Micky van de Ven and his decline at Tottenham: The end of his dream of joining a big club?
From being a reliable goalkeeper, Micky van de Ven is becoming a burden at Tottenham with his form plummeting and the disastrous red card in the defeat against Crystal Palace.
Micky van de Ven is going through his darkest period since joining Tottenham Hotspur. Once considered one of the most promising center-backs in the Premier League with impressive speed, the Dutch player is now the target of criticism after a series of lackluster performances that have plunged Spurs deeper into a grueling relegation battle in the 2025/26 season.
A disastrous mistake in the London derby.
In the must-win match against Crystal Palace, Van de Ven turned Tottenham's lead into a defensive disaster. His naive foul on Ismaila Sarr not only resulted in a direct red card but also paved the way for his team's collapse. Playing with ten men, Tottenham conceded three goals in quick succession before halftime and were completely helpless for the remainder of the match.
The 1-3 defeat against a mid-table opponent like Crystal Palace is evidence of the serious crisis at Spurs. Despite possessing a star-studded squad, the London team is struggling to survive in the Premier League relegation battle.
Leadership crisis and alarming attitudes
Notably, since taking over the captaincy from Cristian Romero to lead the defense, Van de Ven has consistently disappointed. Not only is he lacking in technical ability, but his attitude is also alienating the fans. He frequently isolates himself, even exhibiting uncontrolled behavior such as shouting at supporters or ignoring the head coach when results are not to his liking.
Speed cannot compensate for a defensive mindset.
Professional analysis reveals that, if you strip away his speed and physical prowess, Van de Ven's game-reading ability is extremely poor. Compared to legendary center-backs associated with the success of Liverpool, Real Madrid, or Barcelona such as Virgil van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, or Carles Puyol, the Tottenham player completely lacks the mental fortitude and steely resolve.
This dramatic decline confirms that Van de Ven is currently not good enough to play for big clubs. Even his place in Tottenham's starting lineup is seriously threatened if he doesn't soon improve both his form and his professional attitude.
