Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

[SpartanSpur]

i think he wasn't that active on social media before the "contract negotiation collapsed" thing came out

I think it's likely to be more than that, but he could well have changed his social media team/person/focus around this time for other reasons. I'm more on the cynical side though.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Simples really, why waste minutes on him if he’s unlikely to stay when we can use them for Sanchez to continue developing. It would be different if our defence wasn’t still very good, but only the Manc clubs have better defences this season, the former never loses the ball and the latter never attacks.

As a unit, even without Toby our back 4 + goalkeeper is the best in the league.

 

[Ossie85]

It’s funny how players are perceived. Toby has actually made less PL appearances than dembele over 4 seasons. Yet everyone perceives dembele virtually at the end of the road and someone we can’t rely on and must be replaced. When dembele is only 1 year older.

You statement is true but misleading. The difference is 1 game
The only season Toby has played less than Dembele is this one and that's because of a mix of an injury and contract problems

14/15 MD (26) TA (26)
15/16 MD (29) TA (38)
16/17 MD (30) TA (30)
17/18 MD (20) TA (10)

 

[coys200]

Today’s social media was the weirdest so far. Pretty sure that isn’t a getty image. Might be club photo but doubt it. It’s almost like he’s said to a friend, take a photo of me going into work. Then I can post it on twitter and make it look like I’m really committed to the cause,all very odd.

 

[Lilbaz]

Today’s social media was the weirdest so far. Pretty sure that isn’t a getty image. Might be club photo but doubt it. It’s almost like he’s said to a friend, take a photo of me going into work. Then I can post it on twitter and make it look like I’m really committed to the cause,all very odd.

Unless he's signed a new contract and is really happy?

Optimistics incoming!

 

[MichaelPawson]

Instead of it being a cynical negotiation ploy, maybe Toby's been posting about the club so much because he genuinely likes Spurs? His final decision in this manner isn't necessarily a reflection of the club. He might just view it in terms of where he is in his career, knowing that he's only got a few contracts left and Spurs aren't in a place now to give him the maximum he could earn.

At any rate, if it is a negotiation tactic, it's an unsound one. Spurs fans are so cemented in their opinions of ENIC/Levy that a few tweets won't change anyone's mind, and any argument over Toby would inevitably devolve into a Levy In/Out debate.

 

[hutchiniho]

Today’s social media was the weirdest so far. Pretty sure that isn’t a getty image. Might be club photo but doubt it. It’s almost like he’s said to a friend, take a photo of me going into work. Then I can post it on twitter and make it look like I’m really committed to the cause,all very odd.

Scrolling down, he doesn’t half seem to love a photo of himself!!!

Seems to be more about him than the badge. Pic kitted up vs Swansea sums that up

 

[BringBack_leGin]

You statement is true but misleading. The difference is 1 game
The only season Toby has played less than Dembele is this one and that's because of a mix of an injury and contract problems

14/15 MD (26) TB (26)
15/16 MD (29) TB (38)
16/17 MD (30) TB (30)
17/18 MD (20) TB (10)

His statement is misleading to an extent, but even without the contract situation this season it is still true to say that Toby has missed more league football, ergo, if Dembele is a crock how can Toby not be? Or vice versa, if Toby isn’t a crock, how can Dembele be?

However you spin it, Toby has spent more time in the treatment room than Dembele, so anybody suggesting that one needs replacing due to his unreliable fitness, but the other needs to be kept at all costs, has a preconceived narrative from which they really should divert.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Instead of it being a cynical negotiation ploy, maybe Toby's been posting about the club so much because he genuinely likes Spurs? His final decision in this manner isn't necessarily a reflection of the club. He might just view it in terms of where he is in his career, knowing that he's only got a few contracts left and Spurs aren't in a place now to give him the maximum he could earn.

At any rate, if it is a negotiation tactic, it's an unsound one. Spurs fans are so cemented in their opinions of ENIC/Levy that a few tweets won't change anyone's mind, and any argument over Toby would inevitably devolve into a Levy In/Out debate.

It definitely is. Adds fuel to to the fire for the anti-Levy mob for a start. I've noticed them getting quite vocal on Twitter recently, they are usually quiet outside of transfer windows.

I'm sure Toby is happy here, but at the same time I'm pretty sure he does think it's time to move on if we don't pay up. Plus there's been ITK to say he wants out unless on his terms.

I'd be gutted for us to lose him this summer, and I'll be fuming if he goes to a PL side, but with the information on the table I can also see our side. £180k for him is pushing our budget massively especially with his age and potential injury issues. Let alone if he wants release clauses. I'm all for us upping the wages across the board but there is probably only so much to go round. After this Kane, Lloris and Eriksen probably would need to be knocking £200k for starters!

I'm not gonna let emotions get in the way because he seems 'totally COYS' on social media but others will...

Edit - I get what you are saying about battle lines being drawn and while many won't be entrenched the levy out side will be more vocal, maybe to the point of things being picked up in the media. The largely positive relationship between club and fans in recent seasons has helped us IMO.

 

['O Zio]

Scrolling down, he doesn’t half seem to love a photo of himself!!!

Seems to be more about him than the badge. Pic kitted up vs Swansea sums that up

Most players' twitter/instagram pictures are of themselves and besides, pretty much every photo of him that I could see was of him in Spurs or Belgium gear so not really sure what you're on about there mate, sorry

 

[stevenurse]

I think he has a real affinity for the club and the players who are his genuine mates, but is understandably thinking about number 1. He could get more elsewhere but its his choice I guess. If he isn't committed for whatever reason, then unfortunately he has to go.

Is it 1 year plus an option left?

 

[Flashspur]

This is going to end in an anti climax when he signs

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I think he has a real affinity for the club and the players who are his genuine mates, but is understandably thinking about number 1. He could get more elsewhere but its his choice I guess. If he isn't committed for whatever reason, then unfortunately he has to go.

Is it 1 year plus an option left?

realistically its 1 year left - because if we exercise the option, it creates a £25M buyout next summer.

So, if we don't exercise the option - he leaves next summer for free, and if we do exercise the option, he leaves next summer for £25M (or worst case scenario, he stays because nobody will even pay £25M for an oft-injured CB).

 

[Deleted member 25918]

Slow fat and injury prone.

Yes, yes I am!

 

[Streetspur77]

Toby is dead to me

 

[coys200]

https://mobile.twitter.com/coys100/status/979023899223642114/photo/1

The notion that Toby is vain is quite ridiculous

 

[Finchyid]

Lots of commentary saying he needs game time to be part of Belgian team at world cup. Does that put a spin on things?

 

[Univarn]

Lots of commentary saying he needs game time to be part of Belgian team at world cup. Does that put a spin on things?

Doubt it. Roberto Martinez is a defensive muppet and I stand by my belief that Belgium will be knocked out by some obscure country in the early knockout rounds because of it.

Even if it did, if his stance is pay me what I'm worth or else and our stance is accept this offer or else then I don't see how this changes anything.

 

[bubble07]

You statement is true but misleading. The difference is 1 game
The only season Toby has played less than Dembele is this one and that's because of a mix of an injury and contract problems

14/15 MD (26) TB (26)
15/16 MD (29) TB (38)
16/17 MD (30) TB (30)
17/18 MD (20) TB (10)

Also dembele was banned for 6 matches

 

[spursfan77]

Simples really, why waste minutes on him if he’s unlikely to stay when we can use them for Sanchez to continue developing. It would be different if our defence wasn’t still very good, but only the Manc clubs have better defences this season, the former never loses the ball and the latter never attacks.

As a unit, even without Toby our back 4 + goalkeeper is the best in the league.

I agree but it’s not just that.

To get him back in the side we would have to revert to a back 3 yet since the turn of the year we have had tremendous success with a back 4 with Dier protecting them. There really is little point changing it.

Plus going back to a back 3 means Son out the team if Kane returns soon. We can’t have that.