'He has to start': Tottenham star so good pundit says he must play even out of position
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Talk about being spoilt for choice. One national team boss has a Liverpool superstar and one of Tottenham Hotspur’s stand-out performers fighting for the very same place in his starting XI.
But, rather than pick one over the other, is there room in this town for the both of them?
Ronald Koeman certainly thinks so. While Micky van de Ven may be a left-sided centre-half by trade, his searing pace and his composure in possession makes Tottenham’s jet-heeled number 37 a viable option at left-back too.
Koeman’s Netherlands will be without first-choice left-back Nathan Ake for this month’s UEFA Nations League clashes with Hungary and Germany.
And, with Virgil van Dijk a nailed-on starter alongside Matthijs de Ligt or Stefan de Vrij in the centre, Van de Ven is likely to be chosen ahead of Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen on the flank.
Netherlands urged to start Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven
Now, the left-back spot may not be Van de Ven’s favoured role.
But, according to former Oranje striker Youri Mulder, the Tottenham powerhouse is simply too good to leave out at present.
“He has to be in the Dutch national team. He has to be in the starting line-up, right?,” Mulder argues, speaking to Rondo on Ziggo Sport. “Wherever [he plays], that doesn’t matter.”
In addition to Ake, the Netherlands will also be without Jurrien Timber during the October break.
Versatile Arsenal defender Timber missed the 3-1 win over Southampton after being forced off with a muscle problem during the impressive Champions League triumph against Paris Saint-Germain.
With Maatsen and young Jorrel Hato the only other left-footers at Koeman’s disposal, the former Everton, Southampton and Barcelona boss has seemingly confirmed in his press conference that Van de Ven is likely to get the nod.
“He naturally has speed, he has footballing qualities,” Koeman says. “We have some injuries at left-back with Timber and Ake. So then, also with [Van de Ven], you know you can put someone there who can fill that [role] very well.”
Koeman is also not ruling out the idea of Van Dijk and Van de Ven starting together at centre-half, even if that would necessitate one of two shifting across to the right.
Van de Ven criticised as Spurs collapse at Brighton and Hove Albion
“They could, I think. Unfortunately, we have never been able to see it,” adds the coach who led the Netherlands to the semi-finals of Euro 2024, losing in the last-four to England thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner.
“I think I made a previous comment about it once that I wanted to [play Van de Ven and Van Dijk together] in March last year. But, unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to do it yet. So I hope it can come one day.
“It would be possible.”
Van de Ven was likened to Tottenham legend Gareth Bale by Gary Neville recently, showcasing pace and power reminiscent of the Welsh wizard as he powered through Manchester United to set up Brennan Johnson’s third minute opener in that comfortable win at Old Trafford.
Van de Ven endured a tougher afternoon as Spurs collapsed at Brighton, however; the optimism surrounding Ange Postecoglou’s side suffering a major hit in a remarkable second-half at The Amex.
“Van de Ven is getting all this credit for being a speed merchant, flying forward, but I didn't really see a toughness about him in that second-half,” Arsenal icon Martin Keown said after watching Van de Ven struggle to cope with the similarly turbo-charged Yankuba Minteh.
“Mintah, I think, went past him a few times."
