What can you tell us about Toth? What’s his pedigree and background?
Toth is a bit of a late bloomer. He only established himself as a first-choice goalkeeper at 23 years old in Hungary’s top flight and didn’t really feature at youth international level for Hungary.
However, his stock has risen massively in the last four years. Since breaking into the first team he’s become one of the best, and last season certainly the best, goalkeeper in Hungary’s top-flight. Now he’s regularly in the Hungarian senior national team and very highly regarded.
Are you surprised a move to England/another more prominent European league hasn’t materialised sooner?
Perhaps a little bit. He was linked with a move to Germany last year with Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga clubs interested but nothing materialised.
What are his biggest strengths and perhaps his weaknesses?
Shot-stopping is his biggest strength. He’s got brilliant reflexes - that’s why he was able to prevent 10.52 goals as per Wyscout last season. He’s brilliant on the line.
But he’s also comfortable in possession - a proper modern goalkeeper. Only concern for me would perhaps be height. He's not super tall at 1.89 metres (around 6ft 2) but that could be something that makes him vulnerable when coming out for crosses and set-pieces in a league like the Championship.
The Championship is a particularly physical league, do you think he’ll be able to cope with that or will he need some time to adapt?
I’ll echo the last bit above for this. He’ll probably need to adjust to the pace of the league as well. The Hungarian top-flight is very slow - whereas in the Championship he will have to deal with being pressed and needing to move the ball quicker - that will take time to adjust to.
He’s played in UEFA club qualifiers before and has done well but he has not been tested a lot at such a high level.
How disappointed will the club/fans be to lose him?
Fehérvár is a mess at the moment and Toth was one of the favourites at the club. But I think at this point the fans are used to players leaving this summer.
They’ve let go of 10 first-team players already this summer including Hungary internationals like Szabolcs Schon (Bolton) and Attila Fiola as well as Bence Gergényi who has just been called up to Hungary’s squad for the first time. So, they’re used to their best players leaving this summer.
Overall, do you think this is a smart signing for a club like Rovers?
100%. Based on the data alone Tóth was one of the best performing goalkeepers in Europe’s top 31 leagues last season. If he can continue that form in England then Rovers could have pulled off an absolute bargain.