Playing for 90
Fansided

Roy Hodgson’s love for Jack Wilshere over Eric Dier is an English embarrassment

By Rucker Haringey

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 25: England manager Roy Hodgson speaks during a press conference, on the eve of their international friendly against Germany, at the Marriott Hotel on March 25, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Annegret Hilse/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 25: England manager Roy Hodgson speaks during a press conference, on the eve of their international friendly against Germany, at the Marriott Hotel on March 25, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Annegret Hilse/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Roy Hodgson claiming that Eric Dier is in Jack Wilshere’s shadow defies all logic

Given the way Roy Hodgson speaks about Jack Wilshere you’d think he was the second coming of Pele for the Three Lions. News flash for Hodgson, Wilshere hasn’t played all season long and even if he were fit, Eric Dier should be the preferred option as a defensive midfielder.

Somehow, Hodgson is under the impression that Eric Dier and Danny Drinkwater are “still in the shadow of Jack Wilshere.” The statement is almost laughable. I can only hope this is some sort of motivational tactic by Hodgson to get the best out of Eric Dier in the upcoming round of friendlies.

If he’s serious, it’s an absolutely ridiculous statement to make. There’s no rational basis to select Wilshere over Dier at this point. Wilshere is not the type of magnificent talent that England can’t live without. The fact that he hasn’t been fit enough  to play a match all season long should disqualify him from casting a shadow over anyone in regards to Euro 2016.

More from Euro 2016

In the interest of full disclosure, I must inform all of you that I am a Tottenham fan and as a result, despise Wilshere. With that being said, it forced me to consult objective criteria to make sure I wasn’t letting my disgust for Arsenal cloud my judgment here.

The facts are that Wilshere was below-average in the World Cup for England. In his two appearances he only managed a Whoscored.com player rating of 6.47. In his most important action representing his country, he simply wasn’t that good.

Now that’s an extremely small sample size to judge a player on. Again, attempting to give Wilshere any benefit of the doubt I could to guard against bias, let’s look at his best EPL season for Arsenal. In the 2013-14 season he contributed three goals and four assists for the Gunners. He also posted a very solid player rating average of 7.04. Very solid, respectable numbers to be sure.

Proponents of Wilshere would have you believe that his peak performance distinguishes him over the likes of Dier. The trouble with that argument is that it simply is not true. In Dier’s best season, which coincidentally is this season, he has posted a player rating average of 7.07. While it’s only slightly better than Wilshere’s best, it shows that Dier’s best is right there on par with Wilshere’s.

Even if you are inclined to give the Wilshere an edge based on the difference between the two players’ styles, the health factor has to tip the scales in Dier’s favor. He’s been a rock for Tottenham this season and has appeared in 30 matches for Spurs. There’s no way he isn’t significantly more in-form that Wilshere if the latter manages to recover in time for Euro 2016.

Related Story: 5 players Tottenham must upgrade for Champions League football

If Roy Hodgson truly believes Eric Dier is living in Jack Wilshere’s Euro 2016 shadow it might be time for him to find a new job. That opinion would prove that the game of football has thoroughly passed him by.