Eric Dier. The name won’t strike many chords with most Tottenham supporters for various reasons: Lack of finesse, stoic demeanor, average pitch performance, etc. Always a forgotten player rounding out the bench or hampered with an injury. Almost a stale chess piece that Pochettino has grown old of utilizing. But as the page flips on Dier’s sixth year at Tottenham, there is a pressing need for the rugged defender to reclaim a role within a Spurs squad caught in a limbo.

Eric Dier joined Tottenham Hotspur on August 2nd, 2014. The first signing of the Mauricio Pochettino era at White Hart Lane, and the unlikely goal scorer of the first goal (a memorable extra time winner vs. West Ham) under the new skipper. He cemented his place as a versatile centre-back with an ability to play in Pochettino’s preferred midfield pivot or as an out & out right fullback. Dier quickly carved himself a leadership role within the squad and developed a passion for the lily white. As seen by the impressive display of bruising tackles laid on Chelsea players as Tottenham’s title challenge fell short to the Foxes in 2016. Or the fiery interview he gave after Spurs routed City four goals to one at the Etihad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WDBf4a4DJU

The swiss army knife defenseman developed a spectacular partnership with Mousa Dembele in the midfield pivot as Spurs pushed for their first Premier League title in ’15/16; and then as a centre-back in Pochettino’s often used back three the following season as Tottenham netted their highest ever point tally. Following the ’16/17 campaign Dier seemed to take a back seat as he found himself in a battle for minutes with fellow destroyer Victor Wanyama in the ’17/18 season. He then spent the majority of last season injured and made only 20 appearances in the Premier League – after making 34+ the previous three years.

As the new season starts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London there has been some rumblings of moving Dier on before the European transfer window closes and recovering some of the funds spent on the highly touted Ndombele. Thought by some to not possess the talent to be a member of a squad with sights on the Premier League/UCL title, or the ability to develop much further as a player, Eric Dier will look to return to old form as his sixth season at Spurs ticks ahead. And an in-form Dier is something Spurs could desperately use.

Whether it be in a back three, defensive midfield, or even cup game rotation, Dier brings a certain tenacity that seems to have escaped Tottenham since the beginning of 2019. He comes with a lily white heart and fights like hell for the other ten Spurs’ players beside him when he gets the nod from Pochettino.

With turnover and contract uncertainty continuing as Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, and Jan Vertonghen all enter the last year of their contracts, there has never been a more important time for the squad to gather and push-on. And to do that, Tottenham will need players like Eric Dier to keep the young heads pointed forward.

Here’s to the return of the Eric Dier of old. Who wears the badge with an innate passion and flies into challenges as recklessly as Danny Rose.

Tottenham is made by players such as Dier. Eric Dier is Spurs.