After years of being the man with no position, Eric Dier has finally made a decision on where he wants to play for Tottenham – central defence.
In an exclusive interview with the London Evening Standard, Dier described the heart of the back line, where he played in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Wolves, as his “best position”, rather than as a holding midfielder.
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Pochettino converted the 26-year-old into a midfielder at the start of the 2015-16 season and he soon became a regular there for club and country.
But in recent times, it has been the odd game here and the odd game there for Dier; a lack of positional consistency which has made it even harder for him to rediscover his form after a difficult period with illness and injury.
Dier has always been happy to be a team man but says now – as he prepares to enter what should be the peak years of his career – is the time for him to settle in at centre-back.
“That’s the position I see myself playing, that’s where I see my future,” he told the Standard. “I have always been very politically correct on the subject because of many different [sic] reasons, but I’ve come to a decision. It’s been something that isn’t new for me.
“The old manager knew where I stood for a long time about my position and centre-back is where I see my future and I think where I can be the best I can be. With Pochettino, I started to play there this season, in the two games before he left, and I’m happy I got the chance to play there under Mourinho.
“I always knew it would happen eventually. With Pochettino, we spoke about it over many years, not just this year. The most important thing is the team, what the team needs from its players at that time.
“But now I’m at a stage in my career where I want to be playing in my best position. That’s it, really.”
One wonders if this is a final play from Dier to save his Spurs career, with his contract up at the end of the 2020-21 season.
He appears to have fallen out of favour in midfield where there will surely be further investment in the summer. Meanwhile, Jan Vertonghen and Juan Foyth’s futures at the club look very doubtful, freeing up a defensive spot for Dier.
The decline in his mobility and passing ability over the last couple of seasons would make me more comfortable with Dier as a centre-back than a midfielder.
But do I see Dier as a starting centre-back for us? No I don’t.
If he lost two stone he might turn back into something that resembles a footballer
He should be a centre back on Hackney Marshes and I doubt he would be good enough for that based on his current showings
He should be a centre back on Hackney Marshes and I doubt he would be good enough for that based on his current showings
No. Not even in midfield. Well not at THFC.
I fking hope not.