Tottenham Hotspur’s attacking prowess has garnered much attention, especially following their impressive display against Aston Villa on Sunday. Despite Heung-min Son’s standout performance, Chris Sutton suggests that two other players are currently even more crucial to Spurs’ success.
Ange Postecoglou’s side dominated Villa Park with a resounding 4-0 victory, with Son claiming the Man of the Match award for his goal and two assists. The attacking onslaught unfolded in the second half, with James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son, and Timo Werner all finding the net.
Postecoglou’s tactical setup prioritized bravery and high pressing, evident from the outset as Spurs pressed Villa relentlessly.
Central to this defensive solidity were Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, who expertly handled Villa’s attacking threats, notably Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey, in a 2v2 situation. Even after Van de Ven’s injury, Radu Dragusin seamlessly stepped in.
Chris Sutton emphasizes the significance of Romero and Van de Ven in Postecoglou’s system, suggesting they are more pivotal than Son and Maddison. He highlights the center-backs’ ability to adapt to various scenarios, attributing their importance to their role in initiating play from the back and maintaining defensive solidity.
“The way Postecoglou has always set his teams up, his most important players are the centre-halves and with Van de Ven and Romero it’s so reliant on them because they have to deal with every eventuality,” he said.
“I’m a huge fan of Romero, he can be rash at times. But Van de Ven, actually, he’s been one of the signings of the season. Great pace, he can handle the ball, the timing of his tackles are normally pretty on point and he’s a really good all-rounder, decent in the air.
“He’s going to be a massive loss. He has missed a fair few games and Tottenham have been able to cope ok but of course, they’ve had a lot of injuries to deal with.”
Sutton added: “When people talk about Postecoglou teams, everybody talks about it’s high-risk, high line and that’s why the most important players in his team, and everybody will talk about Son and Maddison, has to be the centre-halves!”
Romero, in particular, earns praise from Sutton despite occasional rashness, while Van de Ven is lauded as one of the season’s standout signings. Van de Ven’s pace, ball-handling skills, well-timed tackles, and aerial prowess make him indispensable to Spurs’ defensive structure.
Sutton underscores the necessity of robust defensive foundations in Postecoglou’s high-risk, high-line approach, making center-backs the linchpins of the team. While Son and Maddison excel in attack, Spurs’ success hinges on the defensive reliability provided by Romero and Van de Ven.
The absence of these defensive stalwarts was felt during Spurs’ struggles in November and early December, underscoring their importance in building from the back and neutralizing opposition threats. Both Van de Ven and Romero excel in playing out from defense and excel in one-on-one defensive situations, crucial attributes in Postecoglou’s system.
While Son and Maddison shine in the attacking third, the defensive resilience offered by Romero and Van de Ven is indispensable to Spurs’ success. As the season progresses, their contributions will continue to be pivotal in sustaining Spurs’ upward trajectory under Postecoglou’s management.