Eric Dier has finally been banned and fined for confronting a fan at the end of Tottenham’s FA Cup game against Norwich City.
The midfielder turned defender was punished for breaking one of the FA rules, and his conduct was considered threatening.
Because he has been an important member of the starting XI, he will be a miss for Jose Mourinho, but it isn’t the end of the world.
Mourinho has built his defence around the Englishman as we chase a place in the top six this season, however, we still have enough players to fill the void that he has left behind.
Four games is a huge number of matches to miss in a time like this when the games come thick and fast.
However, we have enough defenders fit and I back the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez to do a good job in his absence.
Mourinho has earned a reputation as a manager who knows how to organise his team to defend well, and I think that the Portuguese will be able to use the remaining defenders at his disposal to great effect.
It is not as if Dier is all of a sudden Virgil van Dijk and some will argue that Alderweireld or Vertonghen are more accomplished in the central defender role.
If it was Giovani Lo Celso or Harry Kane that received a four-game ban then I would definitely feel depressed about it but sorry to say, not with Dier.
Why did it take the FA 4 months to come to this decision?They’re just a bunch of overpaid suits who know nothing about football and as Finn pointed out in an earlier piece totally non transparent.The FA always seem to be reactive not proactive and are very happy to operate in their exclusive boys club.
By comparison,the Italian FA yesterday banned a Lazio player for biting an opponent only four days ago and with a fine of only just one fifth of Dier’s.