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5 Tottenham lessons from 5-0 drubbing of Swansea

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Harry Kane (L) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's third goal with his team mate Heung-Min Son (R)during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Harry Kane (L) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's third goal with his team mate Heung-Min Son (R)during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea and Eric Dier of Tottenham during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea and Eric Dier of Tottenham during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /

3. Eric Dier is still going back to the bench

It’s no secret that Eric Dier has struggled mightily this season. Whether he’s been deployed in the double-pivot or as a central defender, he just hasn’t managed to find his rhythm.

On the bright side, Dier played one of his best matches of the season against Swansea. He didn’t put on any sort of masterclass, but he was very solid for the full 90 minutes. Dier even managed to make his way forward from the back with some dangerous runs into Swansea’s final third.

His play at centre back certainly hasn’t been good enough to keep Toby Alderweireld on the bench when he recovers from injury. In all likelihood, the Belgian will return to the Spurs’ starting XI against Manchester United next weekend. That knocks Dier out of a starting centre back spot.

Sadly for the English international, there isn’t an open spot in the double-pivot at the moment either. Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama have those two starting positions nailed down. It’s going to be an uphill climb for Dier to knock one of those two stars out of their starting spots.

It’s a good problem for Tottenham to have though. Dier now becomes a super sub at several positions on the pitch. He should still get plenty of meaningful match time.

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