Have you noticed anything about Toby Alderweireld?
Is there anything in particular you have noticed about Spurs centre-back Toby Alderweireld? Is it perhaps his distinct hair-style? Isn't it amazing what barbers do these days, even with short hair? What about the fact that he has been ever-present in our Premier League games so far this season? No, it can't be that, because fellow defenders Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen have also played all 14 league games. So has Harry Kane, come to that.
Perhaps it's the fact that Alderweireld has featured in the same Spurs numbers 1 to 5 line-up in 7 of our 20 games (all 7 occasions occurred in the Premier League). Alderweireld has helped us to keep 6 clean sheets, five of which have been in league games, and he has also scored twice (both in the league).
Indeed there is a lot to be noticed about Toby Alderweireld, and whilst it is far too early to suggest he is the new "King" of White Hart Lane, Toby has achieved all of the above without having his name taken even once. Players around him have already served suspensions for five bookings (Dier, Lamela, Alli), and Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen are only one card away from also suffering a one-match suspension.
Alderweireld's lack of admonishment from any referee so far this season, whilst in the midst of so much intensive football and pressure suggests to me nothing but style and culture. I've admired him from day one of the season, and Toby has been voted man of the match in our last two games, along with the opening day at Old Trafford. He was booked three times last season, when at Southampton, but he has generally been booked few times in any previous season. Long may Toby's form and clean Spurs disciplinary record continue!
· See the spursometer for Chelsea (H) in full.
Results 28-29.11.15
A. Villa 2-3 Watford
B'mouth 3-3 Everton
C. Palace 5-1 Newcastle
Man City 3-1 S'hampton
S'derland 2-0 Stoke
Leicester 1-1 Man Utd
Spurs 0-0 Chelsea
West Ham 1-1 West Brom
Liverpool 1-0 Swansea
Norwich 1-1 Arsenal
Barclays Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 14 9 2 3 30-14 16 29
2. Leicester 14 8 5 1 29-21 8 29
3. Man Utd 14 8 4 2 20-10 10 28
4. Arsenal 14 8 3 3 24-12 12 27
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5. Spurs 14 6 7 1 24-11 13 25
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6. Liverpool 14 6 5 3 18-15 3 23
7. C. Palace 14 7 1 6 19-14 5 22
8. West Ham 14 6 4 4 25-21 4 22
9. Everton 14 5 5 3 27-19 8 21
10. S'hampton 14 5 5 4 20-17 3 20
11. Watford 14 5 4 5 15-16 -1 19
12. Stoke 14 5 4 5 11-14 -3 19
13. West Brom 14 5 3 6 13-18 -5 18
14. Chelsea 14 4 3 7 17-23 -6 15
15. Swansea 14 3 5 6 14-19 -5 14
16. Norwich 14 3 4 6 17-25 -8 13
17. S'derland 14 3 3 8 16-26 -10 12
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18. B'mouth 14 2 4 8 17-30 -13 10
19. Newcastle 14 2 4 8 14-30 -16 10
20. A. Villa 14 1 2 11 12-27 -15 5
