Betting on Eric: How Dier Can Transform The Spurs Midfield

Suffice to say that transfer deadline day did not go as many Spurs fans had envisaged this year. Much of the focus this week has been on their failure to sign a striker to support Harry Kane. Yet just as significant to most of the White Hart Lane faithful has been the failure to sign a recognised holding midfielder.

The absence of such a player was evident last season. With Etienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli failing to establish themselves Mauricio Pochettino, and Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb both seemingly better-suited to more advanced roles, the Spurs defence noticeably lacked protection, and the team duly conceded more league goals than in any campaign since 2007/8. However, despite the sale of four midfielders over the summer months, including both Capoue and Stambouli, no new holding man arrived.

The ire of Spurs fans over this apparent failure is understandable. Many feel that Daniel Levy has consistently risked the success of the club by failing to back managers in the transfer market and address obvious weaknesses in the squad, and that this is simply another example of that irksome trend. That might normally be a fair judgement, but in this particular case, the lack of activity in the market might have more to do with Pochettino appearing to have unearthed a midfield diamond in the rough within his existing squad over the summer months: Eric Dier.

Having been used exclusively in the centre or on the right of defence in his 28 league appearances last season, it will have surprised many to see the 21 year old start all four games so far this season in the heart of midfield. Yet Dier has put in a number of assured performances in his new role. Last weekend’s game against Everton, in particular, saw him make more touches (74) than any other player on the pitch. He also led the game in attempted tackles, interceptions, and pass completion – a staggering 98%, made all the more impressive by the fact that he attempted more passes than any other player except for Everton’s James McCarthy.

Given his predominantly defensive upbringing, it is perhaps unsurprising that Dier’s defensive numbers are so strong. What some might not have expected, however, is the strength of his attacking contribution. Against Everton, the Englishman attempted more forward passes into the final third than any other Spurs player, while 64% of all his passes went forward. This will be music to the ears of Pochettino. The Argentine manager has seen his side struggle to transition effectively from defence to attack over the past year, but Dier’s performance against Everton will give him hope that he might have found a player capable of providing both the defensive protection and attacking impetus that has been lacking to this point in his tenure.

Moreover, since his first competitive performance in the holding role against Manchester United on the opening day of the season, Dier has improved game-on-game in terms of touches, shots, and pass accuracy, all of which suggest he is working hard to add further attacking strings to his traditionally defensive bow. There is work to do – notably in terms of getting his head up and getting passes off quickly to launch counter attacks – but Dier has performed extremely well for someone supposedly playing in an unnatural position.

That is not to say that Spurs have not taken a risk in failing to bring any new defensive-minded midfielders in over the summer. There is a notable lack of cover if Dier were to get injured. Yet the Englishman’s performances to date merit the continued faith that will almost certainly now be placed in him. And with Pochettino’s track record of developing young talent, combined with Dier’s evident hunger to improve, Spurs fans might just find they have another gem on their hands.

 

 

Data gathered from whoscored.com. Analysis provided by Statistico Soccer