Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[Bus-Conductor]

Usually I tend to agree with you, but for once I don't. I fully believe that Alderweireld must be replaced by a new signing. Also, it's the right time to do it because there are many youngish, interesting CB talents in several leagues. It's surely the right thing to do.

One of the best young CB’s around is Dier. And we’ve also bought two more recently, Sanchez and Foyth.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

One of the best young CB’s around is Dier. And we’ve also bought two more recently, Sanchez and Foyth.

So Sanchez, Foyth, Dier and Vertonghen in a squad of which the manager would like to have the opportunity to play a solid back line of 3 CB? That's not enough for next season. Those 4 AND a fifth CB would be perfect. When we bought Sanchez and Foyth, it was not with the view to offload Alderweirled, but with the assumption that he would stay. Hence, if we needed those two last summer assuming that Alderweireled stays, classical logic indicates that now that he is in fact leaving, he must also be replaced like for like.

 

[WiganSpur]

So Sanchez, Foyth, Dier and Vertonghen in a squad of which the manager would like to have the opportunity to play a solid back line of 3 CB? That's not enough for next season. Those 4 AND a fifth CB would be perfect. When we bought Sanchez and Foyth, it was not with the view to offload Alderweirled, but with the assumption that he would stay. Hence, if we needed those two last summer assuming that Alderweireled stays, classical logic indicates that now that he is in fact leaving, he must also be replaced like for like.

Poch hasn't played 5-3-2 for ages and I still don't think he will touch it for a while with Lamela back and Moura signed too.

It's going to be ridiculous if we splurge £50m on Bale or whatever other attacking player only to play 3-5-2 and have only 2 attacking spots behind Kane up for grabs for 6 players.

If you want to play the odd game 3-5-2 you definitely still have the ability to do so with Sanchez, Dier, Verts and Foyth. Davies too can play LCB.

I'm really not too sure we need another CB, especially a mega money one.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

One of the best young CB’s around is Dier. And we’ve also bought two more recently, Sanchez and Foyth.

Does Dier want to be a CB?

 

[thekneaf]

Dier made amends after the whole Mourinho thing

And also Poch listened, bought 2 CBs, and played him in midfield more in this, a world cup year.

 

[thebenjamin]

If Vertonghen got injured for a length of time, we'd be playing Dier and Sanchez in a 2 with Dier playing on the left. Not for me Clive.

 

[Shadydan]

We really don't need another CB, think we need another midfielder and drop Dier back to a CB, perfect scenario.

 

[Khilari]

When Fergie sold Jaap Stam and Beckham he really put a blueprint down on the whole no-one is bigger than the club mantra, the players respected the club more knowing that they can't mess about otherwise they'll be out.

True - but didn’t he go on to say selling Stam was one of his biggest regrets?

Edit: sorry seen this has already been mentioned.

 

[Riandor]

We really don't need another CB, think we need another midfielder and drop Dier back to a CB, perfect scenario.

IF Dier wants to play there.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Does Dier want to be a CB?

No, I don't think he does, but Poch needs to man the fuck up, sit him down and tell him what time it is.

 

[marion52]

Haven’t noticed any pics of Toby in the training gallery?
No surprise to anyone if he’s off this summer

 

[Univarn]

No, I don't think he does, but Poch needs to man the fuck up, sit him down and tell him what time it is.

Dier: "Yea gaff?"
Poch: "Have a seat."
Dier: "Sure what's up?"
Poch: "Dier... it's 1 o'clock."
Dier: "Ok...?"
Poch: "Oh, that's all. You can go now."

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Dier: "Yea gaff?"
Poch: "Have a seat."
Dier: "Sure what's up?"
Poch: "Dier... it's CB o'clock."
Dier: "Ok...?"
Poch: "Oh, that's all. You can go now."

FYP

 

[WiganSpur]

If Vertonghen got injured for a length of time, we'd be playing Dier and Sanchez in a 2 with Dier playing on the left. Not for me Clive.

Worth spending £40/50m on Tah/De Ligt for?

Assuming we did sign that extra CB how often would they or other CBs play? We've been linked to at least one midfield player. Assuming we bring two in where does that leave Dier?

Like I said, we won't be able to keep all of our attacking players happy by regularly playing 3-5-2. So therefore we can only play two CBs most of the time. Means every week two of four top centre backs sit on the bench every week and Foyth doesn't have a hope of a look in.

Questionable also as to whether De Ligt is any better than Foyth. I've said previously in this thread: What if Foyth played every week for Ajax?

 

[Shadydan]

IF Dier wants to play there.

Why wouldn't he?

 

[Khilari]

IF Dier wants to play there.

I was quite critical of him earlier in the season and preferred Wanyama from his brief cameos - I thought Wanyama's passing range was good.

However the last 10 games or so (Juve aside), Dier has really grown in confidence and his displays for England have also been a positive for him in midfield - specifically his passing and the assist for Dele was the icing on the cake.

I think he's happy to play either role from his interview where he says footballers shouldn't be defined by a single role. He is versatile and an excellent type of player to have in the side and has, for now made the CDM role his own.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Poch hasn't played 5-3-2 for ages and I still don't think he will touch it for a while with Lamela back and Moura signed too.
.

This sort of loop-argument again, I see. Yes, it is true that he has not deployed three CBs for a time. Which goes to show that he will need a new CB in the summer, in order for him to increase the chances of having 3 trustworthy CBs available at the same time. Clearly, one potential explanation for why he hasn't deployed 3 CB is that he might feel he lacks options.

5 eligible, trustworthy and functioning CBs really isn't overkill for a team that would like to be able to have the chose of playing 3 CBs at any give time.

It's evident to me that Alderweireld must be replaced.

 

[DCSPUR]

this season also shows why we need depth and Dier in the squad. Between Toby and Victors injuries, thank goodness we had Dier to shift around as needed. Had his arm injury been more serious against Juve we'd be in trouble. One more CB gives us a solid 4 CB and 4 CM (with Dier in that group)

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I do agree that Alderweireld needs to be replaced. I don’t agree that it needs to be a like replacement, as even if he is our best centre back, he’s become obsolete. Our defence is that company who have brought in a great FD and managed to restructure in a way that doesn’t damage productivity or efficiency, but does make it’s most highly salaried department redundant. Ergo, Toby is now playing the role of an unnecessarily high quality reserve. If we sold him and replaced him with an up and coming lefty to succession plan for Verts, or a reliable experienced player who’s be happy just to be in our squad, then I’d be happy,

Basically, Mawson or Evans will do just fine (I think we should use this as an opportunity to improve our HG pool).

 

[WiganSpur]

This sort of loop-argument again, I see. Yes, it is true that he has not deployed three CBs for a time. Which goes to show that he will need a new CB in the summer, in order for him to increase the chances of having 3 trustworthy CBs available at the same time. Clearly, one potential explanation for why he hasn't deployed 3 CB is that he might feel he lacks options.

5 eligible, trustworthy and functioning CBs really isn't overkill for a team that would like to be able to have the chose of playing 3 CBs at any give time.

It's evident to me that Alderweireld must be replaced.

There's strong talk of us signing Bale, or if not Bale, then another big money attacking player. There's been plenty of ITK suggesting Malcom and others for instance.

Can you honestly see us regularly playing 3-5-2 with Eriksen, Dele, Lucas, Son, Lamela + a new signing competing for just two spaces behind Kane? Even Sissoko might stay too, that's 7 players for 2 positions!

We can very easily go to 3-5-2 for the odd game with the defenders we have (excluding Toby). What's wrong with Dier, Sanchez and Verts? Even Foyth as a backup would be decent in a back three. Ben Davies too on that left side.

My point is, in my eyes, another CB is only necessary if we are to be deploying a back three in most games. If Poch is intending to do that, then we're going to have a lot of unhappy attacking players on our hands. That's what leads me to believe signing another CB (especially a big name) might not make much sense.

If we sign a CB and continue with a back four, then ITK again has said we want at least one midfielder. So we'll potentially have Dier, Sanchez, Verts + £30-40m new CB and Foyth competing for 2 roles. That sounds like overkill to me. Essentially, if we signed Tah then he'd be coming here as 4th choice, and is someone like De Ligt really that much better than Foyth to warrant a mega money move?