Stephen Warnock has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven is quicker than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
The former left-back thinks Tottenham’s summer capture has been ‘one of the signings so far’ and a player who has been ‘outstanding’ for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
One aspect of Micky van de Ven that Stephen Warnock was keen to mention was his pace and speed and how it’s ‘phenomenal’ to the point that he got into a foot race with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and ‘breezed it’, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports (30/10/23 at 12:25 pm).
Of course, Spurs went on to beat Liverpool 2-1 during that fixture, but it was marred by that now-in-famous VAR call from the officials.
But it still shouldn’t hide the fact that the London club are sitting top of the Premier League table, with Micky van de Ven playing every single minute.
Given that Tottenham’s defence was one of their weakest last season, their new rising Dutch star has come in and settled in with ease.
Micky van de Ven and Mohamed Salah
“I love van de Ven,” said Warnock. “I think he is superb. A player that is only going to get better.
“The speed he has got is phenomenal. No one runs away from him. I remember him going in a foot race with Salah the other week and he breezed it. I was thinking ‘wow’. That’s how you can play a high line. That’s how you can press a football pitch.
“This guy has been one of the signings of the season so far. He is outstanding.”
Van de Ven a huge upgrade on Eric Dier
One thing is for sure, if Eric Dier, who is yet to play a single minute for Spurs this season, was playing alongside Cristian Romero this season, then things would be a lot different.
The England international was a big weakness for Tottenham at the back and Postecoglou has made the right call to drop him from the XI.
It’s probably only a matter of time before Dier looks to leave because van de Ven has shown him the levels.
Not only that, the Mauricio Pochettino signing would also free up wages for Spurs to dip into the market again and back their very popular manager.
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