BBC pundit and Tottenham Hotspur fan Jermaine Jenas questioned Jose Mourinho’s decision to leave out Toby Alderweireld against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday afternoon.
He pleaded on BBC’s Match of the Day 2 (via football.london) after Jose Mourinho started Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga in a back-three either side of midfielder Eric Dier in the 3-2 home loss to Wolves, as the former Southampton defender dropped by the bench.
“I’m not sure if Jose Mourinho has watched Toby Alderweireld over the last three years, but as a centre half with the ball at his feet, there aren’t many more comfortable or with a better passing range than Toby Alderweireld’, he added.
Alderweireld averages 63.6 passes per Premier League game, more than Sanchez, Tanganga and Eric Dier according to WhoScored.com. The website also highlights his passing as one of his key strengths, alongside concentration, which is important when the Belgian plays out from the back.
He also plays more long-balls on average (4.5) in the Premier League than any of his teammates and has the fifth-highest stat in this category out of all Premier League centre-backs to have made a minimum number of appearances (Conor Coady, Lewis Dunk, Virgil Van Dijk and David Luiz are first to fourth on WhoScored.com‘s list respectively). Indeed, his long passing range is significant for getting Spurs up the pitch quickly, which perhaps they could have utilised when Wolves were pegging them back.
It is Alderweireld’s birthday today and he will be hoping for a belated present from Mourinho by returning to the starting line-up against Norwich City in the FA Cup round-of-sixteen clash on Wednesday night. It is an important game for Spurs as they seek their first major trophy for twelve years.
Spurs fans, who is your best centre-back and why? Comment down below!
