Alderweireld brings up 50 appearances

Some are saying we was the best centre-back in the Premier League last season. He racked up 49 games scoring 4 goals with 2 assists and was a revelation at the heart of our defence where he stepped up from his quality performances for Southampton to a new level alongside former teammate and fellow Belgian international Jan Vertonghen.

Incredibly Alderweireld was not on the shortlist for Player of the Year when his consistent high quality performances suggested he should. He is a brilliant reader of the game and that allows him to be in the right place at the right time. He isn't blessed with great pace, but has enough as his reading of the game allows him to anticipate as opposed to solely react to the game.

Only 2 defenders have been shortlisted for the Player of the Year over the past 10 tears. That goes some way to showing why he is under appreciated by others. People get blinded by goalscorers, a player can have a poor game but if he scoes a goal that wins the game he often gets voted Man of the Match by the 'expert' showing they are blinded too.

Worldwide defenders are undervalued by those dishing pout awards or those voting on them, lik journalists. Our fans seem to know the difference, I'm looking forward to the next 50.

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