Exclusive: Robinson rips apart Tottenham player he was ‘Surprised’ to see start v Sheff Utd
Paul Robinson ripped apart Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier’s display in the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United and admitted the 25-year-old was lucky to stay on the pitch.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Laura O’Leary, the former Spurs No.1 shared that he was surprised to see Dier start at centre-back especially with Toby Alderweireld available for the clash.
The English midfielder was making only his second Premier League start of the season against the Blades after previously being an unused substitute in the club’s last three league outings.
Robinson pointed out that Dier could have received a second yellow card for shoulder barging a Sheffield United player and pointed out that not only was Dier slow on the ball alongside Davinson Sanchez but at one point he failed to mark anyone.
When asked if Dier caused his own troubles by getting booked early in the match, Robinson told Football Insider: “I was surprised to see Dier start at centre-half with Alderweireld on the bench, they want to play and come out the back but with Sanchez and Dier the transition of the ball wasn’t quick enough.
“He got a yellow card very early on and he was very lucky to stay on the pitch as he shoulder barged on of the Sheffield United players.
“And shortly after a Sheffield United player was booked for a similar incident so he was lucky to stay on the pitch.
“But him and Sanchez as a partnership got pulled out of place, they struggled when defending from wide areas as Sanchez kept ending up in front of the far post and was dragged out his area.
“There was one time when I saw Harry Kane back defending as Sanchez was outside the near post and Dier wasn’t marking anyone.
“So for me, Dier that was his first Premier League start since Brighton when they got beat away, he started in the cup, and I was surprised to see him start.”
Dier has only played six times across all competitions this season and has not only been deployed as a centre-back at times but has been utilised as a midfield enforcer.
The 25-year-old has played 216 times for Spurs since joining the club in 2014 and is contracted to stay with the London club until 2021.
In other Tottenham news, it can be REVEALED that the club have received an emphatic answer after tabling defender offer.