Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[southlondonyiddo]

Johnny Evans is perfect for the scum at this moment in time not us

He’s been a key part of a horrendous team at West Brom and that incident when he stole a taxi in Barcelona when he was club captain was the icing on the cake!

Toby is obviously off in the summer but to replace him with Evans would be an insult to the professionalism of our current squad

He’s also 30 and has a suspect injury record of late

I’m sure there are much better back up options around the globe than the abject failure that is Johnny Evans these days

Nothing against him, I’m sure he’s a lovely chap but no thanks!

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Absolutely. Evans comes with the bonuses of being a seasoned PL campaigner and having won all sorts of things under Fergie. Should Toby leave (as looks likely), this is the sort of signing we should be aiming for - maybe there's a more left field option in the mould of Naybet out there.

I don't watch Evans play enough to know - but I think, in general, bringing in an older CB to Poch's high-line system is dangerous. And, with someone like Evans - who won't see regular starts - its even more critical that they can step into the physical and mental demands of the system.

 

[Shadydan]

I don't know how good Evans is on the ball to play in our team but then again City wanted him apparently...or was that all just agent work?

 

[Haddock]

I highly doubt that Evans is on the the top of Pochettinos "New CB"-list.

 

[RichieS]

I don't watch Evans play enough to know - but I think, in general, bringing in an older CB to Poch's high-line system is dangerous. And, with someone like Evans - who won't see regular starts - its even more critical that they can step into the physical and mental demands of the system.

Evans does have an element of "flavour of the month" about him... I just think that if we decide to make a signing to replace Toby then it would be most sensible to go down the seasoned campaigner who doesn't mind being a back-up route. Realistically we're looking at 2 from Sánchez, Vertonghen and Dier as our starting pair most of the time. I'm not sure I'd want to be starting Foyth without Vertonghen or another experienced leader alongside him at this stage though.

 

[coys200]

People need to stop thinking about replacing Toby. Sanchez is his replacement. Effectively we need the Wimmer replacement. Is foyth ready for that not sure? But can’t see us spending another £40m on a CB. Will be more low level if we do buy.

 

[spursfan77]

I don't watch Evans play enough to know - but I think, in general, bringing in an older CB to Poch's high-line system is dangerous. And, with someone like Evans - who won't see regular starts - its even more critical that they can step into the physical and mental demands of the system.

Exactly. Evans would be Fazio mark II if we bought him. Would just be a panic buy. Let arsenal have him and pay him £110k a week (which is what he wanted to be paid in his new contract at wba).

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

People need to stop thinking about replacing Toby. Sanchez is his replacement. Effectively we need the Wimmer replacement. Is foyth ready for that not sure? But can’t see us spending another £40m on a CB. Will be more low level if we do buy.

I am holding out hope for a new deal for Vertonghen, and signing de Ligt - to keep the Ajax partnership potential around for a decade...

 

[dtxspurs]

I really think we should use some of the Toby funds to buy another strong CB. Vertonghen isn't getting any younger and having 3 top CB's was something we were all very excited about going into this season. We have fantastic depth right now and I would hate to change that due to Foyth who has shown potential but I still don't think anyone is excited about the prospect of him starting many games in the PL yet.

 

[Haddock]

I really think we should use some of the Toby funds to buy another strong CB. Vertonghen isn't getting any younger and having 3 top CB's was something we were all very excited about going into this season. We have fantastic depth right now and I would hate to change that due to Foyth who has shown potential but I still don't think anyone is excited about the prospect of him starting many games in the PL yet.

Also Pochettino seems to prefer Dier at DM. If Toby leaves we most certainly need to invest in a new CB.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

People need to stop thinking about replacing Toby. Sanchez is his replacement. Effectively we need the Wimmer replacement. Is foyth ready for that not sure? But can’t see us spending another £40m on a CB. Will be more low level if we do buy.

Don’t agree mate. For a top side 2 top central defenders is not enough. If Jan or Davidson got injured Dier would probably fill in which weakens us in big games

To challenge top 4, Europe etc you need a strong squad and Toby would need replacing

We tried to replace Walker with Aurier. We need to try and replace Toby as well

Surely there must be options out in the big wide world

 

[dtxspurs]

Also Pochettino seems to prefer Dier at DM. If Toby leaves we most certainly need to invest in a new CB.

Agreed, our depth is fantastic now and I don't want that to suffer. Some of our biggest victories this season came with the 3 in the back and I think people forget that. The Real Madrid games, the Liverpool game, Dortmund at home were all played with Toby, Sanchez and Vert. I would be adamant that we would need to add another CB to the group.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Also Pochettino seems to prefer Dier at DM

I am not sure that is true - Poch has actually said the opposite in the past - he prefers Dier at CB. Its been Dier who has pushed to stay at CM/DM because that is where is saw his role for England.

A decision is likely to be made this summer - if Dier's future is at CM/DM, then we will certainly bring in another CB (even if Dier is the short-term solution to an injury crisis). But, if Dier's future is CB - then we will bring in a couple of CM/DM imo.

The very real challenge for Poch is finding minutes for Sanchez, Dier, and Vertonghen next season if they are all considered CBs. All deserve to start.

 

[Lilbaz]

The Wembley pitch is slightly bigger than our new stadium pitch and we haven’t needed to change.

Also same size as most other new stadium pitch size.

The introduction of sanchez has been massive and is partly to explain the difference in form at wembley over the last two seasons. Wembley is 6 meters longer than whl was. That is a enough room for attackers to get behind us when they counter. Sanchez has the pace to get back. Even when toby was fit sanchez also played.

 

[Haddock]

I am not sure that is true - Poch has actually said the opposite in the past - he prefers Dier at CB. Its been Dier who has pushed to stay at CM/DM because that is where is saw his role for England.

A decision is likely to be made this summer - if Dier's future is at CM/DM, then we will certainly bring in another CB (even if Dier is the short-term solution to an injury crisis). But, if Dier's future is CB - then we will bring in a couple of CM/DM imo.

The very real challenge for Poch is finding minutes for Sanchez, Dier, and Vertonghen next season if they are all considered CBs. All deserve to start.

Sorry, I wasn't aware Pochettino had commented on Diers position. That puts things in another perspective.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'm not convinced by Foyth, but there's no point buying another CB until he's been given the chance, otherwise there was no point buying him.

We have Sanchez , who's different, but already ahead of Alderweireld on merit, as well as Dier, an almost identical player to TA and Foyth. Why an earth do we need to buy another CB when we, hopefully, cash in on TA.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I'm not convinced by Foyth

He's just turned 20, and I thought he performed well in cup matches. He out-played Alderweireld against Rochdale, when Poch had to move Foyth to LCB because Toby was struggling.

Not sure what you were expecting when we signed a 19-yo from Argentina...

 

[Bus-Conductor]

He's just turned 20, and I thought he performed well in cup matches. He out-played Alderweireld against Rochdale, when Poch had to move Foyth to LCB because Toby was struggling.

Not sure what you were expecting when we signed a 19-yo from Argentina...

Strange that you took from that was me having a pop at Foyth, when what I was actually saying was he deserves a chance.

What I was saying was that although I haven't ben totally convinced by some of his play, but I don't see the point in not giving him a proper chance. Sanchez has proved that experience isn't always best, and I think Alderwerield has looked ropey the last two seasons, which is why I have no problem with us cashing in his chips.

 

[dtxspurs]

He's just turned 20, and I thought he performed well in cup matches. He out-played Alderweireld against Rochdale, when Poch had to move Foyth to LCB because Toby was struggling.

Not sure what you were expecting when we signed a 19-yo from Argentina...

He's certainly shown glimpses but he's still not ready to be thrown into the fire IMO. Worst case scenario we buy another CB, they both turn out good and we have 3 top CB's again after Verts is done? I don't see how adding another good player is a bad thing, that just doesn't make sense to me especially when we haven't seen enough from Foyth to see if he can do the job.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Don’t agree mate. For a top side 2 top central defenders is not enough. If Jan or Davidson got injured Dier would probably fill in which weakens us in big games

To challenge top 4, Europe etc you need a strong squad and Toby would need replacing

We tried to replace Walker with Aurier. We need to try and replace Toby as well

Surely there must be options out in the big wide world

I think it's a given that we'll go back into the market. Ideally we need someone with decent experience to cover Verts.

There has been suggestions we are in for CBs from ITKs, Jonathan Tah being one. I'd personally like an older head that's ok to be back up but can step in if Verts is out, but then I liked Llorente for that reason and it didn't work out!