Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[Luka Van der Bale]

Why would you take 22m now when you could get 25m later?

That 25m could come from Chelsea or Arsenal. Not saying I agree, but that has to factor in when talking about waiting until next summer. We’d have no control over where he ends up.

 

[Spurrific]

That 25m could come from Chelsea or Arsenal. Not saying I agree, but that has to factor in when talking about waiting until next summer. We’d have no control over where he ends up.

I don’t get these clauses - how did Pool outright refuse Arsenal’s offer for Suarez when they met his release clause? Surely we’d just do the same?

 

[JacoZA]

That 25m could come from Chelsea or Arsenal. Not saying I agree, but that has to factor in when talking about waiting until next summer. We’d have no control over where he ends up.

Fair enough

 

[Tucker]

The thing with waiting for Barca etc to come in is... I don’t think people realise quite how little regard the Spanish hold for the PL. Spanish clubs have won 9 out of 10 European trophies over the last 5 seasons. I don’t think Real, Barca or Atletico has lost a knockout tie to an English side over that period. The Spanish are very proud of their league, and adamant that the PL doesn’t come close. Alderweireld’s reputation to the general public in England is that of the best defender in the league. In Spain, he was backup at Atletico before being sold to us for 11.5m. Factor in their general disregard for English football in general, and you can see why he’s not held in the same regard over there as he is here.

I’m not saying you’re wrong about them not having much respect for the English game, but they very clearly rate players from the Premier League having spent loads on acquiring the top stars over the last 15 years.

Beckham,
Owen,
Woodgate,
Overmars,
Fabregas,
Henry,
Ronaldo,
Modric,
Bale,
Suarez,
Coutinho,

Spanish Clubs are more than willing to drop top dollar on Premier League players.

 

[Lilbaz]

Nobody wants to watch him on match of the day playing for a different team or even worse against us. Nobody wants to listen to paul merson spouting how we're a selling club or have the fake manc in the pub spouting bullshit. It's painful. But it is an emotional reaction.
Reality is if utd are offering £60m for a player that is not key for us anymore almost out of contract and has had his best years. Then we should probably take it.

The most important thing is that money is spent on the right player/s. Ones that will improve us.

Wouldn't sell to arsenal or chelsea though.

 

[Tucker]

Nobody wants to watch him on match of the day playing for a different team or even worse against us. Nobody wants to listen to paul merson spouting how we're a selling club or have the fake manc in the pub spouting bullshit. It's painful. But it is an emotional reaction.
Reality is if utd are offering £60m for a player that is not key for us anymore almost out of contract and has had his best years. Then we should probably take it.

The most important thing is that money is spent on the right player/s. Ones that will improve us.

Wouldn't sell to arsenal or chelsea though.

It’s a strategic error to strengthen a direct rival. We did the same with city last summer. What’s worse is they refused to sell Sancho to us. Clearly they saw the value in not selling a player to a rival. I wouldn’t be surprised if United feel the same about Martial.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I’m not saying you’re wrong about them not having much respect for the English game, but they very clearly rate players from the Premier League having spent loads on acquiring the top stars over the last 15 years.

Beckham,
Owen,
Woodgate,
Overmars,
Fabregas,
Henry,
Ronaldo,
Modric,
Bale,
Suarez,
Coutinho,

Spanish Clubs are more than willing to drop top dollar on Premier League players.

Not too many defenders in there though..

 

[Lilbaz]

It’s a strategic error to strengthen a direct rival. We did the same with city last summer. What’s worse is they refused to sell Sancho to us. Clearly they saw the value in not selling a player to a rival. I wouldn’t be surprised if United feel the same about Martial.

I've already posted about walker to city on the previous page.

 

[spurs mental]

The thing with waiting for Barca etc to come in is... I don’t think people realise quite how little regard the Spanish hold for the PL. Spanish clubs have won 9 out of 10 European trophies over the last 5 seasons. I don’t think Real, Barca or Atletico has lost a knockout tie to an English side over that period. The Spanish are very proud of their league, and adamant that the PL doesn’t come close. Alderweireld’s reputation to the general public in England is that of the best defender in the league. In Spain, he was backup at Atletico before being sold to us for 11.5m. Factor in their general disregard for English football in general, and you can see why he’s not held in the same regard over there as he is here.

Atletico, defensively anyway are absolutely insane. Since winning Is Liga in 13/14, they've conceded 29, 18(!!!), 27 and and 22(!!) An average of 24 goals a season in their league campaigns. They haven't exactly been short on defensive strength. They're a machine.

In England the best defence over those same 4 seasons have conceded 27, 26, 35(With 5 conceded in the final game no less, Spursy) and 32. An average of 30 per season.

They didn't need him.

In terms of the Spanish league itself, most of the best players in the world are over there at the two giants of football. I don't blame them for holding a disregard for English football. Look at United since Ferguson left. They're supposed to be the biggest club in England and play football akin to West Brom and Stoke. They must look at it and laugh.

 

[Indisguise]

I think I've got to the point where I don't really give a toss if he goes or where he goes. Toby and his daddy will do what's right for Toby and his daddy. I'm not at all convinced he's going to be the same player over the next couple of years anyway and Sanchez is only going to get better.

 

[spursfan77]

This is a depressingly accurate read about him and what he brings to the team and what we will miss.

 

[wrd]

Tell you what I've been checking out that Pavard, 22 years old playing in bundesliga and his ability at interception along with some tasty passes. I wonder if we don't get De Ligt whether this guy would be a worthwhile replacement of Alders strongest attributes.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Tell you what I've been checking out that Pavard, 22 years old playing in bundesliga and his ability at interception along with some tasty passes. I wonder if we don't get De Ligt whether this guy would be a worthwhile replacement of Alders strongest attributes.

We’ve had ITK on him before as someone we’ve been tracking... another that will be pricey though as the Stuttgart owner has publicly said he’ll cost a lot more than £30m.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Wouldn't sell to arsenal or chelsea though.

Or Liverpool.

Fact is we're not really competing with United and City at the moment. In league position, yes, but financially they are in another stratosphere and will be for the time being. We can put our foot down and refuse to deal with them, whatever, they'll just go and spunk the GDP of a small nation on someone else.

 

[Indisguise]

Or Liverpool.

Fact is we're not really competing with United and City at the moment. In league position, yes, but financially they are in another stratosphere and will be for the time being. We can put our foot down and refuse to deal with them, whatever, they'll just go and spunk the GDP of a small nation on someone else.

Not sure that's the case any more Hans. Herc has consistently said that we're now on the same playing field when it comes to spending.

 

[LukaKranjcar]

Cant believe we were daft enough to put the clause in in the first place tbh

 

[wrd]

We’ve had ITK on him before as someone we’ve been tracking... another that will be pricey though as the Stuttgart owner has publicly said he’ll cost a lot more than £30m.

Wow, theres nothing more exciting than being keen on somebody and finding out theres been ITK haha. Well we will see, personally happy with either De Ligt or Pavard.

 

[scat1620]

I don’t get these clauses - how did Pool outright refuse Arsenal’s offer for Suarez when they met his release clause? Surely we’d just do the same?

If I recall correctly, in the summer where Arsenal bid £40,000,001 for Suarez, the clause did exist but Liverpool just said, "Nah, we won't sign the registration transfer papers regardless and we'll see you in court if you want to spend the time and money arguing it out" and Suarez/Arsenal didn't follow through. Liverpool effectively didn't abide by the terms of the contract, but were going to force a legal fight (that they probably would have lost, after time any money had been wasted on both sides) that Suarez and Arsenal didn't have the appetite for.

 

[Spurrific]

If I recall correctly, in the summer where Arsenal bid £40,000,001 for Suarez, the clause did exist but Liverpool just said, "Nah, we won't sign the registration transfer papers regardless and we'll see you in court if you want to spend the time and money arguing it out" and Suarez/Arsenal didn't follow through. Liverpool effectively didn't abide by the terms of the contract, but were going to force a legal fight (that they probably would have lost, after time any money had been wasted on both sides) that Suarez and Arsenal didn't have the appetite for.

Sounds like a plan

 

[Colonel Dax]

Cant believe we were daft enough to put the clause in in the first place tbh

It does seem strange. Very unlike Levy.