View: 93% Tottenham ace clearly crucial in CL hopes after 'Magnificent' display v Everton

Micky van de Ven was branded “magnificent” in his performance for Tottenham Hotspur against Everton on Saturday by Alan Shearer.

Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day [24 August], the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer heaped praise on the defender for his display alongside Cristian Romero in a 4-0 win over the Toffees in North London.

Van de Ven produced a flawless display, offering both defensive and attacking contributions, as Spurs strolled to the three points – and showed why he is crucial to Ange Postecoglou’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

After the Dutchman intercepted an Everton attack and turned it into a goal for Son Heung-min at the other end, Shearer said: “Look at Van de Ven. Him and Romero, absolutely magnificent [Saturday].

“No one can get near him, then he passes it into Son, who sticks it away.”

Micky van de Ven crucial for Tottenham this season

Van de Ven has been a revelation since signing for Tottenham, attracting the gaze of many elite admirers, and Postecoglou reinforced the view on how superbly he played in Saturday’s first home fixture of the campaign [Evening Standard, 24 August].

The Australian knows his player’s strengths and plays to them, none more so than his outrageous pace which clocked in at 23.23mph last season [Premier League].

Van de Ven is also supremely capable on the ball, averaging an excellent pass accuracy rate of 94.3% during 2023-24 in the league [Fotmob]; this has flowed into the current campaign, with a 93% average against Everton as he completed 65 of his 70 passes – one being the tremendous assist for Son.

The Netherlands man is brazen and bold which does not always play to his advantage – as seen by how he has averaged a dispossession rate at Spurs of 0.46 times per game [Fotmob], worse than many defenders in the division; he has also been found wanting in the air, winning just 48% of last season’s aerial duels [Sofascore].

But as Fotmob also illustrates, van de Ven’s bravery in possession and eagerness to play into Spurs’ transition from the back is a vital asset to his side. The 23-year-old averaged 0.58 successful dribbles per game last season, and demonstrated it at its best for Son’s final goal.

But these coachable aspects are encouraged to be ironed out by a daring and progressive coach like Postecoglou, making him the ideal manager to oversee the development into van de Ven into what could be an elite talent in years to come.

Already at this stage, he is critical to Tottenham’s chances of returning to the European big time.

In other Tottenham news, a statistical look at Brennan Johnson’s performance v Everton.

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