@thfcsteff, I get you like Dier, but my opinion is he is not good enough as either a centre back or defensive midfielder. A bit like you and others consistently calling out Dembele when he,in your opinion, does not reach the heights you expect of him. There is nothing unreasonable in the criticisms of him, it’s just that you don’t agree with them- fair enough.
That Toby has not yet performed to his previous level does not detract from Dier’s poor performances. None of our defenders are currently covering themselves in glory. However, Verts and Toby have shown themselves to be excellent centre backs and Sanchez a very able back up. Dier hasn’t proved himself as a centre back in the same way.
At set pieces, I have noticed that he gets bullied far too easily which is surprising for a big guy. If he is going to hold on to players then he needs to be stronger or alternatively rather than holding on go all out to win the ball in the air ahead of the bloke he is marking. In midfield when we are pressed high, he simply struggles to wrest back control for us, that’s what I meant by him going missing. We need our central midfielders to do that and a fit Wanyama, Dembele before this season and a fit Winks all play through the press better than him. He makes mistakes when under no pressure. I think he is the weakest of our centre midfield options and I am certain if all of them were fit he would not be in the starting 11.
But that is my opinion I am not asking you to agree with it. This is what a forum is for and I really dislike the ”whipping boy” narrative for honest criticisms of a player. It potentially shuts down debate even if that is not the intention. Let’s be honest criticisms of Dier do not hold anywhere near the same level of vitriol as those directed against the likes of Sissoko or Aurier.
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