'Just a joke': Troy Deeney can't believe just how good £43m Tottenham man is at the moment
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Tottenham Hotspur finally stamped their authority in the Premier League with a commanding 3-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford as they capped off one of their best performances of the new season.
Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke got their names on the scoresheet as the Red Devils were emphatically put to the sword in front of their own fans to increase the pressure on Erik ten Hag’s shoulders.
Tottenham had a handful of outstanding performers on the night, but Troy Deeney singled out Micky van de Ven for special praise, with a defender making telling contributions on both ends of the pitch.
Troy Deeney in awe of Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven
The Dutchman set off on a marauding run and notched up a fantastic assist for Johnson’s opener, while he was absolutely unbeatable at the back alongside Cristian Romero.
Deeney feels Van de Ven’s pace and defensive positioning were as good as they could’ve been against Manchester United as he named him in his Team of the Week.
“This is the second time he’s been in my team of the week already,” Deeney wrote in his column for BBC Sport.
“Defensively he’s just a joke, I’m so impressed. His pace gets a lot of plaudits but the way he defends, the way he sees situations and covers his full-backs is excellent.
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“And obviously another assist to add to a clean sheet in the win at Manchester United, so perfect for him.
Spurs have nabbed a bargain in Van de Ven
Signed for a fee believed to be in the region of £43m including add-ons from Wolfsburg last summer, Van de Ven has quickly become one of the most exciting young defenders in the Premier League.
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While there were apprehensions about his ability to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, the Dutchman has allayed such fears in style and is an indispensable asset at the back for Tottenham.
With Romero and Van de Ven, Ange Postecoglou has one of the best central defensive partnerships at his disposal and the pair’s form and fitness will be crucial to their aspirations this season.
