‘Doesn’t have a clue’: Glenn Hoddle says he’s noticed a ‘problem’ in Micky van de Ven’s game at Tottenham
Another match, another disappointing result for Tottenham as they fell 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. The decisive moment came when Enzo Fernandez, left unmarked in the box, powered home a header past Guglielmo Vicario. While the Argentine’s finish was clinical, the goal highlighted yet another defensive lapse in a season full of them for Spurs.
Fernandez’s late run into the box went unchecked, with Micky van de Ven—the man responsible for marking him—caught ball-watching instead of tracking his opponent. The Dutch defender has been one of Tottenham’s standout performers since his arrival, but this error proved costly.
His momentary lapse in concentration allowed Fernandez the freedom to attack the cross unimpeded, leaving Spurs to rue yet another avoidable goal conceded.
Glenn Hoddle, analyzing the match for Premier League Productions, didn’t mince words when dissecting Van de Ven’s mistake. The former Tottenham manager pointed out a recurring issue in the young defender’s game—his tendency to focus too much on the ball rather than maintaining awareness of his surroundings.
“His problem, like any defender, is that he’s too attracted to the ball,” Hoddle explained. “When the cross comes in, if you spend more than two seconds watching the flight of it without checking over your shoulder, you lose track of the attacker. That’s exactly what happened here. Van de Ven was fixated on the ball and had no idea where Fernandez was.”
Hoddle’s critique cuts to the heart of a growing concern for Tottenham. Van de Ven’s recovery pace and composure in one-on-one situations have made him a vital part of Ange Postecoglou’s high defensive line, but his aerial deficiencies remain a glaring weakness. Standing at 6’4”, he should theoretically dominate in the air, yet the statistics tell a different story.
This season, he has won just 48% of his aerial duels, a surprisingly low figure for a center-back of his stature. While there has been a slight improvement from last campaign (53%), it’s still not at the level required for a top-tier Premier League defender. For comparison, elite defenders like Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba consistently win 65-70% of their aerial battles.
Van de Ven’s struggles in the air are particularly problematic given Tottenham’s defensive structure. Postecoglou’s aggressive system relies on defenders who can both cover space quickly and deal with crosses effectively.
If opponents identify Van de Ven as a vulnerability, they will continue to target him with deliveries into the box—just as Chelsea did.
The Dutchman’s raw attributes—his speed, tackling, and ability to play out from the back—make him an exciting prospect. But if he wants to evolve into a truly elite defender, he must sharpen his positional awareness and improve his dominance in aerial duels.
Otherwise, Spurs will keep conceding soft goals, and their defensive frailties will continue to undermine their progress.
For now, Tottenham must regroup quickly. With their season already teetering on the brink, they can’t afford many more defensive mishaps. Van de Ven has the potential to be a world-class defender—but only if he fixes this critical flaw in his game.