MLS All-Star Game Set to Give an Indication of Tottenham's Plans for Eric Dier
At last. With July almost over, Tottenham Hotspur's meeting with the MLS All-Stars this week will belatedly give us our first real look at how the Premier League outfit's first team is developing this pre-season.
The recent behind-closed-doors, training-ground friendlies have been praised by assistant head-coach Jesus Perez for their convenience in not disturbing other aspects of the team's preparations, per Tottenham's official website. Still, for those of us on the outside it has been frustrating not to get a proper glimpse at how things are shaping up.
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One such player, whose summer will have been intriguing to follow a little closer up to this point, is Eric Dier. Part of the travelling party for the trip to Colorado, he is one of those expected to feature at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday.
The August 2014 signing from Sporting Clube de Portugal (#NotSportingLisbon) began his Spurs career brilliantly. A debut goal to see off West Ham United was followed by another derby strike in the win over Queens Park Rangers a week later.
Over the following months Dier demonstrated his versatility with spells at right-back and centre-back. Beyond the initial eye-catching introduction he would go on to justify Mauricio Pochettino's faith in him in the here-and-now (even if it the opportunities were partly expedited by the absences of others like Kyle Walker). A well-fought duel with Chelsea's Diego Costa in the Capital One Cup final and two important assists in the 2-2 draw at Southampton are among the highlights.
Still only 21, it is fair to say it was also a tough learning curve at times for the Englishman playing his first professional campaign proper in his birth country. His first run at centre-back in mid-winter/early spring showed promise, but notably also identified a need to sharpen his focus if he is survive at the top level.
Dier's season concluded with the news England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate had decided to leave him out of his final squad for the European Championships. The manager reasoned that, whereas Dier would still have time at this level, it was the final opportunity for some of the older centre-backs—per TheFA.com's Nicholas Veevers.
It was difficult not to think back to the player's decision to drop out of an U21 squad earlier in the season and wonder if that had influenced Southgate's choice. Whatever the reason, in hindsight Dier would likely have done better than the timid, at-times-woeful Ben Gibson and Liam Moore (John Stones' participation-shortening concussion grants him some exemption from such criticism).
As things have worked out, Dier is not too unhappy to be taking on the MLS All-Stars and the final fortnight of preparations with a full pre-season under his belt. "In previous summers I’ve had international matches and that has meant I’ve missed the start of pre-season, so this is actually the first pre-season I’ve had from the beginning," he told Spurs' website.
Speaking about Dier ahead of the north Londoners' final match of last season against Everton, Pochettino might have had an inkling his player was not making it beyond Southgate's preliminary squad. Asked whether his England Under-21 counterpart had given him any indication which position he would use Dier, the Tottenham head coach replied "no...we need to wait and see if he is in the final list."
The Argentinian was happier to talk up his pleasure at his young charge getting on with the different assignments he had given him over the course of 2014-15.
"My idea always with the player is if you have the opportunity to play in different positions you can be a better player," Pochettino opined. "This is very important for your development.
"Eric Dier...has a profile for playing like a centre-back. He is a centre-back but can play in different positions, because can play like a midfielder and can play like a full-back.
"I think that this is better for the player to develop in different positions. I think you can be a better player and this is important."
Pochettino said similar things about Dier the previous November. But his more recent argument for the player's versatility has taken on extra intrigue in the wake of a tidbit of information arising from the behind-closed-door win over Brentford.
Michael Caley of SB Nation's Cartilage Free Captain deduced Dier's second-half involvement came in midfield, a position he had not previously played in for Spurs (but had been used in at Sporting). During Tuesday's open training session in Denver, Dier confirmed to the Arizona Spurs Supporters Club he had indeed been training in the more advanced role.
Pochettino trusting Dier to do the job would make more sense of his willingness to let both Etienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli leave recently. Even with the all-round midfield capabilities of Nabil Bentaleb, Mousa Dembele and Ryan Mason, leaving the team without a more natural defensively minded option ran/runs some risk.
So far as Dier's playing time is concerned, using him in central midfield may be Pochettino's way of providing minutes that may be otherwise limited in defence by the recent arrivals of Toby Alderweireld, Kieran Trippier and Kevin Wimmer. He has the mobility to do a job requiring more pressurised movement and retention of the ball. Not to mention the defensive nous to provide that layer of protection to the back-four behind him (albeit, again, he still needs to address his concentration).
Where Pochettino takes things from here will make for a fascinating watch.
A year of working with Dier as a defender would not automatically go to waste by now deploying him in midfield. Similarly to how it helped Ledley King in his early years, it may ultimately improve him as a footballer.
However, it does run the risk of slowing Dier's development at the back. A couple of months tried in midfield that ultimately fail could end up with others having moved firmly ahead of him in the pecking order at right and centre-back.
Nonetheless, it would be a surprise if Pochettino intends to declare Dier in one position any time soon. His function as a utility player may well be the best use of his talents for now, making him useful while also developing different aspects of his game, as advocated by his coach.
Whatever is to come, the MLS All-Star game is likely to give us our first real indication of what is ahead for Dier, as well as year two of Pochettino's Tottenham.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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