Is Eric Dier better than Sergio Busquets? Sam Allardyce panned for claims on TalkSport

Now that he’s no longer managing England – or anyone for that matter – Sam Allardyce has plenty of spare time for chugging pints of wine and talking football on the radio.

Many TalkSPORT listeners on Tuesday morning seemed to think Big Sam was combining those two hobbies at the same time such were his outlandish claims.

Following the Three Lions’ impressive victory over Spain on Monday night, Allardyce told the The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast that Sergio Busquets, winner of 19 major club trophies, the World Cup and the Euros and a crucial cog in two of the greatest sides in the history of football, is “no better” than Eric Dier, League Cup runner-up 2014/15.

What Big Sam said

"Busquets is no better than Dier…

…Dier does a similar job to Busquets but he gets a lot of criticism for it!"

Sam Allardyce believes #THFC's @EricDier is as good as Barca's Busquets but doesn't get the same credit!

Take a listen & give us your thoughts! ↓ pic.twitter.com/WOhINsq4og

— The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (@SportsBreakfast) October 16, 2018

“The praise about Buskas [sic] must be stopped because he’s no better or worse than Eric Dier, for me,” Allardyce began.

“Buskas [sic] is a sitting midfield player that breaks it up into steps and passes it very simply and is intelligent. That’s what he is, he’s not much more than that… whereas Eric Dier does a very similar job but sometimes gets a lot of criticism for it.”

At this point, perhaps sensing the incredulity of his host, Big Sam began to row back ever so slightly on his claim, instead suggesting that Dier, one of “our own”, is not praised because he’s not foreign.

“I’m only saying he has the capabilities for being as good as that. If the rest of the team is as good as Buskas [sic] has been, Buskas [sic] has been a great player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s a very effective… he’s first pick for every manager because he plays such a simple game and because he plays such a simple game he’s great for the team.

“But we laud him as a genius whereas our own we don’t. We criticise. That’s all I’m saying. Eric Dier was far better than Buskas [sic] last night!”

Responses

Listeners were quick to voice their disagreement with Allardyce on social media.

“It’s a bloody good job he’s not England manager,” wrote Dale Sugden. “The football equivalent of Katie Hopkins,” said Kev Brown. “He hit his head. Only explanation,” said another. While another joked: “Stop laughing at the back… Someone has very clearly spiked the man’s gravy.”

This
man
gets
payed
to
coach
football
teams
in
one
of
the
best
leagues
in
the
world.

Do
not
forget
that. https://t.co/fK2tglvmaW

— H. (@itishache) October 16, 2018

“There’s an awful lot of shite said in football,” noted James Piercy… “but this is up there with the absolute worst.”

“One of them made the best club team in recent history tick; and the other had a good game in a non friendly friendly. I know who I’m taking,” noted another.

Others praised Dier for his performance, but certainly were not getting as carried away as Allardyce.

“Best I’ve seen Dier play last [night],” wrote Gaz M. “His passing was quality for once, but this is a ridiculous statement and confirms his limitations as a manager.”

Jacob Standbridge added: “I was a big proponent of Sam Allardyce. I don’t like making snap statements based on anger. I rate Eric Dier. But all this goes out of the window for this statement! He’s completely clueless!”

Some listeners felt this was emblematic of a certain arrogance in English football.

“Sam Allardyce is not joking,” added Euginho Cortez. “He really believes Dier is better than Busquets. That’s how astonishingly arrogant and ignorant English football culture is. They don’t ask themselves why they have the wealthiest league but haven’t had a legendary European team in 30 years.”

Another added: “[I] won’t even bother listening to this since the ‘Dier is better than Busquets’ debate was killed a very long time ago. This is what’s wrong with British media as well, one good game and the player is top class forever.”

Not everyone was anti-Big Sam, though. Some actually came to his defence.

Charlie Dowle wrote: “Allardyce makes a valid point though, Dier was outstanding last night, as was Harry Winks, but because his name isn’t Winksiesta we don’t laud him they way we do the Spanish. He absolutely run that midfield last night.”

Winksiesta. Yes, really.