View: 94% Tottenham ace can be CL difference-maker, Cundy's right he's better than Van Dijk

Micky van de Ven is quickly gaining a name as one of the most highly-rated Tottenham Hotspur defenders in years.

So much so, that the 22-year-old has been compared in glowing terms to some of the best in the world, including role model and Netherlands compatriot Virgil van Dijk.

Jason Cundy, live on talkSPORT on Wednesday night [4 September, 22:39] even outright claimed Van de Ven is a “better centre-half than Van Dijk”, during a debate with co-host Jamie O’Hara.

With the race for the top four wide open in the Premier League this season, Ange Postecoglou will have to rely heavily on Van de Ven staying fit and performing at his best for Spurs’ best shot at returning to the Champions League.

Micky van de Ven, the Tottenham difference maker?

As much as can be said about Son Heung-min’s importance down the years; the hopeful impact of £65million man Dominic Solanke and the sprinkling of magic through James Maddison when he’s at his best, Van de Ven is absolutely integral to Tottenham.

The young Dutchman carries that modern mould of centre-half who is unafraid to make brazen attacking transitions happen by himself – helped in no small margin by his outrageous pace.

For argument’s sake based on Cundy’s claim, we show the strengths he possesses in comparison to Van Dijk, an entirely different breed of central defender who, 10 years Van de Ven’s senior, will at some point be passing over the international baton.

Firstly, on the ball, Van de Ven outranks van Dijk. Last season in the Premier League, the youngster maintained a 94% pass accuracy to the Liverpool talisman’s 91% [Sofascore], and completed 63% of his 0.6 dribbles per match, vital to Spurs’ game; Van Dijk attempted just 0.1 per game, and succeeded with 50%.

According to FBRef, while van Dijk excelled in touches of the ball (he played nine more games than Van de Ven), Van de Ven attempted 27 take-ons to the elder statesman’s five, succeeding with 15 to his two.

This predominantly shows Van de Ven to be more of a possession-based defender who fits Postecoglou’s style far more than any other defender – he is a self-starter for Tottenham’s attacks and can be brilliantly covered at the back by the full-blooded Cristian Romero – and the sheer acceleration on the man is enough to satisfy his manager’s persistence with a daring high defensive line.

Out of possession, whilst van Dijk excelled last season with dribblers tackled and blocks successfully made, van de Ven actually won 35 of his tackle attempts from which Spurs emerged with the ball; only 23 of Van Dijk’s challenges wound up retaining possession for Liverpool.

The classic case of the master and the apprentice is rearing its head here, and could prove in the coming years to be an intriguing comparison – at 22, Van Dijk had just joined Celtic from Groningen in his homeland, with Van de Ven already a crucial cog in the machine of a top-four chasing Premier League outfit.

In other Tottenham news, Dan Bardell predicts a problem with the Spurs midfield following the transfer deadline.

For more Tottenham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post View: 94% Tottenham ace can be CL difference-maker, Cundy's right he's better than Van Dijk appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.