TOTI

[Hot Fuss]

I’m quick to point out when posters make quick judgments about people that turn out to be a load of *******s so only fair I put my hands up about Toti.

I thought he did a job filling in at left back last season but long term didn’t think he’d ever make a premier league player. Completely wrong. Well done to him, he’s been class.

 

[WolfLing]

That is the most attacking lineup I think I’ve ever seen!!

Toti part of a back 3 including Cancelo.

Bruno Fernandes next to Neves in a 2 man centre mid.

Front 5 of Bernardo Silva and Jota wide, with Felix, Ronaldo and Goncales down the middle!!

 

[woop woop barmy army]

Match is on Viaplay Extra - sky 420. Kick off 19:45

Fab thank you. Will watch it.

 

[dgm6769]

Thanks , will watch that.

 

[Clipboard]

Looks to me like neves is playing centre of the back 3 like a Coady type role...

 

[Clipboard]

Good start from toti

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Looks to me like neves is playing centre of the back 3 like a Coady type role...

Lage final game reminder my word

 

[Netherton Wolf]

553 on virgin

 

[Golden_Wolf]

How's Toti & Sa getting on?

 

[ombyman]

That is the most attacking lineup I think I’ve ever seen!!

Toti part of a back 3 including Cancelo.

Bruno Fernandes next to Neves in a 2 man centre mid.

Front 5 of Bernardo Silva and Jota wide, with Felix, Ronaldo and Goncales down the middle!!

And nil nil at ht!

 

[arctic rime]

Sa good save

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

0-2 comfy

 

[SuperGran]

Clean sheet for Sa

 

[Southdownswolf]

Pretty crap match, not that I was expecting much. Toti and Sa did what they needed to, which wasn't a huge amount.

 

[WolfLing]

Pretty crap match, not that I was expecting much. Toti and Sa did what they needed to, which wasn't a huge amount.

Portugal had a lot of the ball, and Toti looked very comfortable! All you can ask for on a debit really.

 

[Southdownswolf]

Portugal had a lot of the ball, and Toti looked very comfortable! All you can ask for on a debit really.

As I said... Not belittling his performance, just that him and Sa didn't need to do much.

 

[Clipboard]

Toti looked incredibly comfortable. Had a lot of the ball and made lots of quick forward passes. Poor opposition but a very decent debut.

 

[Starsky]

Will build his confidence further. Amazing how he has progressed over the last 2 years or so.

 

[WolfLing]

How much is a left-sided, adaptable, 24 year old, International defender worth nowadays?

Toti is proof that the strategy of getting young Portuguese players from smaller Portuguese clubs before any of Porto, Benfica or Sporting get their hands on them works.

If he'd have stayed at Estoril, he'd probably be at one of those clubs now and after making his Portugal debut, he'd probably be valued over £15m for a PL club to buy. If he went on to be a mainstay of one of those sides in Europe and for Portugal, you're talking £30m+.

We got him for about £650k.

Best business we've done since Doherty and Kilman.

 

[hollo]

He would sell for about 12 million.

 

[SteveBullsKnee]

He would sell for about 12 million.

Would we?

 

[SteveBullsKnee]

I’m quick to point out when posters make quick judgments about people that turn out to be a load of *******s so only fair I put my hands up about Toti.

I thought he did a job filling in at left back last season but long term didn’t think he’d ever make a premier league player. Completely wrong. Well done to him, he’s been class.

I’ll gladly put my hands up gladly as well. Always felt that he had the physical attributes to do well (quick, powerful, good in the air, likes a tackle) but felt he was very rash at times and wasn’t great positionally along with not being great on the ball. He’s proved me wrong on the latter bits as he seems to be progressing week by week.

I do still feel that much like Kilman and Dawson that for varying issues with each one they are better in a back 3 than a back 4 and long term I’d prefer us to play a back 4 but right now I can’t argue the 3 is working.

 

[WolfLing]

Looks to me like neves is playing centre of the back 3 like a Coady type role...

Yeah, he didn't have a lot to do defensively, so not a bad call to put him there.

 

[Ned]

Always liked Toti. He’s a pacey, big and strong left sided defender who loves to defend. He looks ungamely as anything and I think that’s what counts against him sometimes - for me he’s quietly going about his business at the back and not getting noticed as much, which is exactly what you want from a defender.

 

[WolfLing]

Always liked Toti. He’s a pacey, big and strong left sided defender who loves to defend. He looks ungamely as anything and I think that’s what counts against him sometimes - for me he’s quietly going about his business at the back and not getting noticed as much, which is exactly what you want from a defender.

Not noticed much.... until he decides he's going to turn into Messi to set up the occasional goal!!

 

[Ned]

Not noticed much.... until he decides he's going to turn into Messi to set up the occasional goal!!

Haha, fair point! I meant from a defensive side, usually if a defender is making last gasp tackles and relying on pace then he's making up for his mistakes and poor positioning.

 

[WolfLing]

Haha, fair point! I meant from a defensive side, usually if a defender is making last gasp tackles and relying on pace then he's making up for his mistakes and poor positioning.

Yeah, agree. Despite him looking uncomfortable on the ball, he's actually quite comfortable, and getting better and better.

At the moment, he's concentrating on doing the basics right. Whether that's for us in the PL, or in his debut yesterday. He's playing with no fear and doing everything that's asked of him.

The challenge for Toti now will be that next stage that can catch quite a few defenders out. How does he respond when he does make an error? It will happen at some stage, it happens to all defenders.

The best just get over it straight away and carry on doing what they do. But it can sometimes halt the progress of a lot of defenders who then start to overthink things. They stop doing the simple things well, fear creeps into their game and before you know it, they are going backwards.

We've seen it happen to Harry Maguire in the last few seasons. It happened to a lesser extent with Nathan Collins here. He's one that had a solid start, then after a few errors, his legs turned to jelly every time the ball came near him.

But I have high hopes for Toti, as he strikes me as the sort of character that will sail through most challenges thrown his way.

 

[el gringo]

Have we seen this? I looked back in the thread and didn't see it. Apologies if repetition:

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

I never thought he'd make the grade, which shows how much I know!

This is why I bang on about this type of transfer so often.

You only need one success in Toti to pay for 10 failures.

I'm glad we have moved away from shooting for the moon with the Silva type deals and hope we sign more Toti/Chiqinho/Gonzalez type players

 

[groundhogwolf]

I think he made his debut when Saiss was away for African nations tournament, sure we were undefeated, then Toti was replaced when Saiss returned and the results declined. People commented on his untidiness when in possession, but his primary function is to defend, he is turning into the new Bruno, for those who remember Floyd.

 

[Jd132]

Love the video but it misses his assist for Diego Costa's only goal at Wolves. It does highlight a range of passing that many think he doesn't have.

For me, the man marking jobs on Foden and Almiron were phenomenal- stepping out all over to get the job done.

I can't think of another player in the PL who is equally accomplished at LCB and LB making the transition between a 5 and a 4 so seamless and keeping the opposition guessing.

Given that ability, and GON's wish to be flexible depending on opponent, Toti has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet currently.

 

[Aurum Lupus]

I think we might need to start calling him Inspector Gadget, he seems to have telescopic legs!

 

[Supadavewolf]

I think we might need to start calling him Inspector Gadget, he seems to have telescopic legs!

Aaah, I always did like Toti with great legs

 

[Mardenboroughs Shoulder]

553 on virgin

Not surprising they won with this formation. They had 14 men on the pitch!

 

[Nairobi Wolf]

I don't think it is a coincidence that our current upturn in form dates from when Toti started playing regularly. Sure it was also when we switched to 3 at the back, but it is Toti not tactics making the difference.

 

[JadeWolf]

I don't think it is a coincidence that our current upturn in form dates from when Toti started playing regularly. Sure it was also when we switched to 3 at the back, but it is Toti not tactics making the difference.

We went on a good run of points at an important time last year when Toti came in against Forest away.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

We went on a good run of points at an important time last year when Toti came in against Forest away.

Real warrior

 

[WolvTown]

Have we seen this? I looked back in the thread and didn't see it. Apologies if repetition:

Thou shalt not pass!!

 

[el gringo]

Thou shalt not pass!!

Except Toti - he can pass ; )