Tottenham’s Dier Lacking Confidence Amid Recent England Display
Eric Dier’s dip in form could be because of Victor Wanyama’s arrival to Tottenham this past summer.
Following yesterday’s goalless draw between Slovenia and England at the Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana, Tottenham defensive midfielder Eric Dier appears to be suffering from a lack of confidence according to Jamie Redknapp.
On the heels of a breakout campaign last season, Dier has not looked the same prior to a hamstring strain. In fact, getting injured has hurt the 22-year-old even more.
With any rest or an injury spell on the sidelines — even if Dier has recently recovered — this gives Victor Wanyama more time to cement himself in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI.
Against Manchester City just before the international break, Wanyama carried his good form to begin the season and made an emphatic mark in Pochettino’s 4-1-4-1 formation, stifling many of Man City’s attacks for the entire day.
Therefore, Redknapp believes that Eric Dier’s dip in form could be because of Victor Wanyama’s arrival to Tottenham this past summer.
“Eric Dier is not the player he was last season,” Jamie Redknapp told the Daily Mail (via Evening Standard).
“There was almost a strut to him last year with Tottenham and England, but I feel Victor Wanyama has had an effect on him.”
“There’s that little competition for places and he is slightly lacking in confidence.”
Dier wasn’t imposing his will against Slovenia like he normally does against opponents. And when he attempted a back pass to goalkeeper Joe Hart, England almost conceded a goal.
Redknapp noticed that the Englishman wasn’t in form — Dier has only returned to match fitness — but still believes he can become a future captain for England one day.
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“He was caught twice with back passes in the first half,” Redknapp added.
“When you’re playing well, your first thought is to play the ball forward but he was trying to take the safe option.”
“He’ll get through this and he could be England’s captain one day, but no doubt it’s made a difference to his game.”
If Eric Dier has suffered from a lack of confidence because of Victor Wanyama, then at the moment, a changing of the guards could be happening in the short term with the Kenyan international taking over Dier’s spot as Mauricio Pochettino’s holding midfielder.
As good as Dier played a year ago, Wanyama knows Mauricio Pochettino’s system better than anyone on the squad after working with him at Southampton. Even if it was for only one year.
Pochettino wants his players to relentlessly press the opposition and the 25-year-old has done just that since joining Spurs. As a midfield destroyer, Wanyama breaks up plays constantly and consistently, something that Dier can do, but not when the two are paired together.
Tactics tend to evolve over the years, and whether Pochettino tinkered with his system or not, it’s been apparent throughout the first two months that Wanyama has looked better than Dier after being reunited with the Argentine manager.
Since Spurs have only played with one holding midfielder during Mauricio Pochettino’s first two years in charge, that’s unlikely to change. So it goes without saying, if one player is playing better than the other, it would make sense to continue starting Victor Wanyama until Eric Dier has shown he can return to form.
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After all, the margin for error at the top of table can’t get away from Tottenham like it did last year when they picked up 13 draws and went winless in their final four games.
The time to capitalize with momentum on Spurs’ side is now, seeing as how they’re a point behind league leaders Manchester City and face West Bromwich Albion this Saturday.