Tottenham Hotspur may not be in a position to challenge for the Premier League title, but they do have some very good players.
Son Heung-min is one of the best forwards in the Premier League, while Cristian Romero is a star defender for Tottenham.
Tottenham star James Maddison is one of the best playmakers around, while Dejan Kulusevski is growing and developing under Ange Postecoglou.
Another Spurs player who is among the best in the Premier League is Micky van de Ven.
Van de Ven is 23 now and has been able to make an immediate impact on the Tottenham team since he moved to the North London club in the summer of 2023.
Noted for his pace, Van de Ven is also a very capable centre-back who can fill in at left-back.
Jamie O’Hara rates the Tottenham defender highly. The former Spurs player and talkSPORT pundit believes that he is world class.
O’Hara said that during a conversation with Dean Saunders on talkSPORT on Saturday, adding that Van de Ven would walk straight into the Manchester City starting lineup.
Former Liverpool player Saunders, though, does not think that the Netherlands international can be considered world class yet.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven described as ‘world class’
Jamie O’Hara: “I think Van de Ven is a world-class player.”
Dean Saunders: “Van de Ven? He has had one season playing in the high line. World class? Van de Ven?”
Jamie O’Hara: “Van de Ven is world class.”
Dean Saunders: “He ain’t getting in Manchester City’s team. He is not getting in Liverpool’s.”
Jamie O’Hara: “What are you talking about? He would walk straight into Manchester City’s team. He walks into it.”
Dean Saunders: “No chance.”
Jamie O’Hara: “He walks into any team.”
Dean Saunders: “He needs to show for a couple of years yet that he can keep playing in the Premier League at that level without making mistakes. No mistakes. Top players don’t make mistakes.”
Jamie O’Hara: “Of course, they do.”
Dean Saunders: “Van Dijk hardly makes a mistake. He does now and again, but not as many as others. And that’s why he is Van Dijk. Konate doesn’t make that many mistakes. Man City’s centre-backs.”
What Ange Postecoglou thinks about Micky van de Ven
Van de Ven has established himself as one of the first names on the Tottenham teamsheet when he is fit and available.
The defender has scored three goals, given two goals and kept six clean sheets in 35 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou rates him highly and believes that the 23-year-old will continue to grow and develop.
Postecoglou said about Van de Ven on Football.london in October: “With Micky, fair to say he developed late but very quickly. Because I think even at Volendam, there was a period when they were unsure about him.
“You could tell once physically he grew and the kind of player he was, his journey went very quickly at Volendam and the year he had in the Bundesliga he adjusted really well.
“For us last year he was outstanding in his first year in the Premier League. Obviously, he had an injury which set him back a little bit but he’s growing all the time, maturing and I think he will become more of an influence at national team level.”