Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[am_yisrael_chai]

Toby coming on basically at the same time as the result at Stamford Bridge was confirmed.

I think that got the crowd going, not Toby coming on.

No it was for Toby, reflected the fact that everyone could acknowledge we had quality coming on. Even as a RB he is better than either Trippier or Aurier and as a CB he is the best at the club. We are going to miss him when he goes. There may be nothing we can do to stop him but people are way too sanguine about it and I think very mistaken if they think an 18 y/o de Ligt is going to be up to Toby’s quality initially.

 

[gavspur]

Any chance of us now offering a few players their big contracts, and trying to persuade Toby with a new offer too? Or do we just let go?

 

[Trix]

Massive welcome for him from the fans in the stadium tonight. Not sure it will do the trick but you never know.

Helped though that the chavs and Arse results came through on the big screen at exactly the same time.

 

[spursfan77]

Helped though that the chavs and Arse results came through on the big screen at exactly the same time.

The cheers were definitely for him. Scores came on afterwards.

 

[Japhet]

Any chance of us now offering a few players their big contracts, and trying to persuade Toby with a new offer too? Or do we just let go?

I think it's too late. By all accounts the club offered him what he asked for but his people then asked for a lot more. I think he'll go to Barca very quickly because I think he's been kept off the pitch to keep him injury free. Last night was an emergency fill in for Trippier. We'll miss him without a shadow of a doubt but I think we did our best to keep him.

 

[dave5150]

The cheers were definitely for him. Scores came on afterwards.

Yes defintely for him. Mine were, at least!

Reminded me of the classic ITK about Modric...
Nico Jan - "How can you leave after that reception from the fans"
Luka Toby - "I can't"

 

[Zippy1980]

For me the Jan/Toby partnership is the best in world football. Looks like we are loosing Toby though and it’s gutting even after all that has come out.

 

[gavspur]

Yep, such a shame. With him, we are a much better defensive team. He also pops up with a few goals too, mainly from corners, which we have sorely missed.

 

[kaz Hirai]

No it was for Toby, reflected the fact that everyone could acknowledge we had quality coming on. Even as a RB he is better than either Trippier or Aurier and as a CB he is the best at the club. We are going to miss him when he goes. There may be nothing we can do to stop him but people are way too sanguine about it and I think very mistaken if they think an 18 y/o de Ligt is going to be up to Toby’s quality initially.

Agree we are losing a truly great defender.

But will be over the moon if we somehow get deligt over bigger clubs. Wanted him over Sanchez after seeing their Europa run a few years back.
Vertonghen reborn !

 

[freeeki]

No it was for Toby, reflected the fact that everyone could acknowledge we had quality coming on. Even as a RB he is better than either Trippier or Aurier and as a CB he is the best at the club. We are going to miss him when he goes. There may be nothing we can do to stop him but people are way too sanguine about it and I think very mistaken if they think an 18 y/o de Ligt is going to be up to Toby’s quality initially.

I'd take a two year bedding-in period for both De Ligt and Sanchez if it means they'll form a formidable CB partnership in 2020, at the ripe old ages of 20 and 23 with a good decade or more ahead of them. That's the sort of long-term stability we should be looking for to replace Toby and Jan, not stop gaps to see us through another year.

I'm not trying to understate Toby's quality or his contributions to our team, but at the same time let's not overstate his importance to this year's campaign - he has only played 11 league games for us this season, and 18 in total. It hasn't stopped us securing top 4 or getting to the FA Cup semi final. Sanchez has more than stepped up.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

I'd take a two year bedding-in period for both De Ligt and Sanchez if it means they'll form a formidable CB partnership in 2020, at the ripe old ages of 20 and 23 with a good decade or more ahead of them. That's the sort of long-term stability we should be looking for to replace Toby and Jan, not stop gaps to see us through another year.

I'm not trying to understate Toby's quality or his contributions to our team, but at the same time let's not overstate his importance to this year's campaign - he has only played 11 league games for us this season, and 18 in total. It hasn't stopped us securing top 4 or getting to the FA Cup semi final. Sanchez has more than stepped up.

Yes we have done well but we haven’t been as solid defensively as last season. No doubt there are numerous factors contributing to this but for me the biggest one is the lack of playing time for Toby.

I also see many similarities to the arguments that were made at this time last year about Kyle Walker and that hasn’t panned out as people thought.

As to your point about long term planning, at some point we actually need to be great today, not 2-5 years down the line. I was hoping that point was now with the new stadium and much of Poch’s recent comments suggest he is too.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

No it was for Toby, reflected the fact that everyone could acknowledge we had quality coming on. Even as a RB he is better than either Trippier or Aurier and as a CB he is the best at the club. We are going to miss him when he goes. There may be nothing we can do to stop him but people are way too sanguine about it and I think very mistaken if they think an 18 y/o de Ligt is going to be up to Toby’s quality initially.

No one thinks this. However if he really has to go, and it looks like that’s guaranteed at this point, De Ligt is a brilliant and very exciting signing.

 

[synththfc]

According to Sky, Toby will hold talks with the club next week over his future. A formality? or maybe tying into the ITK from Herc today? I've lost all hope personally

 

[DCSPUR]

Yes we have done well but we haven’t been as solid defensively as last season. No doubt there are numerous factors contributing to this but for me the biggest one is the lack of playing time for Toby.

I also see many similarities to the arguments that were made at this time last year about Kyle Walker and that hasn’t panned out as people thought.

As to your point about long term planning, at some point we actually need to be great today, not 2-5 years down the line. I was hoping that point was now with the new stadium and much of Poch’s recent comments suggest he is too.

don't forget how good big Vic was last season

 

[GeneralBurk]

Would rather live in Madrid or Barcelona, than Manchester.

He's also lived in Madrid for a year don't forget.

He also flopped.

 

[dtxspurs]

According to Sky, Toby will hold talks with the club next week over his future. A formality? or maybe tying into the ITK from Herc today? I've lost all hope personally

I would imagine this is a formality and that most players would be meeting with Poch after the season. I know this is commonplace in American sports to have an exit interview with the coaches, is the same practice applied here?

 

[Clark28]

Would people rather Toby signed on for the next 2-3 seasons, or sell now if we can definitely get De Ligt?

 

[hellava_tough]

Would people rather Toby signed on for the next 2-3 seasons, or sell now if we can definitely get De Ligt?

Definitely the former

Jan and Toby at the back is the best in the league and possibly Europe

 

[Indisguise]

Wouldn't it be mad if Toby stayed, Bale came back, Martial joined and Eriksen signed a new contract. That would give Citeh a run for their money next year...

 

[Zippy1980]

Wouldn't it be mad if Toby stayed, Bale came back, Martial joined and Eriksen signed a new contract. That would give Citeh a run for their money next year...

And I will become president of the US