Toby signs for Spurs - official.

We will have several alternatives in mind, but as per the discussion yesterday or day before, we "know" Toby plays well here. Very low % risk. Anyone new is a higher risk.

 

Agreed. Though may i suggest a 15 year contract and we confiscate his passport/chain him to the training ground.

18m is a lot but its worth it considering it removes the danger of getting a new defender with an unknown ability for our team. May I also point out that at his age he has many years ahead of him so if can maintain his current level we would be able to to sell him on for more than the 18m we paid easily.

 

Didn't we also get about £3 million out of Atletico when Toby returned there?

 

What's the risk? Injury?

 

Before anyone says "Lovren" let me point out although the fee would be similar, he wouldn't need to settle, he won't be playing in front of fans that demand perfection and won't be managed by a complete ****. Oh, and he's simply miles better than Lovren.

 

He's a stand-out defender that we know, that plays well for us, that has his best years ahead of him, that isn't likely to bugger off at the first sniff of an opportunity, that has an outstanding passing range for a defender, that reads the game well, that can score a goal, that can take a free kick, that can speak the language, that can play in a few positions, that is a sign of our progress, that will encourage other top players to come here, that's a nice bloke and that has a brain.

Jeeze, I'd pay 180m for the bloke!

 

He is amazing, sign him up. Pppplllleeeaaassseee

 

I felt sure it was Godders who said his wife was changing the sheets...

 

To get someone known is worth the premium. Imagine we buy someone else for about 8M and they turn out to fit like Gaston or worse Dani. We would then have Fonte and Maya with Gardos and academy behind them until January. That is not a good position. Even if we get a good fit in January we will have dropped points. In addition if we spend another 8M for the January signing that is nearly the price of Toby. Unless the price goes over 20M I think we should get him.

 

Not really a huge difference between 18mill and 21mill though is there?

 

I would agree we would like to compete with Liverpool, Man U etc but they have far greater resources. I know you have to speculate to accumulate (i.e. you bring bigger players in to to move up the table to bring in more fans and money and then you can afford more), but I guess I've still got what happened to the Skates at the back of my mind and don't want us to over reach.

I was saying what i think the board will do rather than what i think they should do, and it seems out of character of the current ragime, would be more of a Cortese thing to do. But if they to buy him for that much then I think the board have proven that they know what they are doing so won't loose to much sleep.

 

And Dani would no longer be our transfer record! Finally get that embarrassment of a record off our back.

 

In a world where Shane Long costs £12m, this is still a snip.
Plus, for those saying that we can get better for £18m - if there's a CB better than Toby who is available for £18m, the CL clubs would be all over it. He's worth more than £18m imo, especially when heading into the unknown territory of Europe. Players like Ryan, Toby, Sadio, and eventually Fraser will be invaluable.

 

That's actually our own fault for making him 2.5 times better than he was!

 

To be honest I think some people are still a bit stuck in the old Saints ways. They forget how much we get a year just for being in the Prem. £18m while it may seem a lot to the average normal everyday person is nothing these days.

 

Totally agree. The EPL is awash with money and it has changed how much we can pay and how much we are expected to pay, especially by teams on the outside.

 

But it's not just £18m for a very good centre back.
It's £18m for a very good CB, who is also a good right back and a good defensive midfielder.

 

Luke Shaw - 30m
Lallana - 25m
Lovren - 20m

Toby 18m? Yes bloody please.

 

That's exactly what happens in reverse with Saints fans - a player walks on water until he leaves or angles for a move, and then we all start adjusting our views, until they're unneeded, don't add anything to the team, have lost form etc.

 

No idea. Heart should rule the head on this one. Is clearly one of the best CBs in the league, got European experience, unflappable, more versatile than a potato waffle, and has shown that when not available to partner Fonte in the CB unit our results waver. Yet some people would be more comfortable if we withdrew, and spent a few million less on a worse player with the attendant risk. But crucially, we'd have £3m or so more in the bank.