Ange could find Spurs’ perfect Van de Ven solution in 18 y/o “monster”

Ange Postecoglou‘s Tottenham Hotspur revolution has taken a brusing blow during the last week, with Chelsea’s chaotic defeat in opposition to Chelsea compounded by a late crumble in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Spurs have largely been incredible within the Premier League this season and have been in early rivalry for the title, however successive losses have taken the membership away from the driving seat.

And till the brand new yr, Postecoglou’s aspect will likely be pressured to struggle with out influential summer season signings Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, who each sustained accidents in opposition to the Blues, with fears that they will be unavailable until after Christmas.

It’s, frankly, a sickening blow, with Maddison scoring three goals and supplying five assists from his playmaking place – profitable August’s Premier League Player of the Month – and Van de Ven’s rising partnership with Cristian Romero bearing the mark of title-challenging high quality.

With Romero nonetheless suspended for 2 matches following the competition at Molineux, Eric Dier and Ben Davies have claimed the beginning spots in central defence, which definitely would not evoke the identical stage of confidence.

Final yr, as Spurs languished to an eighth-placed end within the English top-flight, the crux of the woes got here from the leaky backline, with Tottenham’s 63 goals conceded surpassed solely by the relegated groups and newly-promoted sides Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou will likely be determined to climate the injury-induced storm that will but materialise over the forthcoming winter interval, and to make sure that he can accomplish that, the previous Celtic boss may be inclined to speed up Ashley Phillips’ rise to the first-team.

Why Tottenham signed Ashley Phillips

Tottenham accomplished the signing of England U19 captain Phillips in August after chairman Daniel Levy activated his £2m release clause at Blackburn Rovers, deepening the defensive ranks following the conclusion of Clement Lenglet’s mortgage spell – with Davinson Sanchez additionally departing one month on.

Joe Rodon was additionally granted a loan move to Leeds United following their relegation from the Premier League this yr, and regardless of the £43m acquisition of Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, this has proved to be a prudent transfer.

Phillips affords an extra layer of safety within the defensive ranks and, provided that he has been in amongst the first-team combine, will likely be conscious that a possibility to start out within the Premier League might fall his approach.

Ashley Phillips’ profession to this point

Phillips loved an thrilling breakout marketing campaign with Blackburn and chalked up 14 senior appearances throughout all competitions, together with eight showings within the Championship, together with his performances turning the heads of these in Tottenham’s switch division and initiating the summer season strategy.

Regardless of his restricted time on the pitch, Phillips confirmed off his abilities within the second tier and accomplished 83% of his passes, received 50% of his floor duels and made 2.3 clearances per sport, as per Sofascore. These should not numbers to set the world alight however do illustrate the 18-year-old’s pure capability and assuredness in possession.

Phillips has been an unused substitute on four occasions within the Premier League this time period, having additionally began throughout two convincing victories within the Premier League 2.

He has really shone within the EFL Trophy, beginning twice and catching the attention within the Tottenham U21 rearguard in opposition to League One opposition, finishing 84% of his passes, making a powerful 5.5 ball recoveries and 6.0 clearances per sport – showcasing his power – and remarkably profitable 100% of his floor duels, as per Sofascore.

With Van de Ven going through an in depth spell on the sidelines, the time could be apt at hand Phillips his senior debut beneath Postecoglou’s stewardship.

Why Ashley Phillips deserves an opportunity

Soccer.london’s Alasdair Gold has lately revealed that Phillips is “in line” for probabilities to impress within the Lilywhites backline in mild of Romero and Van de Ven’s absences.

Strong, pacy and clever, Phillips could possibly be the custom-made substitute to a defender as athletic as Van de Ven, with ex-Rovers boss Tony Mowbray amongst these to element his rising qualities in effusive reward.

Mowbray said: “He’s a 6’3, 6’4 magnificent reduce of a man, quick as lightning, composed with the ball, aggressive. I believe this soccer membership have a footballer on their arms, and we have now to handle his introduction into our staff as finest we are able to. I simply introduced him to provide him some expertise.”

These traits actually do appear to be excellent to face in for Van de Ven, and whereas expertise just isn’t on his aspect, there may be evidently high quality and potential in abundance.

Whereas Davies proved to be a reliable stand-in in opposition to Wolves regardless of the late defeat, Phillips’ abilities mirror Van de Ven’s completely and will be certain that, going ahead, Tottenham’s equilibrium stays settled.

As per FBref, Van de Ven, aged 22, ranks among the many high 12% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for go completion, the highest 8% for progressive carries and the highest 4% for profitable take-ons per 90.

The £50k-per-week Dutchman had been praised for his “dominant” shows in Germany by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, and he’s definitely residing as much as the hype to this point on English shores.

Having performed a starring function in a profitable begin to Tottenham’s season, Van de Ven’s half in restoring the defence has been exemplary, having accomplished 95% of his passes, made 5.4 ball recoveries per sport and received a whopping 74% of his floor duels, as per Sofascore.

To focus on how spectacular that is, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has completed 92% of his passes, made 4.9 recoveries and received 73% of his floor duels.

They’re daunting boots to lace, however Phillips will fancy his probabilities filling in when known as upon, maybe emboldened alongside a senior veteran similar to Dier.

Spurs expert John Wenham definitely believes within the teenager’s expertise, waxing lyrical as soon as Spurs’ summer season pursuit turned obvious and saying: “I regarded into him, he’s a monster. He appears to have the property and all of the physique you need in a centre-half.”

Ideally, Postecoglou want to combine Phillips into the beginning fold rigorously, however circumstances name for motion and {the teenager} ought to be supplied with a possibility to impress over the approaching weeks.