Toby Alderweireld

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It's interesting how with many footballers the legs go almost always at the 30/31 age.

In a lot of other sports you're hitting your prime at that age. Athletics for example a lot of sprinters and runners are still near their peak at that age I know people will point to steroids, drugs etc but you do wonder why a footballer would lose pace at a relatively young age.

I wonder how many football clubs hire Athletics coaches? If a footballer's level is dependent on his ability to run, it would make sense to have access to specialists in running surely?
Do they?

If Rugby League players can keep going to their mid 30s, how the hell could footballers not manage it.
 
It's interesting how with many footballers the legs go almost always at the 30/31 age.

In a lot of other sports you're hitting your prime at that age. Athletics for example a lot of sprinters and runners are still near their peak at that age I know people will point to steroids, drugs etc but you do wonder why a footballer would lose pace at a relatively young age.

I wonder how many football clubs hire Athletics coaches? If a footballer's level is dependent on his ability to run, it would make sense to have access to specialists in running surely?
More and more top level tennis players are competing into their mid-30s, and by competing I mean challenging at the highest level for major honours. Federer is nearly 40 ffs, though maybe he's a bit of a freak (in the nicest way possible).
 
It's interesting how with many footballers the legs go almost always at the 30/31 age.

In a lot of other sports you're hitting your prime at that age. Athletics for example a lot of sprinters and runners are still near their peak at that age I know people will point to steroids, drugs etc but you do wonder why a footballer would lose pace at a relatively young age.

I wonder how many football clubs hire Athletics coaches? If a footballer's level is dependent on his ability to run, it would make sense to have access to specialists in running surely?

Its not that different in the 4 major NA sports, sure there will always be exceptions but for the most part athletes start to see a decline after 30 in those 4 sports as well.

For the NHL for example most of the top end players have their best season from about 22-25, so the "decline" for them might even look like it starts early. Now that decline just means instead of being super elite they are just elite but certainly their peak is nowhere near 30/31.
 
More and more top level tennis players are competing into their mid-30s, and by competing I mean challenging at the highest level for major honours. Federer is nearly 40 ffs, though maybe he's a bit of a freak (in the nicest way possible).

Is that just the big 3, who are freaks, or is it the regular 30 year old players as well?

I am not a huge follower of tennis, but I know for the Canadian Raonic it appears that he, at age 30, is likely done when it comes to competing to win a major. He is still a competitive player but not near to what he was 5 years ago.
 
It's interesting how with many footballers the legs go almost always at the 30/31 age.

In a lot of other sports you're hitting your prime at that age. Athletics for example a lot of sprinters and runners are still near their peak at that age I know people will point to steroids, drugs etc but you do wonder why a footballer would lose pace at a relatively young age.

I wonder how many football clubs hire Athletics coaches? If a footballer's level is dependent on his ability to run, it would make sense to have access to specialists in running surely?
I am no expert on the athletics season setup but one factor surely has to be the length and scheduling of each sports season?

Football, especially on our level with both league, cups and European competitions going on at the same time results in a very compact schedule with 2-3 games a week if we are unlucky.

In athletics I assume that they get some longer rest periods during the season. But again, I don't follow athletics outside of the Olympics.
 
It's interesting how with many footballers the legs go almost always at the 30/31 age.

In a lot of other sports you're hitting your prime at that age. Athletics for example a lot of sprinters and runners are still near their peak at that age I know people will point to steroids, drugs etc but you do wonder why a footballer would lose pace at a relatively young age.

I wonder how many football clubs hire Athletics coaches? If a footballer's level is dependent on his ability to run, it would make sense to have access to specialists in running surely?

just get it serviced regularly and the bus will run fine
 
They are all using performance enhancing drugs and it would be extremely naive to think otherwise.
I think it also has to do with the way they train and diet. It’s gotten much more scientific. In the 90s, athletes were busy partying all night, smoking, drinking and doing drugs. Athletes today spend lots of time and money into ensuring that they remain at peak performance.
 
Still head and shoulders our best centre back. If he’s fit and available he should be starting every game possible.

In the air he’s perhaps not as strong as he once was (he never was great in this aspect) but he’s prime Maldini compared to those clowns Sanchez and Dier.

Unless there’s an injury he’s managing that we’re not aware off, he should be a nailed on starter the rest of the season.
 
The other defenders are probably quicker and have better stamina in training than Toby, but that has never been what makes him the best. Toby's strength is his ability to read the play and position himself correctly. When you do that you don't have to compensate with running everywhere to correct your mistakes. He's also the most composed defender, and doesn't buckle under pressure.
 
The other defenders are probably quicker and have better stamina in training than Toby, but that has never been what makes him the best. Toby's strength is his ability to read the play and position himself correctly. When you do that you don't have to compensate with running everywhere to correct your mistakes. He's also the most composed defender, and doesn't buckle under pressure.
yea basically hes physically slightly inferior, but mentally hugely superior. playing two thickos together like sanchez and dier is absolutely criminal
 
yea basically hes physically slightly inferior, but mentally hugely superior. playing two thickos together like sanchez and dier is absolutely criminal
I actually think in terms of physical attributes, Dier comes out on top. He has the physical attributes to be a very good centre half.

The problem is he is quite literally thick as un-blended soup. That penalty he gave away against Chelsea for example genuinely had to be seen to be believed. Even when he has a good game, he’s incapable of keeping his concentration for 90 mins without giving away a pen, or misplacing a crucial pass etc. We’re going nowhere with him in the team.

Toby may not be the player he was but he is so vital to us for the remainder of the season.
 
More and more top level tennis players are competing into their mid-30s, and by competing I mean challenging at the highest level for major honours. Federer is nearly 40 ffs, though maybe he's a bit of a freak (in the nicest way possible).
Cycling is going the other way. Top athletes were 30+, now it’s more 21-24
 
Still head and shoulders our best centre back. If he’s fit and available he should be starting every game possible.

In the air he’s perhaps not as strong as he once was (he never was great in this aspect) but he’s prime Maldini compared to those clowns Sanchez and Dier.

Unless there’s an injury he’s managing that we’re not aware off, he should be a nailed on starter the rest of the season.
Good enough to merit playing two CB’s alongside him
 
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