Player Focus: Dyer Disappointment Understandable at Another England Exclusion
When looking at the players that partook in the 2005 FA Youth Cup Final it is hard to believe, given the heights since reached by so many of the Southampton squad, that they eventually lost over two legs to Ipswich. The names on the winning team sheet most recognisable these days are probably Owen Garvan, recently discarded as surplus to requirements at Crystal Palace; Liam Trotter, who is a household name to Championship followers by few others; and Charlie Sheringham, famed rather more for his father's career achievements than his own. In the opposing squad that day, future stars Theo Walcott, Adam Lallana and Gareth Bale were all named.
While Lallana and Bale were substitutes for the Saints youth team 9 years ago, there was another name well-known in the Premier League these days lining up on the wing. Granted, he had an extra year of development over those two, but there was clearly something spotted in a young Nathan Dyer for him to be selected over a couple of players who would go on to command transfer fees totalling £112m over the course of 2013 and 2014.
After spells in the lower leagues with Burnley, Sheffield United and back at Southampton, he joined Swansea on loan at the end of the 2008/09 season, before eventually signing on a permanent basis, but he was in and out of the first team with each side. By the time the Swans won promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 2011, however, Dyer had finally become an integral member of first eleven.
He took no time to settle into life in the top flight and now, in his fourth year in the big time, calls for an England call up are gathering pace. Roy Hodgson, the only man seemingly oblivious to Dyer's talents, continues to overlook him and did so once again in his squad for the upcoming qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia; opposition that certainly present the opportunity to experiment. Dyer can has reason to be disappointed.
Alluding to Dyer's omission in a recent interview, Micah Richards joked that Hodgson had never been to Swansea, and though that is surely some way from the truth, few can explain - or even understand - that Dyer is still awaiting a call up.
With 3 goals in 7 Premier League appearances and another strike in the Capital One Cup, Dyer has been a key cog in the impressive start Garry Monk's team made to the season. 3 league wins from 3 were, however, followed up by successive defeats to two of the current top three - Chelsea and Southampton - and a limp draw at Sunderland. It may have been those three displays, in which Dyer recorded an average rating of 6.31 (compared to 7.48 in his 3 previous appearances), that persuaded Hodgson not to give him a chance with England, but with Daniel Sturridge missing out through injury - and opposition that should not trouble England too much - it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try Dyer out.
Arguments against Dyer's inclusion would probably be something along the lines of: he barely scores and he barely gets any assists; but wasn't that exactly the problem with Danny Welbeck at Manchester United? Given a chance he has quickly moved to quash those criticisms.
True, Dyer's goal and assist returns for his club over his four years in the Premier League are not at all impressive. In 80 starts and 25 substitute appearances for Swansea, he has just 17 goals and 8 assists. That's a goal or an assist every 4.2 appearances, which hardly makes for astounding reading, but then Andros Townsend, who does - again - make Hodgson's squad, has contributed to 4 Premier League goals in 44 appearances. That is a goal or an assist every 11 matches.
And it can't be form that means Townsend continues to be picked. His only Premier League goal from 58 attempts since the start of last season was an overhit cross that extremely fortuitously evaded Aston Villa's Brad Guzan. That he is 3 years Dyer's junior, and has shown greater signs of potential than Dyer had 3 years ago is simply not reason enough alone to select him. Nor are his performances in key World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland a year ago. Once he does enough to merit a starting spot at club level - and he is not doing enough to justify a place in the Tottenham team at present - then considering him for the national team makes sense.
Dyer, meanwhile, is playing regularly for his club, and while his attacking output leaves something to be desired, if Hodgson would indeed go to Swansea and take a look at him he would see a player that contributes vastly to Swansea's attacking game in other ways.
Full of running, Dyer works hard to do both attacking and defensive work for his team. He comes narrow to make the Swans compact without the ball, and he makes 1.3 tackles per game and has won possession 15 times in the middle third of the pitch this season. With his team in possession, dribbling isn't Dyer's preferred route of attack. He has averaged 1.1 dribbles per game this season, instead often looking for balls in behind from his supporting teammates. His energy and willingness to make runs constantly gives defenders something to think about and also creates space for others to run into. When he does get in behind he is clinical, with his 3 goals coming from just 3 shots on target so far this season.
So few dribbles from a winger who possesses unquestionable pace is not in itself a negative. He is some distance from Theo Walcott's level, but if there was a fellow Englishman he were to be compared to it would likely be the Arsenal man. Walcott struggles in tight spaces, but when given the chance to open his legs and run in behind defences he is lethal. Before injury disrupted last season, Walcott averaged just 0.7 dribbles per game on the wing, but scored 5 goals and set up 4 more in just 13 appearances. Dyer is unlikely reach that level of return, but with Walcott out at present it would make sense to give Dyer a chance and see how he gets on.
Not in Roy Hodgson's eyes however, and players such as Dyer can justifiably feel aggrieved at again being overlooked. The meritocracy that Hodgson has hinted at running in his England selection is a mere dream that fans will keep on yearning for, and keep on making do without. Nathan Dyer deserves a chance, at least, with the England team, but it doesn't look like he will get one with Hodgson at the helm.
Do you think Dyer deserves a call up for England? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
