Against:
He doesn't have a sprint in him, this is missed when tracking a runner (counter to this by way of an example was Dembele, very good pace at tracking a runner and showing them away from goal, holding up an oppo attack so the defence can gain shape.)
His biggest weakness is he can be pressed into a mistake. This is possible because he can't dribble past the presser (not many DM's can) and he can be pressed into a poor decission.
He has a habit of a lazy pass at least once every game. I'm not talking about a misplaced pass or even a pass that is caused via being put under pressure BUT a pass that's missed when he's NOT under any pressure, the impact of these is that because there is no pressure on him other players are taking up more positive positions e.g. FB's pushed up very high, the team are confident to be brave. So, when that pass goes straight to the oppo, the effect is they can counter on us with more than likely a numerical advantage.
He's not a two touch player, he a 3.
For:
He's a leader. He was widely tipped to be England's Captain before it was given to Harry. He has shown his metal numerous times for us and sets the tone in many a big game with a big tackle. He takes no shit of the oppo.
His positional awareness and reading of the game is fantastic, he knows where to be to affect the game, he blocks passing lanes. His decision making is also great, he knows when to stand the oppo up, drop back or challenge/engage them. His communication with those around him is also excellent e.g the interchange of him dropping off while covering whilst someone engages the oppo (or visa versa) is all from his direction. Disagree completely with you in that he CAN press, this is even more important this season as our press is much deeper this year (it's a mid-block).
He's good in the air (better than any of our CB's).
Whilst he doesn't possess pace, he has an engine on him, he's as strong in the last min as he was in the first.
He is an effective passer but when he's not being pressed/put under pressure. Please also bear in mind his role is to recycle the ball e.g when Dembele was next to him in a double pivot he would feed him a 5yrd ball, Dembele would then do what Dembele's does but this was his role (Winks does it better because he passes it quicker).
He's versatile. There used to be just him that Poch could deploy in 3 different positions (DM, CB in a 4 or 3 at the back and RB) but Poch has also been developing Kane, Dele and Erisken to also be highly effective in multiple positions. Nonetheless, it is Dier's versatility that Poch uses without the need to make a sub that helps him and the team find solutions, also because of his fitness he has been vital to cover injuries to Dembele/Wanyama + Vertonghen/Toby and latterly Walker. Do not underestimate this, we have missed this badly this year.
He absolutely gets what Poch is about, what Tottenham are about. I see him as one of our own as a result of this, he plays with that about him.
I loved him next to Dembele, thought that partnership was excellent. It never seemed to work on the occasions when he and Wanyama started together (no issue when Wanyama was sometimes brought on to pack out the midfield to see a game out). With Dembele gone we do have a problem to fix in midfield, it's a jigsaw puzzle that I think is down to specific skill sets missing rather than coaching (obviously Winks and Skipp have lots to learn) but we do need to quicken up the midfield and I don't see this in any of CM's/DM's, this player must be able to dribble and break an oppo press, someone comfortable with the ball at his feet and can be relied on not to lose possession easily. Our players are good at certain aspects but lack in other facets, need to find a more rounded player that has high energy and fizz. (I'll be honest I'm stuck who this should be, obvious answer is Dembele, but he was so unique I'd wager there isn't another out there, I see a Racatic a Modric two very obvious styles that we don't have (I think Winks and Skipp can develop towards this but that's 3, 4, 5yrs down the road) then I see an N'Dombele type player would also would be perfect. It's a conundrum but almost certainly needs a player to be identified and brought in.
