Antonio Conte has been mocked after he compared Spurs defender Eric Dier to Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci.
Dier joined Tottenham Hotspur from Sporting Lisbon in 2014. The 28-year-old has made over 300 appearances for Spurs and while he started his career as a defensive midfielder, he has been transformed into a center-back.
Speaking about Dier, who has been called up to the England national team by Gareth Southgate this month, Conte said (via Express h/t Football 365) :
“If you compare him with some of these important central defenders, don’t forget Eric started his career as a midfielder.
“In modern football it means you can use him as a central defender but also as a number four. With the ball, Bonucci can be a really good example for him. But Bonucci did a lot in his career.”
“Eric has just started this process, but for sure Leo is a really good example for him because we are talking about an important player.”
“He won a lot with Juventus and the national team. I hope Eric can have this type of career. Since I arrived [at Tottenham] I found many players with not much confidence. There is only one way, to try to raise this confidence.
“Especially with the players where you understand there is this quality and the space to make these players work and get them to an important level.
“Eric is one of those players. But I repeat for him this has to be only the start. Otherwise, I will be very angry with him.”
The comments attracted criticism from TalkSport pundit Tony Cascarino. He said:
“He’s had a decent start to the season but comparing him to Bonucci is a bit of a long one for me at the moment, I’d hold back on that one.”
“I wouldn’t have that he’s as versatile as Bonucci, maybe he was a failed midfielder more than a midfielder, he didn’t pull up any trees. I think he’s not bad, I’m still reserved in my opinion over the course of a season on Dier.”
To be fair on Conte, he never actually outright compared Dier with Bonucci but just mentioned that the Juve legend as an example that Dier should follow. And he is spot on – Dier must continue to improve. He’s still a long way from being able to become anywhere near as good as someone like Bonucci, but he has the potential to become a great defender if he listens to his manager.
Slabhead is atrocious. Wokegate will fail again despite the rich talent pool at his disposal.
Agree on all of that, BT. We were linked with decent defenders but ended up spending money on squad players bar a 33-year-old who I can’t see defying Father Time, as quality as he clearly is. Same old with ENIC.
Sadly think you may be right. Do one, Levy.
Possibly why it’s felt he’s also better in a back three as well.
I think Brick Top has nailed it.
You lot probably dont understand my dislike of him as he is an ok defender.
He looks blud, he talks blud, he even walks blud but on the pitch he defends like a ballerina (doesnt dominate the attacker on headers and still turns his back and drops – thanks from the King of Snides Ronaldo there).
A special mention to our friend Dav though what a slide and it almost cme off but Dav mate one moment often defines a baller for me.
For Dier it is that photo of him wincing when C-L beat him to the header and we lost 0-1.
For Dav it is that photo against Palarse when he wandered to the edge of the box for their corner (still dont know what he was doing there).
On a lighter note the moment for Bent. was it his first game and he came on and did that very skillful and slightly dangerous dink on the edge of the box.Very South American and yes I know Dav is as well…………….lol
Dier was tight on Maddison, and got his leg and foot in to block it. The shot just squirted through.. That was a lucky goal over which the commentators slobbered ridiculously. Maddison did well to get a swing on it, but the contact was not solid. It just happened to find the edge of the net.
Dier does lose focus at times while getting caught laying off and watching the development. However, I cannot agree at all about any lack of ferocity or aggression. He and Hojbjerg really are the two who carry the hard enforcer staff on the pitch, with Romero now adding his in as well. Dier is aggressive in the air also, at both ends of the pitch.
We are going nowhere and winning nothing with players in our defensive line ups like Dier, Davies, Sanchez, Royal and Sessegnon. I cannot see how Conte cannot appear to see that or perhaps he does and simply has not been backed with the quality he needs, If so and if we fail to strengthen with real quality in January and fail to qualify for CL football next season then Conte will not sign a contract extension and neither will Kane in my opinion. Son was not smiling even after he scored a hat trick. Something is not right behind the scenes and I suspect Levy can not be far away from that issue and I suspect he keeps Pooch’s telephone number tucked under his pillow.
Dan Burn should be ahead of Maguire. Actually, a random geezer from your local pub team will most likely do better
He lacks aggression and awareness to be a top notch defender. At his age I just can’t see much improvement ahead. He’s a mid-table defender, nothing more nothing less. We’ll never win the EPL or CL with the likes of Dier and Davies. We need 1 or 2 CBs of Romero’s quality depending on the formation
He instinctively steps back when playing.which worked for him in midfield when we had a back 4.
but he still steps back in the 3 and at times isn’t tight enough on an attacker or ability to draw a player on to him when in possession.
He is back in the England squad because we have a shortage of quality CBs.Howeer Southgate is making a rod for his own back if he persists with Maguire,who is unable to get proper game time at Utd.
And this from a man who promised to pick players in form and not on their name.I don’t think we will progress very far in the WC.
Is it me or should he have done more to close dowm Maddison for his goal?
He was merely using Bonucci as a benchmark for Dier. He’s a long way off though. Bonucci wouldn’t have conceded that goal from a corner against Lisbon on Tuesday.
Correct, he was a central defender who made his debut as right back. He was shuffled about as he couldn’t get in our back four. He was pressed into midfield alongside Dembele and had an outstanding season and got into the England World Cup squad playing that position. Scored a long range free kick foe England in the position. Then like Trippier, he seemed to return from the World Cup with part of his mind missing, we signed Wanyama, Dier got an injury and he never got back to that level. Since then it’s been a gradual slog into his current form as a central defender. Which is his actual position anyway and always was.
He didn’t start his spurs career as DM. He literally played right back the game (his debut) he scored his first goal against west ham. But naturally has always been CB, couldn’t get into starting 11 (toby&vert) and therefore was transformed into DM