I would actually say VVD could slip easily into any defence in the league and improve it. He is a truly top class centre back and, for me, his impact has been greater than Toby's.
They're both top top players. Very difficult to call it. I don't think it would have been fair if we had both. We just wouldn't ever concede.
Imagine 3 at the back with Toby vvd and fonte! With big Vic in front of them. Would be a defence to take away to man city!
Two of the best CDs I've seen play in a Saints shirt. Both tremendous footballers in slightly different ways. Actually a great example, in comparison to José, in terms of the difference between technical ability and importance to a team. I think both are better footballers than JF (sorry Fran) but JF's importance to the team as a leader outweighs their technical ability. More than happy to buy Toby back from Spurs once Jose slows down a bit, and we're the favoured team over them due to our consistent presence in the Champions League.
Thought I'd commented on this thread before, but I will say this. Van Dijk is the only CB who has been the equal or sometimes better than Jose, while playing together. Not even Alderweireld the Belgian bloke could do that. Personally, I think there's a good chance that Florin Gardos could end up as a VvD's defensive partner, when Jose calls it quits.
Yeah, a saw a similarity between Florin and Fonte's style. Physically similar too. When the time comes Jose's head could be subtlety grafted onto Gardos' body.
Alderweireld was very good, but I still have nightmares about him playing DM. Ok, not literally. But why Koeman played our best centre back at DM is beyond me. That really did do my head in for a while. They are different types of centre backs, both very effective. Van Dijk and Alderweireld in a pair would be very good.
I didn't think there would be a better defender than toby that we could attract at this point in time but in VVD I think we have found one
There's no doubt that Toby was a class act and as most have said there is very little between them, but I don't remember Toby getting MOM award's given to him week on week, which makes VVD's small number of games in a Saints shirt even more impressive? He's certainly hit the ground running.
Loved Toby as a player and all round decent chap, but VvD is more attacking minded....which resulted in his daft run yesterday which made Koeman pull his hair out. Daft, maybe, but wasn't there a little frisson in our footballing souls that we had a player that isn't an automaton, but got carried away by excitement. Obviously I will excuse Koeman from that. Okay, I'm being contrary because Crouch still makes me cross for not running that ball into the corner...but that worked out okay in the long term.
Just imagine if he'd run the whole length of the pitch and scored... Funnily enough there was a similar moment in the dying minutes of the Stoke-Chelsea game. Arnautovic, still high on scoring a great goal earlier, went on a dazzling run down the middle when he had players either side in the clear. He lost the ball, and Chelsea counterattacked. You could see Arnautovic thinking "Phew!" when the Chelsea move was snuffed out. Mad as I still am with Peter Crouch, there is something about someone trying to rub the opposition's nose in it, rather than just playing out time conservatively, that makes my heart sing.
After you retire, I think fans are more likely to remember a crazy, mazy run resulting in a goal than a couple of defensive fluffs (within reason, Virgil).
Toby's impact was not slow. You can argue it was easier with Morgan & Clyne settled in the side, but we conceded fewer goals by this point last season, but i'm just playing devils advocate here. As has been said, they're both really good players and i'd be happy with either or both. I know he will be wearing a Spurs shirt, but I do hope Toby gets a decent reception when we play them.
Don't think we have an issue with Toby. He was a loanee and changed his mind at the last minute. Not like he was an Academy player and our Captain who swore eternal love.
