One day, Jesualdo Ferreira compared Eric Dier to Beckenbauer. I obviously thought that comparison was far exagerated but I clearly understood the old man’s point. Eric Dier has everything we want to see in a world class center back. Apart the obvious skills like antecipation, positioning, tackling, aerial abillity, Eric has something that is rare on football, specially on center backs: Composure. Lots and lots of composure.

There are 2 types of center backs: the composed ones like Beckenbauer, Baresi, André Cruz, Ricardo Carvalho or Piqué. And there are the agressive ones like Pepe, John Terry, Lúcio or Chiellini. Eric Dier belongs to the first category and that’s why I think he will be one of the greatests. I look to European football and I can’t find one young center back as composed as him. I simply can’t. Right now he is already a regular in under21 England squad and I think that seeing him on the next level is only a matter of time specially in a period when England is struggling to find the next John Terry, Jamie Carragher or Rio Ferdinand.

Eric Dier has finally stablished himself as a regular in Sporting Clube de Portugal’s team. He’s not a firm starter because our manager think that, right now, we need experience on the defensive line in order to achieve the regularity that we are showing this season but he is the first option to replace Rojo or Maurício when needed. He is climbing the ladder, step by step and I believe that, in next season, he will be a regular starter sending Maurício to the bench because he obviously is a better footballer than the Brazilian.

Ofensively, Eric is near perfect. That composure he has allows him to take the best decision when the ball is on his feet. Short pass or long pass, forward or sideway, he allways find a way to start the attacking movement of our team with simplicity and quality. I would say, with “pedigree”, showing the world that he is an exception of the English centerbacks type, that mostly relly on power and strenght than technical ability. And I simply love that! Apart from that he also is a decent freekick taker and he can play as a full back or defensive midfielder which confirms his versatility and understand of the game.

I’m remembering (with delight) his best moment in this season. That tackle he made against Jackson Martinez was like a goal. For people who like the defensive part of the game, that tackle was pure genious! It was like a 30 yard strike entering on the top corner of the net. It was that good. And If we analyse that moment we see in Eric’s face no fear, no panic and no effort! It was completely natural. He saw Patricio’s fault and he simply knew that it was up to him. And he fucking delivered! That moment will remain in my head as one of the key moments of the present season and probably the match winner against the Fruity side. Not bad for a 20 year old boy.

I thought that moment was the one that Eric would stablish himself as a full starter but our manager, Leo Jardim, didn’t think so. He probabily didn’t want to overstep his evolution just because one perfect game, maybe the manager still sees some gaps in his game. And it turned out right because we kept winning with some strong defensive performances against Marítimo and Guimarães. I hope Eric will take it “the English way”, meaning that he will continue working hard with no complaints waiting for his time to shine.

I don’t know if he already agreed to sign a new contract with us but I really hope so. I think he is the perfect match to play alongside Rojo and I believe that this partnership can build a decent career in Sporting. If his career progresses the right way I really think that he can be one of the best centerbacks in the world in the next decade.

So, Eric…If you are reading this text, please make all of us Sporting fans happy and please sign a new deal with the club! We really love your personality, your hard work and your skills and now, when we see our club heading in the right direction, we want you to be a very important part of that!

The Sportinguistas really want you! Do you kow why?
Because….There’s only one King Eric!

 

* todas as sextas, directamente de Angola, Sá abandona o seu lugar cativo à mesa da Tasca e toma conta da cozinha!