Saturday 29 August 2015 18:20, UK
Mauricio Pochettino’s surprise decision to play Eric Dier in midfield could be vindicated in the long term, writes Adam Bate. With the help of coaches past and present, we examine why this is a player Tottenham should invest time in…
When Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino started the season with Eric Dier in midfield, there were questions. And not all of them were polite. Even calmer fans wondered what this said about the club's transfer policy. But while Spurs' season has got off to a slow start, few can point the finger at the 21-year-old in midfield. He's shown an aptitude for the role.
Those black boots might have screamed functional but Dier has offered more than that, even popping up with the opening goal against Stoke. Fears over his distribution and the challenge of receiving the ball surrounded by bodies have proved unfounded. In fact, it was the slack passing of specialist midfielder Nabil Bentaleb that cost Spurs at Old Trafford.
That game against Manchester United on the opening weekend was a quiet triumph, despite the defeat. Dier's impressive ability to cut off the passing angles – pressing when necessary and holding his position where appropriate - brought some calm to Tottenham without the ball. Pochettino saw enough to continue, with Bentaleb the man to make way for Ryan Mason.
"I made the decision from the start of pre-season that we needed to give the option to Eric Dier to play," said the Spurs boss last weekend. "He played well in midfield and was comfortable in that position. He played it before in the national team; in Portugal they play like a centre-back or holding midfielder - and I am very happy with his performance."
Pochettino was referring to Dier's time in Lisbon with Sporting and while those experiences might have gone under the Premier League radar, they did prepare him for this role. He once lined up in midfield in the Lisbon derby against Benfica at the Stadium of Light. It's the sort of test that's helped prepare for this fresh challenge.
Speaking to him back in 2013, Dier name-checked Nemanja Matic and James Rodriguez among his tougher opponents in Portugal and it highlights the benefits of his time overseas. "I think it is great to come and play abroad," he told Sky Sports. "It makes you a more complete player in my opinion. It's all about possession and keeping hold of the ball. I'm just used to that because that's what I've grown up doing."
There's been a lot of growing up to do but Dier is a fast learner. There was an assist on his first appearance for Sporting against Braga – "a big game to make my debut in" - and a goal in his second. He repeated the feat by scoring in his first two matches for Tottenham, while playing at full-back.
That versatility is an asset his manager recognises. "Eric's skill is he can play in different positions on the pitch," added Pochettino. "It is good for him because he is young and he improves a lot. When you play in different positions you add to your game and so gain better tools to be a better player."
Dier has always been an all-rounder. Former England Under-20 coach Peter Taylor took him to a World Cup in Turkey and recalls that talent well. "He's very good in the air and a very good striker of the ball," Taylor told Sky Sports. "Even free-kicks, he can smash them in the top corner himself."
There have been challenges too. Initial issues with the pace and physicality of the Premier League were to be anticipated. "In Portugal it's a lot hotter than over here so perhaps in some ways the training was more casual as a result," added Taylor. "I felt the tempo of his training hadn't been as high as the other English boys. I wanted him to be more at it in training and he took that on board."
That had been apparent even during a spell training with Everton in the 2011/12 season. "It was a shock to me at the beginning," Dier told Sky Sports. "Everything is different really - the way you are coached, training, matches etc. So it was a bit of a shock to the system and took me a good six months to get used to it."
The good news for Spurs supporters is that history suggests Dier gets used to it in the end. "I still think there is more to come from Eric," added Taylor, while England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate has already identified him as one of "leaders in the group" for the forthcoming European Championship campaign.
"I think Eric's had a really good season," Southgate told reporters at St George's Park in the summer. "His progress this year has been outstanding. He's maturing and he's really coming out of himself. Confidence-wise on and off the field, he's developing really well." His long-term future may well lie at centre-back, but Spurs can still hope to reap the long-term benefits of Dier's latest learning curve.
