Which Tottenham centre back is better, Vertonghen or Alderweireld?

Trying to choose between Toby Aldreweireld and Jan Vertonghen is like deciding whether you want tender filet mignon or a fresh, juicy lobster for dinner.

Depending on your mood and taste bud preferences, each choice is every bit as good as the other. But if you were being held captive and your freedom depended on it, which Belgian centre back would you choose?

Your opinion may have shifted with recent news of the club and Aldeweireld coming to loggerheads as both sides attempt to negotiate a contract renewal. But let’s for a minute take politics and other off-field noise out of the equation.

So, contract disputes and injuries aside, who’s the better centre back, Jan or Toby?

Toby Alderweireld vs. Jan Vertonghen

Due to a serious hamstring injury, Alderweireld’s stock has dropped this year. Alderweireld, who turned 29 on March 2, also suffered an injury setback last season and was forced out of action for almost two months.

If we take injuries completely out of the equation, though, Toby is one of the best centre backs on the planet. He’s got pace to burn and, like a cheetah at full flight, can hunt down prey from a disadvantaged position. Jan Vertonghen isn’t so fleet of foot. While he can still hold his own over 100 metres, Vertonghen’s top speed pales in comparison to his compatriot’s.

When it comes to tackling, Alderweireld once again pips Vertonghen, albeit marginally. Both are proficient in the tackle, but Alderweireld gets the nod, the slight advantage once again due to his superior quickness.

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While Alderweireld relies on his positional excellence and breakneck pace, Vertonghen relies most on his brute strength and presence of mind. If Alderweireld – back to metaphors from the animal kingdom – is a cheetah, Vertonghen is a black bear.

His physical prowess isn’t as husky and domineering as a grizzly, hence the black bear moniker. In a game of word association,  Virgil van Dijk would suit best the grizzly comparison.

Both Belgian centre backs are fluid, confident and assured on the ball, with Alderweireld, thanks to his mind-boggling accuracy hitting long sweeping passes, holding the narrow edge.

Vertonghen is a year older than his compatriot and is arguably a more natural leader on the pitch. However, both marshal the rearguard with a monarch’s authority and decisiveness.

It’s almost impossible to differentiate them in the air, so neither player gets the aerial edge.

Taking all facets into consideration, bar injuries and contract disputes, Alderweireld is the predominant of the two élite centre backs.

Back to the real world now, where injuries and off-field shenanigans play a crucial role in determining a player’s overall value. Alderweireld’s speed-of-light reactions are his most prized asset, which makes his damaged and vulnerable hamstring all the more problematic.

Next: Does Tottenham make lineup changes for Bournemouth

Off-field contractual disputes are further besmirching his once apotheosized reputation, making clear that Vertonghen sits on the throne alone as king of Tottenham’s defence.