Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[emiley heskey]

My issue with Toby sans Vertonghen is that he react to where the ball is coming from when defending, as opposed to Vertonghen who attacks a headable ball. That’s fine as long as he’s paired with another proactive header (Dier fits the bill) but when with Sanchez, who is also reactive rather than proactive, it invites pressure. A centre back who prefers to defend by forcing the attacker to run out of options should always have one centre back partner who defends on the front foot. King had Dawson and Woodgate, Carvalho had Terry, Pepe and Ramos, Ferdinand has Vidic. By the same token, two proactive centre backs leaves you exposed when they over commit. It’s about balance. There’s a reason you hear about centre back partnerships more than the individuals.

Dier is our only cb now who is proactive header ... And bar sheffield game, dier has looked solid along with both sanchez and toby

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Dear Jose...never drop Toby Alderweireld again - Football365

Toby Alderweireld 2020 might not be Toby Alderweireld 2016 but he is still better than any Eric Dier.

www.football365.com

Strange article where the writer has decided his opinion then massaged the information to suit it. Sanchez has also looked good with Dier, and he’s had games with Toby where they have both been disastrous. It also completely ignores that with Dier in the side we had two clean sheets in four matches, conceded to a nonsense penalty in one and v Sheffield Utd the whole team was shocking, whereas in three games without Toby our one clean sheet was v a lucky one v toothless Bournemouth and our defending gifted chances beyond just that which we conceded from against both Arsenal and Newcastle.

It may well be that it should be Toby with Dier rather than Sanchez, but Dier does his best defending in ensuring the chance never occurs, Toby and Sanchez both deal with chances that are in the process of occurring already.

 

[isaac94]

Been class last couple of games, Dier was decent, but always has a mistake in him (penalty vs Man it'd for example), feel so much more assured with Toby at the back

 

[pedrodelawasp]

Finding a Jan Mk2 would be sweet, with Sanchez being given just that little bit more time to blossom in to being Toby’s heir.
In my head a pairing of Toby and Dan Axel Zagadou could be immense... but i bet he’d be a pricey purchase

 

[tiger666]

Superb performance. He isn't done yet.

 

[Haddock]

MOTM tonight.

 

[chrissivad]

Superb performance. He isn't done yet.

Agree, but maybe manage the games he should start.

Like Thursday as it's his home town (I think)

 

[Cochise]

Yeah. He read every long ball they sent at us. Definitely adds experience against teams like Burnley who don't have any pace to get in behind teams.

 

[Chris Finch]

Outstanding tonight

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Warrior! Well done Toby

 

[TheChosenOne]

Great positioning and reading.

 

[MrWoolley]

Great performance - love to see it!

 

[dagraham]

Just put this in the match thread:

Toby may be past his best and can now struggle against quicker and more agile opponents, but if I had to pick one of our defenders to play a solid defensive shift it would still be him.

 

[jurgen]

Get the bandages on more often I say, no longer has to worry about his hair and suddenly he's winning everything in the air against a 10ft orc

 

[HNIM]

Didn't think he was that good in the first half but, man, was he triffic in the second.

 

[spurs mental]

Jose impressed with Oliver.


Edit: thought I was still in the match thread. Sorry.

 

[chrissivad]

Jose impressed with Oliver.

Trying to get on their good side...
Might get some freekicks next game

 

[carmeldevil]

The new headgear of Tottenham

 

[Joshua]

Great performance. Back him all day long against lumps like Wood and Barnes. Toby too clever and too strong. Can get exposed by pace these days but can still eat up the slower more physical forwards. Really good shift.

 

[ardiles]

The new headgear of Tottenham

Someone needs to teach Toby how to wear a mask the correct way.