Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[JerryGarcia]

Defensive duties aside, did Toby used to work as a sniper at some point? Every game i'm blown away by how dead-eye his big crosses are. I really don't enjoy long ball football, being a Spurs fan i'm sure i'm not the only one who prefers to see the ball on the ground, but he must've spent hours practicing that in training - i can't recall, off the top of my head, a single over or under hit long ball forward from him (that i've seen) and whilst some credit has to go to our wide men charging into the space, when he fires that ball into the air i'm fully confident that it's hitting a white shirt.

It's also made me notice how bloody superb Walker is at receiving a ball - his first touch has improved a great deal, accepting crosses yesterday he looked like he had magnetic boots, so kudos to both for clearly working hard on that play.

Apparently Dawson was a big inspiration to him when he was coming through at Ajax, that must be why he mastered the long diagonal.

 

[millsey]

Apparently Dawson was a big inspiration to him when he was coming through at Ajax, that must be why he mastered the long diagonal.

But Toby doesn't have the if in doubt boot it out in him!

 

[Lemon]

We've discussed that already.
I also wish people would stop associate the word hate with my views about Levy. Hate is a really strong word.

Have heard it described as Cancers finest seed (hate).

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

He's an excellent defender. He's really improved our back four and has helped Jan improve too. I'm very pleased with him. I've given the club a lot of stick on here the past couple of years but I'm very happy with how all our summer signings are working out so far.

 

[Jamturk]

He strikes me of having a big character, leader material.

 

[Trix]

He strikes me of having a big character, leader material.

Which brings out the best in Jan IMO. Jan always plays better when he has a voacal leader alongside him regardless of how good that player actually is themselves.

 

[Mullers]

I'll be interested to see how is partnership will also develop with Wimmer, Fazio is out of the equation as far as I am concerned, sell him as soon as possible and promote one of our youngsters.

 

[stevenurse]

Have heard it described as Cancers finest seed (hate).

Keep it light mate!

 

[Misfit]

As I said, guy is a great signing. Kneel before me! Very steady player who helps improve the play of others around him and this is just the start. By the back end of this season, him and Jan will be one of the steadiest duos in the league.

Fucking superb barnet as well.

 

[teok]

http://www.football365.com/news/football365s-top-10-actual-undroppables

3. Toby Alderweireld
From conceding more league goals than relegated Hull last season to sharing the joint-meanest defence with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, Spurs’ defence has undergone quite the transition within one summer. All it took was to finally complete a signing that made perfect sense.

Where Federico Fazio and Younes Kaboul shared 31 games between them at centre-half last season, Toby Alderweireld represents a slight upgrade to say the least. After playing an integral role in the second-most miserly defence in the league at Southampton last season, the Belgian has conceded just 32 goals in 36 games in England. Spurs bought the 26-year-old on a five-year deal for just over £11million in the summer. He is the signing of the season so far.


http://www.football365.com/news/the-five-best-bargain-signings-of-the-season

Toby Alderweireld – As said in the list of top 10 actual undroppables, Alderweireld has been the signing of the season, restriction or no restriction. The Belgian has formed the most formidable centre-half pairing in the Premier League alongside Belgium compatriot Jan Vertonghen, with whom he played alongside at Dutch side Ajax. The duo are the only two Spurs players to have played every minute of every league game so far this season and as much is evident in the table; Mauricio Pochettino’s side have conceded the joint least goals this season (eight). This was a side who conceded 53 in the whole of their last campaign. I tipped the 26-year-old as the signing of the season in Football365’s season predictions in the summer (don’t check my other predictions) and he has carried his excellent Southampton form from last season after joining from Atletico Madrid for £11.4million. It’s remarkable what you can do when you aren’t Federico Fazio.

 

[Gbspurs]

Love Toby, quality addition. Amazing what Having 2 CBs who know how to play football can do for you!

 

[Shadydan]

Yep, 4-5 pages ago he was getting criticised and being called average by a select few, I won't name them.

 

[npearl4spurs]

After missing some chances to get some headers on frame earlier this season, he has been damn good at them lately, including forcing the save to which Kane rebounded for his hat-trick.

Corners actually feel like scoring opportunities now with Lamela and Eriksen sending them into Dier, Alderweireld, and Kane.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Yep, 4-5 pages ago he was getting criticised and being called average by a select few, I won't name them.

Please do...

 

[Spurger King]

I wasn't excited by him signing. I didn't see much of him when he was at Southampton, but I remember him being quite inconsistent at Ajax, and generally being seen as patchy.

Happy to say I was very wrong (although I did think we would benefit from his experience of playing alongside Vertonghen). He's been a great signing. Very solid and his passing is fantastic. No wonder the SCBCs were getting their crusty knickers in a twist.

 

[dagraham]

A defender who knows how to defend, has good judgement and is also good on the ball. Who'd have thought it?

Wasn't enthused when he signed, but no doubt has been the most important signing made under Poch so far.

 

[ohtottenham!]

As I said, guy is a great signing. Kneel before me! Very steady player who helps improve the play of others around him and this is just the start. By the back end of this season, him and Jan will be one of the steadiest duos in the league.

Fucking superb barnet as well.

Now, that would be great as a signature! Every time I hear the name Alderweireld, I'll be thinking "fucking superb barnet as well!"

 

[dondo]

Been very impressed with him so far a much better player than I thought he was and he has made vertonghon into a better defender as well, brilliant bit of business for £11m

 

[double0]

Best signing so this season.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I don't rate Fazio but I'd rather have stuck with him then waste more money on an average defender.

So @Mullers, are you coming around yet? I imagine this is one of those times where you're glad to be proved wrong, or at least the signs are very good at the moment that Alderweireld is the real deal.