Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[Colonel Dax]

Earlier in the Window we were supposedly interested in De Ligt now we won’t need a replacement for Toby. Confused to say the least.

Agreed. I'm quite surprised that some people are now happy to not buy another CB if Toby goes. A few weeks ago the ITK's were talking about de Ligt and Pavard. Now we don't care? Strange.

Yes Dier can play in defence, but with fitness concerns over Wanyama he'll likely be needed in midfield. Foyth is a promising young player but with no PL experience it's asking a lot for him to step up in the event of a Jan or Sanchez injury.

 

[Ben1]

Agreed. I'm quite surprised that some people are now happy to not buy another CB in the event Toby goes. A few weeks ago the ITK's were talking about de Ligt and Pavard. Now we don't care? Strange.

Yes Dier can play in defence, but with fitness concerns over Wanyama he'll likely be needed in midfield. Foyth is a promising young player but with no PL experience it's asking a lot for him to step up in the event of a Jan or Sanchez injury.

Yeah, 'we will replace' was the line dragged out.

Just opinion, but we've run outta funds for what we planned this window, as nothing has come in. So the money is being spent on higher priority positions supposedly (winger and Grealish, which doesn't seem right)

 

[Reece_Spurs]

I don't think Sanchez was ever intended to replace anyone. We looked the most solid defensively just after signing Sanchez when we played 3 at the back, Toby on the right, Jan on the left and Sanchez central sweeping up. I remember us looking rock solid for those games. We only started playing Jan and Sanchez in a back 4 when Toby got injured which coinsided the the fall out rumours with Poch.

Toby came back from injury and barely saw any minutes, now, a good manager doesn't all of a sudden decide not to bring back a world class center back into what was, a brilliant defence for no reason.

Something happened and things we're clearly said, and Poch wasn't happy. We saw the same thing with Walker when he got frozen out. I'm 100% with Poch on this, world class player or not, if they want out then they can piss off for all I'm concerned, we dont need that attitude with what we are trying to build.

The Man Utd/Martial thing sounds a little complicated, mainly because of the egos involved more than anything.

Honestly, unless Martial is involved I'm quite happy for Toby to rot in the reserves for another year, fuck him. I hate the idea of strengthening teams around us and Toby will definitely strengthen any team around us.

 

[Haddock]

Agreed. I'm quite surprised that some people are now happy to not buy another CB in the event Toby goes. A few weeks ago the ITK's were talking about de Ligt and Pavard. Now we don't care? Strange.

Yes Dier can play in defence, but with fitness concerns over Wanyama he'll likely be needed in midfield. Foyth is a promising young player but with no PL experience it's asking a lot for him to step up in the event of a Jan or Sanchez injury.

Yeah, it's like a game of chess and only Pochettino knows how he rates each piece. Pochettino do seem to love having Dier in the midfield though, which is quite handy from a tactical view point as he can cover CB as well.

I believe we'll see more of Foyth this season. Either that or he has to be loaned out. He's still young but he has to see more first team football.

 

[LeParisien]

Foyth- if not now, when?

 

[Colonel Dax]

Yeah, 'we will replace' was the line dragged out.

Just opinion, but we've run outta funds for what we planned this window, as nothing has come in. So the money is being spent on higher priority positions supposedly (winger and Grealish, which doesn't seem right)

Yep doesn't seem right to me either. We have a few options in the attacking positions - we're not desperate for a winger IMO. I'd prefer to get a centre back and a central midfielder. Defence and defensive depth has been the cornerstone of Poch's success over the last few seasons. Seems weird that we're suddenly going to give up on that.

 

[piedpiper]

worked all right for Ferguson for a few years...

Anyone who had led others for a while realised that you have to be ruthless sometimes to defend the values of the group...

Sure i get that. Fergie had trophies to back his management style too. Im not suggesting anarchy.. I also doubt Poch is the autocratic type. He's gained that status after the Adebayor/Lennon/Capoue/Kaboul era by supporters.

Would we sell Kane if there was a fallout to appease Poch..... ?

 

[Ben1]

Foyth- if not now, when?

I like what I've seen of Foyth, but if Wanyama has the same problems this season (so Dier plays in midfield every week), it is a lot of exposure for a guy who's played 4-5 games against lower league opposition. We were extremely fortunate with Jan/Davinsons fitness last year and being one injury away from Foyth playing the likes of Madrid, City, Juve, is perhaps too much.

Alternatively, he does have to play at some point and if Poch trusts him, so be it.

 

[LeParisien]

Sure i get that. Fergie had trophies to back his management style too. Im not suggesting anarchy.. I also doubt Poch is the autocratic type. He's gained that status after the Adebayor/Lennon/Capoue/Kaboul era by supporters.

Would we sell Kane if there was a fallout to appease Poch..... ?

That depends doesn’t it.

But it’s not appeasement. It’s creating a culture - a set of values and expectations - that is sustainable and will lead to success. Allowing players to kick up a storm and behave dishonourably and then come back into the fold is not sustainable... very slippery slope in my view ...

So in actual fact, by showing that no individual can violate our cultural norms, you prevent a Kane (or whoever) leaving ..

I like what I've seen of Foyth, but if Wanyama has the same problems this season (so Dier plays in midfield every week), it is a lot of exposure for a guy who's played 4-5 games against lower league opposition. We were extremely fortunate with Jan/Davinsons fitness last year and being one injury away from Foyth playing the likes of Madrid, City, Juve, is perhaps too much.

Alternatively, he does have to play at some point and if Poch trusts him, so be it.

I may be a wild fantasist but if Foyth will be good enough then he needs minutes and I’d trust him and throw him in. Well reap the benefits 19/20.

 

[Ekmek]

“I found a fiver”

He speaks in riddles. My Man Utd supporting wife has followed him for a long time. She assured me he’s referencing Toby. Read back through his stuff if you can be arsed. He’s meant to be right more often than not.

You need to get a divorce

 

[allatsea]

Pissing Poch off should never be a reason to sell a player. He's not the alpha or the Omega. That line gets bandied about quiet alot on here. If he had pissed him off to the extent that it warranted his sale he would not have played him in the final few games of the season.

I think Poch IS and should be above such pettiness and the greater good of the club should come first. Where a player behaves badly then like in the work place progressive discipline should be applied.

Many a manager has tried the iron clad approach.. It works for a short whilst and then player power takes over. Which in its own can be far more damaging.

Poch is putting the greater good of the club first by demonstrating behaviour like Toby’s will not be tolerated. Other players take note and behave appropriately.

 

[wadewill]

I woke up with some totally out of the blue faith in Levy, seems a pretty easy negotiating line really.

Martial for Toby or Toby stays. #Mikedrop

 

[spursfan77]

People talking about getting rid of Toby, but not too much talk about his replacement

Yep. We need a replacement in if Toby goes. If people think Dier is his replacement then we need a starting XI quality central midfielder. Either way, if he leaves he needs replacing.

More work to do with little time remaining.

 

[sausage]

Interesting. Where's that from?

Just a few posts on COYS where it was mentioned that ITK and articles had suggested it. Just Hearsay ATM, as I've not seen any evidence, but it just sounded like it might fit what the ITKs have implied (upset people that aren't Poch).

I'm putting 2 and 2 together, but it might not equal 4.

 

[Chris Flynn]

I believe it just means 'bad'.......The dick part comes from your filthy mind. But I might be wrong as I don't come from the colonies.

for sure i get that but what's the root off 'suck' = bad?

 

[piedpiper]

Poch is putting the greater good of the club first by demonstrating behaviour like Toby’s will not be tolerated. Other players take note and behave appropriately.

I think im holding off on apportioning blame until we actually hear what was so unforgivable. I suspect some major spin.

You see if he behaved so poorly as is suggested, he would be GONE already. This is all about the contract stand off.. At least that's my take.

 

[tiger666]

You see if he behaved so poorly as is suggested, he would be GONE already. This is all about the contract stand off.. At least that's my take.

He can't be gone if nobody has offered to take him on terms we and him deem acceptable. We're not just going to give a multi million pound asset away.

 

[parklane yid]

Andy Goldstein is saying he has a source that says Alderweireld has joined united as deal agreed. On Twitter this morning!

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

for sure i get that but what's the root off 'suck' = bad?

No idea, but it’s usually prefaced by “gee that”

 

[piedpiper]

He can't be gone if nobody has offered to take him on terms we and him deem acceptable. We're not just going to give a multi million pound asset away.

I get that, i do. However if as the chinese whispers campaign is alleging, we would have cut our losses for the greater good of squad "harmony". So i dont buy the current story out there at the moment.

We paid 11.5 million for him. Even being sold at 40 million would be selling him at a profit..