"He has played for his country a lot and for many years at a top class side like Fiorentina - so he is not a bad player," stresses Tony.
Tomas was, of course, substituted at half time against Leeds after receiving a booking following an ongoing feud with Mark Viduka, and Tony, himself a former central defender of course, says:
"I feel sorry for Tomas; you can tell he is trying his heart out and when you looked at his eyes in the spat with Viduka you did not see a player who was not wanting to do it.
"Sometimes when you are forcing it you almost try too hard and the concentration wavers - you really have to keep your cool.
"But in terms of build, you will not see a better physique on a defender; he has got a great spring, and he is pretty quick over the ground.
"Whenever there has been a lapse, though, as elsewhere in the defence, he has been made to pay by some class strikers.
"But you don't pay £5m for a bad defender and for me Repka has got ability."
The second half against Leeds saw another permutation of a back four, with Christian Dailly slotting alongside Ian Pearce in the centre of defence, while Nigel Winterburn and Sebastien Schemmel took up a full back position to join Nigel Winterburn.
Many would say, on the evidence of that second half display, it is a combination worth keeping for the moment, and Tony adds: "Glenn has alternated his defenders this season; he has tried Schemmel and Dailly at right back, Minto and Winterburn at left back, and at centre half Pearce and Breen, Pearce and Repka, Dailly and Repka, Dailly and Breen...he is permanently looking for the answer.
"I just thought Pearce and Repka might have settled down but then the Leeds game happened after previously they had only conceded two or three goals - we'll just see what happens."
Tony, like the players themselves, says that it is time for those out on the field to put the theory into practice and concludes:
"What Glenn and Sarge work on all week is the pattern of play, and first and foremost the defending.
"When we get the ball, you can then go from there, but firstly you have to be defending correctly and stopping the goals going in.
"We know we have got the players to do something out of the ordinary to maybe get us a goal, but when you go a goal down against teams it makes them shut up shop even more.
"Everyone was aware of our great home performances last season and have come here to defend; that has made it difficult, but when you make errors at the back it is doubly so.
"I know Glenn and Sarge are workaholics - but you just can't legislate for players making individual errors."