What's new

Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

Aug 23, 2017
26
42
I remember this argument when Walker went, how Trippier was easily as good and we wouldn't miss him.

There is a very good reason as to why Mourinho wants him so badly and that's exactly why we shouldn't sell him to them.
the same logic applies to them selling Martial to us. A swap deal makes so much sense all round. Why isn't is happening Aaargghh!
 

Rout-Ledge

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2005
9,611
21,718
because man utd are arrogant c**ts that they want to take all the advantages without benefiting others

Hmmm. Ultimately every party wants the best deal possible for themselves, including us. The questions are (i) are we going to hold our nerve and insist on a swap and (ii) are United willing to cut off their nose to spite their face and end up with no CB purely to stop us from getting Martial. Time will tell.
 

SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
12,552
43,063
This has always been the point of interest for me. He played towards the end and was never totally out of the picture/ hasn't gone missing from training completely. If the rumours were true about his behaviour and the club were that angry, I'd be shocked if Poch was that open.

I do think all will be civil if he stays, so I'm glad Levy seems to be dragging it all out with Utd to try and get us a good deal and ideally Martial. He'll almost certainly be gone in 6-12 months regardless though. The games at the end did seem to be to help him get in the WC squad and potentially increase his value however.

Personally I thought Toby looked really ropey when he came back in. Obvious class on the ball but seemed rusty and possibly less mobile (somewhat understandable after a lay off). Hard to judge for Belgium as a back 3 helps defenders.

He's a professional footballer paid to play well, Modric had one of his best seasons here after he was denied a move. I don't think accommodating one of your best players (or at least not strengthening one of the two teams above us) is bending over - I think it's putting the quality of the squad first.

Do you honestly think he'll start if he stays? I personally think Poch has moved on. Even if he does play we are then taking game time away from a ridiculous prospect who has much better physical tools (but also good defensive instincts) and has already had some great moments for us (was a colossus in that big win at Chelsea). Thanks to another mid season muscle injury we ended up in the unusual position of bedding in a replacement before a player left, and qualified for the top 4 doing so.

Why put a player that wants out over a quality player that just signed a long term deal and is fully committed? Especially one that right now could even be at the same or even better level depending on Toby's injuries, he's certainly not far off already.

I hate selling good players to rivals, but I guess I just made peace with it a long time ago. We haven't sold a player to Utd since Berbatov, we refused to sell Dier to them last year when he fancied it, do you really think we'd be selling him there on a whim?

If he signs a new deal I'll be happy but still worried about the knock on effects to Sanchez to be honest. He could be our starting CB for 10 years, Toby almost certainly leaves in 1 for his big payday.
 

RuskyM

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2011
6,920
22,728
Do you honestly think he'll start if he stays? I personally think Poch has moved on. Even if he does play we are then taking game time away from a ridiculous prospect who has much better physical tools (but also good defensive instincts) and has already had some great moments for us (was a colossus in that big win at Chelsea). Thanks to another mid season muscle injury we ended up in the unusual position of bedding in a replacement before a player left, and qualified for the top 4 doing so.

If you're talking about Sanchez then I never saw him as a Toby replacement: feel like that's revisionism. If Toby goes and we don't bring in a CB we've got two greats and three gambles in Foyth, Dier and CCV - if we wanna play 3ATB then we're taking a risk.
 

RuskyM

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2011
6,920
22,728
Toby is a great defender, but better than Ledley? Come on...!

It’s not mythical status, Ledley when fit was unbelievably good.

He was superb, but I feel he's made better by King being in a worse team and somehow playing without knees.
 

SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
12,552
43,063
If you're talking about Sanchez then I never saw him as a Toby replacement: feel like that's revisionism. If Toby goes and we don't bring in a CB we've got two greats and three gambles in Foyth, Dier and CCV - if we wanna play 3ATB then we're taking a risk.

Fully agree on the depth situation, would be a big concern for me. I was hoping De Ligt would materialise, and possibly could in 6-12 months time.
 

smallsnc

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2017
699
1,237
Hmmm. Ultimately every party wants the best deal possible for themselves, including us. The questions are (i) are we going to hold our nerve and insist on a swap and (ii) are United willing to cut off their nose to spite their face and end up with no CB purely to stop us from getting Martial. Time will tell.

Think that United are using Martial as swap bait for Willan now, not Toby. Could see us having enough matches for Sanchez, Vert and Toby if he stays, allowing them to stay fresh while also allowing some tactical flexibility.

One thing to remember is that while the window closes for incomings in 2 days, I expect to see a few players sent out to other leagues after our window closes. It will give Poch a little time to see which he feels can help which need to go and there may be a surprise or two in this area.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
I can see it now, 4:55 on Thursday United finally agree on Levy's price, and then Levy says: "Great, let's go sign some players now!"
 

jonnyp

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2006
7,149
9,628
Gonna disagree, don't remember much of Sol but whilst Ledley was terrific I feel his injuries gave him more of a mythical status and Vertonghen always looks best with Alderweireld (granted was good last season with Sanchez but not a risk I'd want to see us take again).

Ledley when at his best was better than Toby in every category/metric you want to compare.
 

Rout-Ledge

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2005
9,611
21,718
Ledley when at his best was better than Toby in every category/metric you want to compare.

That is just not true I’m afraid. Ledley was a great defender but he wasn’t better in every single respect compared to Toby, that’s just silly.
 

Living Legend Colm G

SC Supporter
Jan 30, 2011
1,639
6,242
I'm just happy we had both in our ranks in my lifetime. Definitely the two best centre backs I've seen in the thirty two years of my spurs supporting life.
 

wadewill

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2005
3,159
10,446
At this moment Jan is a better defender than Toby, he is improving, Toby seems to be slowing already

If last season (andvthe WC) is anything to go by
 

Guntz

Loves a good meme/gif
Aug 15, 2011
7,271
54,780
All about onions mate (y)

i love Jan but those two top him in my opinion.

Yeah fair enough (y)

I just think that Jan edges it by making the defenders around him better aswell. When there has been games that Toby has played alongside Sanchez/Dier/Foyth without Jan, we've looked far more shaky.
 
Last edited:

Living Legend Colm G

SC Supporter
Jan 30, 2011
1,639
6,242
Yeah fair enough (y)

I just think that Jan edges it by making the defenders around him better aswell. When there has been games that Toby has played alongside Sanchez/Dier/Foyth without Jan, we've looked far more shakey.

funnily enough that's where I have opposite opinion. I always feel more comfortable having Toby there because I think he settles the others around him (not counting that joke of a last game vs Leicester).

either way, Jan is also a legend so we got to see all three! (y)
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
41,857
25,919
funnily enough that's where I have opposite opinion. I always feel more comfortable having Toby there because I think he settles the others around him (not counting that joke of a last game vs Leicester).

either way, Jan is also a legend so we got to see all three! (y)
Or Newport, Rochdale, West Brom, Brighton, Newcastle, but yeah...
 

jonnyp

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2006
7,149
9,628
That is just not true I’m afraid. Ledley was a great defender but he wasn’t better in every single respect compared to Toby, that’s just silly.

Ok what is toby better at?

Edit - ok I thought of one that I will grant you. Long diagonal passes from the back out to the wing.
 
Last edited:
Top