£45m Tottenham star might start looking like a worse player under Thomas Frank

As Thomas Frank prepares to take the reins at Tottenham Hotspur, the Danish manager’s arrival promises to reshape the team’s tactical identity in fundamental ways.

While many Spurs players stand to benefit from Frank’s proven ability to develop talent, one surprising name might see his star dim slightly under the new regime – £45 million defender Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch center-back emerged as one of the few unqualified successes of the Ange Postecoglou era, his blistering pace proving the perfect antidote to the Australian’s notoriously high defensive line.

Van de Ven’s recovery speed became legendary last season, with his ability to clean up dangerous situations making him indispensable in Postecoglou’s system.

However, Frank’s more conservative approach could render this particular superpower less visible, even as it potentially makes Tottenham more solid defensively overall.

Postecoglou’s tactical extremism created the perfect showcase for van de Ven’s athletic gifts. The former Celtic manager deployed what might have been the Premier League’s highest defensive line, essentially turning his center-backs into sprinters who needed to cover enormous swaths of territory.

This high-wire act played directly to van de Ven’s strengths, with the defender regularly clocking some of the fastest speeds in the division as he raced back to thwart counterattacks.

Frank’s Brentford, by contrast, operated with one of the league’s deepest defensive blocks. This more measured approach prioritizes positional discipline over recovery speed, as evidenced by the manager’s preferred center-backs during his time at the Gtech Community Stadium:

Noticeably absent from this list is any emphasis on pure speed. Frank’s defensive selections consistently favored intelligence, strength, and organizational skills over raw pace – a stark contrast to Postecoglou’s system that essentially required van de Ven to serve as a fire extinguisher for tactical fires.

The Potential Impact on van de Ven’s Profile

Under Frank, van de Ven will likely transition from highlight-reel hero to more of a silent operator. While his speed will remain an asset – particularly in dealing with the Premier League’s fleet-footed attackers – we’ll see fewer of those dramatic, last-ditch interventions that made him such a fan favorite. Instead, the Dutch international may find himself:

• Engaging in more physical battles with traditional center-forwards
• Focusing on positional play rather than recovery runs
• Operating in tighter spaces when building from the back

This isn’t to suggest van de Ven will become a worse player – in fact, he might become more complete defensively. However, the qualities that made him stand out so vividly under Postecoglou may become less conspicuous in Frank’s system.

Ironically, this tactical shift could benefit van de Ven’s long-term development. While his pace made him spectacular in Postecoglou’s system, it sometimes masked defensive deficiencies that Frank will likely address.

The Brentford manager has shown an exceptional ability to improve defenders’ fundamentals, as seen with Ethan Pinnock’s transformation from Championship journeyman to Premier League stalwart.

Van de Ven may also find new opportunities to contribute in possession. Frank’s deeper defensive line typically gives center-backs more time on the ball, potentially allowing the Dutchman to showcase passing range that was often neglected in Tottenham’s frenetic approach last season.

The Bigger Picture for Tottenham’s Defense

Frank’s arrival raises intriguing questions about how Tottenham’s backline will take shape. While van de Ven’s role may evolve, the manager could seek to pair him with a more traditional, physically dominant partner in the mold of Pinnock or Jansson.

This potential signing would complete the transition from Postecoglou’s track team defense to Frank’s more structured unit.

Ultimately, van de Ven’s adaptation to Frank’s methods will serve as a fascinating case study in how system affects perception.

The defender who once wowed crowds with his recovery sprints may soon earn praise for subtler virtues – a transition that could make him a better all-around player even as it makes him less obviously spectacular.

In the end, Tottenham fans may care little about individual accolades if Frank can deliver what Postecoglou couldn’t – a defense that doesn’t rely on superheroics to keep clean sheets.