Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[Danfunkel]

Best signing this season, and my player of the season so far. Solid.

 

[Mr Pink]

It is funny to have a look back at people's comments on page 1 of this thread.

No one wanted him.

Shows how much we (the fans) actually know.

In Poch we trust!!

No one? You sure?! Suggest you read a bit further than page 1 mate

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I love Vertonghen, but Toby is on another level. They are an almost perfect pairing though.

I'd have that the other way around. Toby needs to be part of a good unit to shine. When he is, he is good. When there is no good unit, he is terrible. Vertonghen is integral in providing the platform for such a unit.

 

[ilya]

I just can't understand how the hell Atletico sold him, especially with low price as these days prices are high. Well, so glad to have him. Special mention to Verts for tapping him up last season.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I'd have that the other way around. Toby needs to be part of a good unit to shine. When he is, he is good. When there is no good unit, he is terrible. Vertonghen is integral in providing the platform for such a unit.

Terrible? Are you sure about that? Alderweireld's worse performances supposedly came in an Atletico shirt (well, the 'experts' who claimed he wasn't good said that, when I highly doubt they even watched him play much for them), a team that probably had the most solid 'unit' in European football when he was there. While Alderweireld has been great throughout his time in the PL, Vertonghen, on the other hand, certainly failed to perform at the level we know he can for the 2 seasons before now, so I think it's incorrect to suggest he may be the reason for our defensive success. Furthermore, even when we've had shaky performances defensively (although these are rare), Toby has usually been the stand-out player.

I find @yankspurs 's 'agree' amusing, given that his assessment of Alderweireld prior to his transfer to us couldn't have been more wrong.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Terrible? Are you sure about that? Alderweireld's worse performances supposedly came in an Atletico shirt (well, the 'experts' who claimed he wasn't good said that, when I highly doubt they even watched him play much for them), a team that probably had the most solid 'unit' in European football when he was there. While Alderweireld has been great throughout his time in the PL, Vertonghen, on the other hand, certainly failed to perform at the level we know he can for the 2 seasons before now, so I think it's incorrect to suggest he may be the reason for our defensive success. Furthermore, even when we've had shaky performances defensively (although these are rare), Toby has usually been the stand-out player.

I find @yankspurs 's 'agree' amusing, given that his assessment of Alderweireld prior to his transfer to us couldn't have been more wrong.

"Terrible" is accurate relatively speaking to other superlatives used about him. No doubt he has surprised me. I'm happy he matches Vertonghen so well.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I'd have that the other way around. Toby needs to be part of a good unit to shine. When he is, he is good. When there is no good unit, he is terrible. Vertonghen is integral in providing the platform for such a unit.

Vertonghen has been good but in no way superior to Alderweireld this season.

 

[ecce_tottenham]

Alderweirtonghen is my favourite.

Though I like the look of Alderwimmer too.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

"Terrible" is accurate relatively speaking to other superlatives used about him. No doubt he has surprised me. I'm happy he matches Vertonghen so well.

What the actual fuck.

 

[Hoops]

i hope we arnt moaning about Alderweireld?

Hes in prime, experienced, proven. Ball playing defender. Very very good signing. Im looking forwrard to him and Jan with Lloris. Walker will be better this season too and a big plus after a pre season.

Some of us know what we are talking about

 

[The Cimmerian]

Toby Alderweireld Confirmed: confirmed that he is a man among men. Long may he stalk our pitch, crushing our enemies, seeing them driven before him, and hearing the lamentations of their women...before he plows them, of course.

 

[yankspurs]

Terrible? Are you sure about that? Alderweireld's worse performances supposedly came in an Atletico shirt (well, the 'experts' who claimed he wasn't good said that, when I highly doubt they even watched him play much for them), a team that probably had the most solid 'unit' in European football when he was there. While Alderweireld has been great throughout his time in the PL, Vertonghen, on the other hand, certainly failed to perform at the level we know he can for the 2 seasons before now, so I think it's incorrect to suggest he may be the reason for our defensive success. Furthermore, even when we've had shaky performances defensively (although these are rare), Toby has usually been the stand-out player.

I find @yankspurs 's 'agree' amusing, given that his assessment of Alderweireld prior to his transfer to us couldn't have been more wrong.

I've said I was wrong multiple times already. Hop off.

Toby's been great for us. Him and Vertonghen have formed an excellent partnership. They've both been great this season, I just happen to think Vertonghen has been better.

Also, Dier has been key at DM. Especially lately since Vertonghen got hurt. Dier's saved us quite a bit in the games following. Wimmer has been good but the drop off is noticable.

 

[SandroClegane]

Wimmer has been good but the drop off is noticable.

Still haven't conceeded. Or really given up any chances.

 

[Shadydan]

I've said I was wrong multiple times already. Hop off.

Toby's been great for us. Him and Vertonghen have formed an excellent partnership. They've both been great this season, I just happen to think Vertonghen has been better.

Also, Dier has been key at DM. Especially lately since Vertonghen got hurt. Dier's saved us quite a bit in the games following. Wimmer has been good but the drop off is noticable.

What difference have you noticed?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Vertonghen has been good but in no way superior to Alderweireld this season.

In the following ways he is better than Alderweireld:
Far better pass accuracy
More tackles per game
More interceptions per game
More successful arial duels per game
More key passes per game.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

TBH, comparing Toby and Jan is completely pointless as both are fantastic CBs, forming a great partnership that is key has been key our success. Although I am probably guilty of doing it myself, in my defence it was in response that Toby is 'terrible' without a unit.

 

[Shadydan]

Don't really like where this argument is going because you'please get the inevitable putting down of one player in a desperate attempt to justify ones argument.

For my money Toby has been the more effective of the two, I'm just glad we have both who have played a major part in us having the best defense this season.

 

[littlewilly]

Would I have been slightly more gutted if Toby had picked up that injury and not Jan?

Yes.

 

[The Scarecrow]

I'd have that the other way around. Toby needs to be part of a good unit to shine. When he is, he is good. When there is no good unit, he is terrible. Vertonghen is integral in providing the platform for such a unit.

With Vertonghen alone, we conceded a shitload last season. Alderweireld is the one who came in and tightened us up. And with Alderweireld still playing, Wimmer walked straight in to replace Vertonghen.

 

[Kiedis]

Vertonghen has looked fragile for us when he hasn't played alongside a vocal defensive leader, and he's expected to be that guy.

Remember how we looked with him partnering Caulker, Chiriches and Dier? Pepperidge farm remembers.

And it's not to have a dig at him, some players thrive under other conditions than others.