Toby Alderweireld injured his knee after the 1-1 draw against West Brom. The injury’s severity will be revealed within 48 hours.
Alderweireld Injury Impacts Spurs
Alderweireld’s injury will impact Tottenham. He will be missed, despite solid stand-ins Kevin Wimmer, Cameron Carter-Vickers or Eric Dier. This is because of his distribution, presence and defensive capabilities.
Distribution
Most completed long passes in the Premier League 2016/17:
T. Alderweireld (56)
J. Henderson (39)
V. Van Dijk (39)Eye for a pass. pic.twitter.com/athlMiefXX
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 14, 2016
In terms of distribution, Alderweireld’s long balls usually have pin point precision. This allows for rapid switching of play to opposite flanks, which can be crucial in changing the tempo of the match. It provides an alternative to Spurs’ patient build-up play and creates a more direct approach. This in turn leads to goals indirectly or directly. The chemistry between Dele Alli and Alderweireld has worked to great effect. Dele runs through the midfield, behind the defence, onto a wonderful pass delivered by Alderweireld.
Presence
He leads by example. The exemplary coolness on the ball permeates the entire back four, in spite of any opponent. Whilst most defenders are content with hitting ‘Row Z’, Alderweireld always aims to retain possession, or at the very least get the ball forward. Spurs will miss his calming presence as a result of his injury.
Defensive Capability
The injury to one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs will impact Spurs. Spurs do have a plethora of talent in defence including Jan Vertonghen, Kevin Wimmer and Eric Dier, but they are still inferior to Alderweireld. This is because of his consistency to remain at the peak of his game. Whilst Vertonghen has been known to lose focus and have poor matches, Alderweireld has far less lapses of concentration. He is the player that Pochettino can rely on to glue his defence together in periods of turmoil. Without the glue, Spurs’ defence may come unstuck.
His Replacements
Kevin Wimmer
One candidate to cover for the injury is Kevin Wimmer. He has struggled to make the bench this season. This is perhaps due to injury he suffered in pre-season, which meant that he had very little opportunity to impress. In addition, with the form of Spurs’ current centre-backs, it is no surprise that he has not been given opportunities to shine. When Vertonghen suffered an injury, Wimmer put in some impressive performances that warranted future first team starts. However, the Belgian was favoured when fit and thus he has dropped back down the ranks. The injury of Alderweireld gives him another chance to cement a first team place. His strengths lie in his physicality and his defensive ability. Despite lack of Premier League action, his performances in the Europa League last season were solid and shows these qualities at centre-back.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Pochettino could choose to field Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has impressed him. This would be a positive replacement. It promotes young English talent into Premier League and Champions League football. Furthermore, it exemplifies the use of the youth academy to develop talent. But, starting Carter-Vickers is not just a gesture towards developing youth, because he has the ability to play competitive first team football. Despite his youth, he has shown great maturity in defence and already has strong physical attributes to compete. He has the Tottenham playing style by developing through the academy. This means that he is confident on the ball and can operate in a high line. If Pochettino was to give him a first team chance, it could prove to be his full breakthrough into first team football.
Eric Dier
A final candidate is Eric Dier. Displaced as the holding midfielder, he can slot into centre-back to re-gain his first team place. Ledley King has backed Dier as an out-and-out centreback. He said “If he was to move back to centre-back, he would be even better there, especially given his experience in midfield.” This suggests that moving Dier back to his old position may be beneficial for Spurs. However, by fielding him at centre-back, it risks disrupting the team. This is because if Spurs want to substitute Victor Wanyama, two changes will be made. Dier would have to move to holding midfield and a new centreback would have to enter the field. Instead, by starting Wimmer or Carter-Vickers, less disruption is caused by making only one change.
Who Should Replace Alderweireld?
In summary, Wimmer should replace Alderweireld in terms of the hierarchy at Spurs. This is because he has not been given the chance to show his defensive qualities. Whilst promoting Carter-Vickers to the first team would be a very progressive change, it is important to protect and nurture young players. Exposing him too soon could damage him as a player. Finally, Dier should be kept as a holding midfielder, with the ability to fit in at centre-back by necessity.
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