Eric Dier

[brasil_spur]

It wasn't all that bad. The arm was where it was and the attack was stopped. If the arm hadn't been there, the ball would have landed well away from the situation anyway and the attack would still have been stopped. This really is a non-issue and Dier handled that well.

Wow, i'm honestly not sure how anyone can watch that and see it as anything other than poor defending. Overall I though he had a cracking game but there were several options in this moment that he could have taken and that was the least sensible. Maybe he did have such control that there was no way of it hitting the attackers torso instead and not being a stopped attack or no way that the ref could have let play continue and it not be picked up by VAR. But that's a lot of IFs and there were safer options he should have decided on.

 

[brasil_spur]

Ok, maybe. Then the question is was it THAT bad or important? If the arm wasn't there, the ball would have gone between the two players and landed behind them. It really isn't that big of a deal.

It isn't because you're stating the only other options was that the ball would have gone between the players. But in the moment he flicked the ball i don't think he was able to calculate it precisely enough to know he was kicking into the attackers arm and so he could easily have kicked it into his torso (we're talking fractions of a second or fractions of an inch timing here).

 

[chrissivad]

It's the type of defending that if it comes off it's amazing, but if it doesn't you are an idiot.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

But that's a lot of IFs and there were safer options he should have decided on.

Probably. I just can't understand why it warrants picking apart. It wasn't THAT big of a deal and had a happy outcome.

 

[brasil_spur]

Probably. I just can't understand why it warrants picking apart. It wasn't THAT big of a deal and had a happy outcome.

Because when you have aspirations of winning trophies these are the kinds of mistakes that your CBs can't be making regularly. The fact this worked out alright is great for us, but if Dier keeps making one or two of these mistakes each game then at some point we'll start dropping points. Does that make him a bad player - no, but it doesn't make him the best choice CB for a team looking to win things either.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

It isn't because you're stating the only other options was that the ball would have gone between the players. But in the moment he flicked the ball i don't think he was able to calculate it precisely enough to know he was kicking into the attackers arm and so he could easily have kicked it into his torso (we're talking fractions of a second or fractions of an inch timing here).

Well now you are the one with all the if's. If so and if this. The flick headed where it did and given that one trajectory that did happen, there was only two options; an arm in the way or no arm in the way, the outcome of both is averted attack either way.

 

[ILS]

Dier was quality last night. Yes he tried that flick and got lambasted for it from Jose but he brought an authority to that back line last night.

The problem comes when he is up against a Vardy type player, as someone else has mentioned he struggles with the ball over the top but you would hope Jose is smart enough to recognise that and play to our strengths.

I used to hammer Poch on here for never changing his tactics playing away to the top 6 but I don't think we have to worry with Jose. Yes he will get it wrong sometimes but he will get them right more often and play to his players strengths rather than an overarching one size fits all philosophy.

 

[Shadydan]

Funny how defenders are judged more harshly than forwards, Bale missing that 1on1 last week which would have put the game to bed rarely gets a mention but when Dier made an error which didn't result in a goal people go overboard, why?

 

[tiger666]

Funny how defenders are judged more harshly than forwards, Bale missing that 1on1 last week which would have put the game to bed rarely gets a mention but when Dier made an error which didn't result in a goal people go overboard, why?

You know why.

 

[taidgh]

Well now you are the one with all the if's. If so and if this. The flick headed where it did and given that one trajectory that did happen, there was only two options; an arm in the way or no arm in the way, the outcome of both is averted attack either way.

What about the option where it hits Wood's body and then he's in on goal? No one is saying Dier is shite - he had a really good game. But that was a mistake. It's okay to admit he made a mistake.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Because when you have aspirations of winning trophies these are the kinds of mistakes that your CBs can't be making regularly. The fact this worked out alright is great for us, but if Dier keeps making one or two of these mistakes each game then at some point we'll start dropping points. Does that make him a bad player - no, but it doesn't make him the best choice CB for a team looking to win things either.

But it wasn't a mistake, because the execution and the result lead to the desired outcome -> averted attack. For somebody who doesn't like many if's, you sure deploy them when it suits your argument.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

What about the option where it hits Wood's body and then he's in on goal? No one is saying Dier is shite - he had a really good game. But that was a mistake. It's okay to admit he made a mistake.

But it didn't go that way. The ball is evidently clear of the main body of each person. It was headed for the space in between the players. It might very well be that a professional footballer on a top level had just about enough awareness to know where the space was. We can't sit here and say that we KNOW that Dier had NO clue what he was doing.

 

[brasil_spur]

Well now you are the one with all the if's. If so and if this. The flick headed where it did and given that one trajectory that did happen, there was only two options; an arm in the way or no arm in the way, the outcome of both is averted attack either way.

OK, i guess we're not going to agree on this, i'm only adding IFs because you were. I'm quite happy with a non-IF stance of Dier ballsed up a defending situation and got lucky this time, but showed us that he's still capable of a mistake every game, regardless of the outcome of that mistake.

I do hope he can get rid of these mistakes though as he could become a very good CB for us.

 

[ajspurs]

It's the type of defending that if it comes off it's amazing, but if it doesn't you are an idiot.

It's David Luiz type defending to be honest, I'd never want to see my centre backs doing that.

 

[brasil_spur]

But it wasn't a mistake, because the execution and the result lead to the desired outcome -> averted attack. For somebody who doesn't like many if's, you sure deploy them when it suits your argument.

Mistakes can end positively, doesn't mean it wasn't a mistake just because the outcome was ok.

 

[taidgh]

But it didn't go that way. The ball is evidently clear of the main body of each person. It was headed for the space in between the players. It might very well be that a professional footballer on a top level had just about enough awareness to know where the space was. We can't sit here and say that we KNOW that Dier had NO clue what he was doing.

Yes it didn't go that way. But it could have. Why even try it? Why not just play back to Lloris? Or even hook it out of play? Simple and safer is better is all people are saying.

 

[brasil_spur]

Funny how defenders are judged more harshly than forwards, Bale missing that 1on1 last week which would have put the game to bed rarely gets a mention but when Dier made an error which didn't result in a goal people go overboard, why?

It's not really funny, same as why Goalkeepers can make 9 great saves and let in one howler and they are criticised for it. Also context is key - an attacking player like Bale isn't expected to score every clear chance he gets - a defender is expected to clear his lines in every dangerous attacking scenario. But yes that was a poor effort from Bale - who then didn't get a run out last night...

 

[Shadydan]

It's not really funny, same as why Goalkeepers can make 9 great saves and let in one howler and they are criticised for it. Also context is key - an attacking player like Bale isn't expected to score every clear chance he gets - a defender is expected to clear his lines in every dangerous attacking scenario. But yes that was a poor effort from Bale - who then didn't get a run out last night...

I'm speaking in general terms really not just about those two instances, defenders and goalies are harshly more adjudged than forwards and their errors tend to get highlighted more. Also I'd say players of that magnitude are expected to score much more times than not.

 

[DJS]

Had a good game but could have undone it all with that stupid flick.

And it’s no good being good all game and making a moronic error like that, he needs to learn from it if he wishes to remain first choice in a defence that needs to be keeping cleans sheets far more regularly.

I was fucking fuming at him when he did it and I hope Jose has a word too.

No space for silly dick moves like that, we have to be more efficient if we want to be serious contenders to win things.

 

[dagraham]

Yes it didn't go that way. But it could have. Why even try it? Why not just play back to Lloris? Or even hook it out of play? Simple and safer is better is all people are saying.

Yep and it’s one of the reasons Toby arriving transformed our defence.

If you break down his game he was not necessarily the best in any particular aspect. He was quick enough, without being rapid. He was strong enough, without being a man mountain. He was decent enough in the air, without being dominant. He was comfortable on the ball.

Most of all though, his positioning and in particular his decision making was spot on. 99% of the time he made the correct decision and after making a mistake on his debut I don’t recall him making any other glaring cock up’s for the rest of the season.