Van de Ven embodies the new Tottenham.

28/10/2025 07:31:00 TrophyTracker

There have been many names regarded as Tottenham's attacking icons — from Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker, Gareth Bale to Harry Kane and Son Heung Min. But this season, the top scorer for Spurs is... a center-back: Micky van de Ven.

This seemingly paradoxical fact perfectly reflects the new Tottenham under Thomas Frank’s leadership: pragmatic, disciplined, and ruthlessly efficient.

Van de Ven scored twice in the win against Everton, marking the first brace of his career. "It’s crazy, I’ve never scored two goals in one game," admitted the Dutch defender. Yet at Thomas Frank’s Tottenham, everything is evolving, including the role of defenders.

While under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs played exciting but fragile attacking football, Frank has shaped them into a team that fights hard, lurks strategically, and punishes opponents through set pieces. Against Everton, Tottenham won thanks to two corner kick routines, a formula that was Brentford’s trademark under Frank.

Notably, Van de Ven is not only a defensive pillar but also the stand-in captain due to Cristian Romero’s injury. He has netted 5 goals across all competitions this season. His excellence has helped Tottenham navigate difficulties when forwards like Solanke, Kulusevski, and Maddison are injured or struggling to score.

Van de Ven is currently Tottenham’s leading scorer this season.

Thomas Frank joked, "I told Micky he’s a defender but needs to score more goals." Van de Ven responded with impressive form, showing strength in aerial duels and leadership spirit. He symbolizes the reshaped Tottenham: a team no longer flamboyant but winning through sweat and discipline.

While Postecoglou once undervalued set pieces, Frank views them as a "vital weapon." Under him, Brentford earned the nickname "set-piece kings" of the Premier League, so much so that their set-piece coach was later promoted to head coach. Tottenham is now following that path, with Van de Ven as a central figure.

The victory over Everton was built on a tight defense and strong fighting spirit. Kevin Danso, who replaced Romero, made 18 clearances and played a key role in keeping a clean sheet. Frank proudly said, "We have a clean sheet mindset. That’s the foundation for every win." Spurs now have the second-best defensive record in the Premier League, behind only Arsenal.

The new Tottenham no longer tries to control 70% possession or create dozens of chances per match. They only needed an expected goals (xG) of 0.78 from open play to secure all three points. This marks a team that knows when to strike, winning through pragmatism rather than flair.

In this regard, Van de Ven and Frank are two sides of the same coin: one representing the warrior spirit, the other embodying cold tactical thinking.

M.Vũ

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