There was a sense of panic among Tottenham fans on Twitter when the teams were announced for Spurs’ Premier League meeting with Burnley at White Hart Lane.
Toby Alderweireld’s name was absent from the starting eleven. In fact, the Belgian wasn’t even named among the substitutes, and speculation regarding his whereabouts quickly began to erupt.
Turns out Toby only has a “slight back problem” according to the club. Eric Dier comes in for the Belgian.
Team news update: @AlderweireldTob misses out today with a slight back problem. #COYS pic.twitter.com/U5xLPjDidv
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 18, 2016
Elsewhere, Moussa Sissoko drops to the bench, perhaps harshly. Harry Winks starts with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele in midfield.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to all the team news.
#THFC: Lloris (C), Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Winks, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYS pic.twitter.com/ekOwGiMRHG
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 18, 2016
Subs: Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Wimmer, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Son. #COYS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 18, 2016
Is Toby okay?! @SpursOfficial
— The Spurs Brain (@TheSpursBrain) December 18, 2016
U ok hun @AlderweireldTob?
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) December 18, 2016
Please say you are not injured @AlderweireldTob. #COYS
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) December 18, 2016
Looks like a narrow 4-3-3, should see Winks unleashed behind the front three. Not sure you need Wanyama, Dembele AND Winks, though.
— Nikhil Saglani (@Nikhil_Saglani) December 18, 2016
Sissoko was just starting to put up some good performances & he gets dropped. Why?
— Eric Chakma (@EricYid) December 18, 2016
Poch: Sissoko looked great against Hull and the back 3 worked well. I should keep this going.
Inner Poch: Drop him and change formation. pic.twitter.com/Wiw9JvQ18s
— Kings of The Lane (@kingsofthelane) December 18, 2016
I've got Toby
— Flav (@Flav_Bateman) December 18, 2016
Back problem for Toby. If history is to go by this could be trouble.
— Ben (@InsideN17) December 18, 2016
All that carrying Vertonghen.
AMIRITE? https://t.co/iQvmmYaCwd
— Bateseyboy (@Bateseyboy) December 18, 2016
Mauricio: "He’s not injured, he got a problem in the last training session in his back but it’s not a big issue, it’s only a small problem." pic.twitter.com/tYgfiCsix8
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 18, 2016
I assume when Spurs say Toby has “a slight back problem” they actually mean he’s broken his back in three places.
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) December 18, 2016
Don't understand why Sissoko isn't starting today? He deserves to start after the last few games!
— Ollie Davis (@Ollie_Davis) December 18, 2016
POCH KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING HE MUST HAVE PLAN THAT DOESNT INCLUDE SISSOKO AND SLAGGING PLAYERS OFF DOESNT HELP YOU TWITTER RATS SOUND LIKE A LOAD OF GOONERS JUST GOT TO BE HEARD BECAUSE ITS ALL ABOUT YOUWHAT SORT OF SUPPORTERS ARE YOU SHUT UP!!!!
sissoko showed, with a great run and excellent lay – off , his value as a central player rather than on the wing — it would be very foolish business to let him go
Sissoko usually performs better off the bench a bit like Olivier Giroud showed that with the assist for Danny Rose goal however could’ve (should’ve) been sent off already