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Micky van de Ven adds 'serious value' by doing something for Tottenham he's never done before
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- Micky van de Ven adds 'serious value' by doing something for Tottenham he's never done before
Micky van de Ven has developed a new trait that will serve him very well at Tottenham.
That is the view of Spurs expert John Wenham, who has been keeping a close eye on the centre-back.
The Dutchman has featured eight times for Roberto De Zerbi's side so far this season.
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Van de Ven was exceptional in the victories over Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, which have kickstarted the N17 side's season.
The defender has taken on extra responsibility with the captain's armband in the new campaign.
It seems like he has a new aspect to his game too, after what Wenham has spotted recently.
What has been spotted in Tottenham star Micky van de Ven's game?
The Lilywhite Rose owner has noticed that Van de Ven is now comfortable spraying balls out from the back.
The 28-cap international is not known for his ability to do that, and it is something that he must have developed on the training ground and Wenham loves it.
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Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: "Micky van de Ven is now starting to play balls out from the back, it's something he never ever did before.
"We've seen him carrying the ball with pace and making those big recovery tackles, but he was never ever previously spraying balls out from the back, he's starting to play those line breaking passes.
"That is probably Jan Paul van Hecke's best attribute and also Marcos Senesi's, the way they can do that, but they're starting to put it into Van de Ven now, and he's never done it before.
"That will obviously add serious value to his game if he can start to do it often.
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"The other thing he wasn't good at previously, which he took on last year, for his size at 6ft 4in, he would never win anything in the air, but now he's winning things in the air as well.
"That was also really promising that they're starting to develop him like that."
Tottenham are main beneficiaries as Jan Paul van Hecke continues to take after Virgil van Dijk Do the stats support the conclusion on Van de Ven?
The data supports the idea that Van de Ven has recently developed the ability to play the ball out.
He completed 16 line-breaking passes and 26 passes into the final third against Palace, according to FotMob data.
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The Dutch ace also completed 21 line-breaking passes against Chelsea and 13 against Coventry.
His figures for the rest of the season averages out to 10.25 line-breaking passes and 6.25 passes into the final third, suggesting that he has improved in recent weeks.
