but I have been surprised at how 'battle ready' he has proven to have been in the 2 Prem matches so far. Brilliant stuff, and once again it looks like we could be getting the steal of the season tag considering the lowly price we got him for.

 

[WiganSpur]

Said it in the match thread. The guy just looks like a right footed Vertonghen.


Thought he might have been iffy going forward at RB but put in an incredibly mature performance. Nippier than I thought and extremely comfortable on the ball. The header topped it off.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Looks an incredible player/prospect for his age group.

 

[Spursidol]

I thought we were signing a player who we would need to ease in gently - maybe 20 or 30 games in his first season, at least half in EL and domestic cups.

How wrong can you be !

He's taken to it like a duck to water.

Just to put things into perspective though - he's scored 3 goals in first team matches, but that includes 2 already for Spurs. Think his whole play has taken a giant step up !

 

[Sweech]

A Stark contrast to Dawson

I see what you did there, and I approve.

 

[Syn_13]

It's only been two games but I have to say this is not what I was expecting from this lad. I hadn't watched him at Lisbon but I was expecting a typical English rough and ready defender. His education at Lisbon has provided him with the knowledge of how to actually use the ball. I was expecting more of a young Dawson, but he's looking more like a young Vertonghen.

He's clearly playing with confidence after a great start and also playing with that fresh exuberance a young player has when given the chance to play at the big level, like Townsend at the beginning of last season. I was watching the way he plays and was very surprised. He's pretty good on the ball, all things considered. He control and dribbling, whilst not flashy, looked comfortable and natural. He didn't look like a typical centre back trying to juggle the ball between his feet. His passing was good, making sensible passes both backwards and forwards, not going for anything too risky but at the same time keeping the ball moving well. His crossing was pretty decent, he put a few balls into the box right into the danger areas which could have resulted in goals had players been there. He's quicker than he looks too, even if he's not lightning paced like Walker. As a centre back I expected him to stay back a lot and not want to join in with the attacking phases but he was always up there providing support when needed and got back well. In ways it reminded me of how well Ivanovic adapted to playing right back after starting as a centre back.

We really need a lot more games to make a true judgement, but if he keeps this up then Walker will find it difficult to get back into the team. The real test will be against teams like Liverpool where he's going to have a hard time trying to support the attack whilst having to be mindful of players like Coutinho and Sterling. What I can say is that having watched him I'd never have guessed he was a centre back as he looks comfortable out on the right. It makes me wonder if he really is more of a right back, because if this isn't his best position and he's an even better centre back then we've got one hell of a prospect on our hands.

 

[dagraham]

Didn't watch the West Ham or Shalke games, so today is the first time I've seen him.

Have to say I'm surprised just how composed he is. Looks a fantastic signing and I hope he starts at RB ahead of Naughton next Sunday.

 

[markiespurs]

Didn't watch the West Ham or Shalke games, so today is the first time I've seen him.

Have to say I'm surprised just how composed he is. Looks a fantastic signing and I hope he starts at RB ahead of Naughton next Sunday.

Today was also the first time I've seen Dier play and I was very impressed, looks to be a fantastic signing and a steal at the price we paid for him.

 

[Yorkville Spur]

He reminds me of a more athletic Corluka. Here's hoping he can push on from a great start. The first real test is coming.

 

[raf18]

From the West Ham post match presser. Skip to 3:23

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

It's only been two games but I have to say this is not what I was expecting from this lad. I hadn't watched him at Lisbon but I was expecting a typical English rough and ready defender. His education at Lisbon has provided him with the knowledge of how to actually use the ball. I was expecting more of a young Dawson, but he's looking more like a young Vertonghen.

He's clearly playing with confidence after a great start and also playing with that fresh exuberance a young player has when given the chance to play at the big level, like Townsend at the beginning of last season. I was watching the way he plays and was very surprised. He's pretty good on the ball, all things considered. He control and dribbling, whilst not flashy, looked comfortable and natural. He didn't look like a typical centre back trying to juggle the ball between his feet. His passing was good, making sensible passes both backwards and forwards, not going for anything too risky but at the same time keeping the ball moving well. His crossing was pretty decent, he put a few balls into the box right into the danger areas which could have resulted in goals had players been there. He's quicker than he looks too, even if he's not lightning paced like Walker. As a centre back I expected him to stay back a lot and not want to join in with the attacking phases but he was always up there providing support when needed and got back well. In ways it reminded me of how well Ivanovic adapted to playing right back after starting as a centre back.

We really need a lot more games to make a true judgement, but if he keeps this up then Walker will find it difficult to get back into the team. The real test will be against teams like Liverpool where he's going to have a hard time trying to support the attack whilst having to be mindful of players like Coutinho and Sterling. What I can say is that having watched him I'd never have guessed he was a centre back as he looks comfortable out on the right. It makes me wonder if he really is more of a right back, because if this isn't his best position and he's an even better centre back then we've got one hell of a prospect on our hands.

It really goes to show what can happen with English players if they are open to broadening their experiences and going abroad, although in this instance Dier has been there since a child. There are all too little English players who could potentially have great techniques, that are open to or do ply their trade in foreign climes where their technique would be allowed to develop.

Other countries reap the benefits of having their flair players go to the PL and learn how to be tough, have to be physically strong and fit and cope with playing at a fast pace for 90 mins if need be, and its a shame for England that more players don't go the other way.

The national team would be in a far healthier state if more of its players had had the chance to know how to play when the games are slower, more tactical and more in need of guile, craft and vision.


As an example, I'm very happy that Ryan Gauld aka baby Messi from Dundee Utd ( they are my Dads team ), chose to move to Sporting Lisbon as opposed to going to England. Where he's at he will be allowed to develop all the correct qualities he has instead of being kicked all over the place.

 

[chinaman]

He's already paid back half his fee with those goals.

 

[Kempus]

Dier has been superb in both of his EPL games, so far. I see no reason for Naughton to be starting over Dier next week.

 

[Dan Yeats]

I want to see him started at centre forward next match