Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[Primativ]

You could say the same about most of the squad.

Possibly but I think Alderweireld has been performing noticeably worse this season than in previous seasons. In fact, he hasn't been the same since his bad hamstring injury truth be told.

I'm not as bothered about him leaving as I was, we've certainly seen his better days.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Honestly think he gets overrated as a defender because of his distribution. He definitely has this weird habit of miss timing his jump on crosses and jumping under the ball seen him do it numerous times like tonight.

It's not a case of him being overrated as a defender - 2014-17 he was genuinely unbelievable; an absolutely incredible defender. He hasn't reached that level since, but his peak levels of that period aren't overrated in the slightest.

 

[dtxspurs]

It's not a case of him being overrated as a defender - 2014-17 he was genuinely unbelievable; an absolutely incredible defender. He hasn't reached that level since, but his peak levels of that period aren't overrated in the slightest.

I personally think people are now underrating him due to his contract situation.

He's played with shit fullback play for the most part all season and poor midfield play as well. He, Davinson, Jan & Foyth have been left hanging so many times by the players around them.

 

[daryl hannah]

He's also been played on at LCB at times. THink Poch prefers Davinson there.

Without Jan he's not as effective or happy, perhaps.

Let that not take away from the fact that our goal difference massively improved when he arrived and we had the best defence in the league at one point.

 

[SirNiNyHotspur]

Whenever him and Verts are side by side there aren't any better but this isn't the 1st time Verts got injured and Toby's performance level went down (albeit more drastically this time) Verts for some reason deals much better without Toby than vice versa, maybe as Verts is more of a leader, that perhaps is what is missing from Toby's game, not the most vocal so not carrying the younger one's as well.

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

I do hope we are trying to tie him down to a new contract.

 

[Shadydan]

I do hope we are trying to tie him down to a new contract.

Pretty sure he would have signed something by now if that were the case.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I personally think people are now underrating him due to his contract situation.

He's played with shit fullback play for the most part all season and poor midfield play as well. He, Davinson, Jan & Foyth have been left hanging so many times by the players around them.

He's a great CB and I hope he stays and gets a new deal (at the original offer). I also think the last few weeks have confirmed my assertion that Vertonghen has become the superior player however, we miss Jan more than we missed Toby IMHO (I think Jan is a better leader and controller of the back 4). However I suspect Toby having to shift to LCB and our ever-changing midfield has contributed to this somewhat.

I still think Sanchez has the potential to be our best CB since Ledley however and now Foyth is showing promise, so he is not indispensable. If Toby wants to leave for a big payday so be it, he's served us very well this season after a messy summer.

 

[Haddock]

Regardless if Mourinho burns out or not I still belive TA will end up at United come summer. They'll gladly pay him whatever he wants so that they can patch up their defence for a season while they rebuild their squad (...again).

 

[wadewill]

Regardless if Mourinho burns out or not I still belive TA will end up at United come summer. They'll gladly pay him whatever he wants so that they can patch up their defence for a season while they rebuild their squad (...again).

Wasn't it only Jose that wanted him and Woodward put a block on it? So if Jose goes they definitely won't want him.

I'm pretty worried about Arsenal and Chelsea to be honest, that would be pretty shit

 

[mrlilywhite]

I think part of Toby's issues have been playing on the left of the two in defence - He is predominately a right sided CB.

 

[coys200]

Him leaving next summer will seem nowhere near the drama had he left this summer.

 

[Haddock]

Wasn't it only Jose that wanted him and Woodward put a block on it? So if Jose goes they definitely won't want him.

I'm pretty worried about Arsenal and Chelsea to be honest, that would be pretty shit

True. However, that was under the premise of TA costing somewhere around 50m and / or involving Martial in a swap deal.

If you look at Uniteds squad it's in need of a major overhaul. Valencia and Young turning 34 next season, Mata, Sanchez, Fellaini all 30 closing in on their last big contract, Matic also turning 30+ and it's obvious that his legs can't cope with the PL anymore, the general consensus regarding Lindelöf, Smalling, Herrera seems to be that they aren't good enough, Bailly spends more time with the physio than on the pitch.

TA's buy out clause at 25m looks like a divine intervention for them.

 

[dtxspurs]

He's a great CB and I hope he stays and gets a new deal (at the original offer). I also think the last few weeks have confirmed my assertion that Vertonghen has become the superior player however, we miss Jan more than we missed Toby IMHO (I think Jan is a better leader and controller of the back 4). However I suspect Toby having to shift to LCB and our ever-changing midfield has contributed to this somewhat.

I still think Sanchez has the potential to be our best CB since Ledley however and now Foyth is showing promise, so he is not indispensable. If Toby wants to leave for a big payday so be it, he's served us very well this season after a messy summer.

I'd be surprised to see us ever have better CB play than in 16/17, but would be happy to be proved wrong in the future. Jan and Toby were unreal that season.

 

[spursfan77]

Him leaving next summer will seem nowhere near the drama had he left this summer.

Depends if we sign any players next summer or not really

 

[SpartanSpur]

I'd be surprised to see us ever have better CB play than in 16/17, but would be happy to be proved wrong in the future. Jan and Toby were unreal that season.

As a pair you are probably correct, although you never know in football.

 

[newbie]

I think Tobys been good this season, without him we would be fucked, he is a good communicator and very rarely makes the wrong decision, our right backs and Left backs need vastly improving, we don't have any continuity around him and in midfield, we miss a fully fit, walker, Rose and Victor.

I was also thinking if you look at the team sheet on Saturday and played the players who started vs the team who didn't start in the squad who would win I think the non starting team would be bloody strong (if all players were fully fit) Kane a side I think the other team would be a better. Gazza, KWPS (rightback ticky as Trips came off) Rose, Verts, Sanchez, Dier, Dembele, Winks, Eriksen, Son, FL

 

[coys200]

Wow look at difference in aerial duals. Shows how much more dominant Vvd is.

 

[coys200]

Quite interesting as well sanchez is also only 15. Where as Rudiger is 37 and Laporte 28. Maybe we are missing a real dominant presence in the air at CB. The fact we look so vulnerable at corners and set pieces seems to back it up.

 

[dtxspurs]

Quite interesting as well sanchez is also only 15. Where as Rudiger is 37 and Laporte 28. Maybe we are missing a real dominant presence in the air at CB. The fact we look so vulnerable at corners and set pieces seems to back it up.

Van Dijk is also just a massive human being. I think he's got a good 2-3 inches on Toby, along with being more athletic.

We've got plenty of size to defend set pieces its just continuos brain farts and lack of concentration to see the play out that keeps screwing us.