Spurs Web

Micky van de Ven has revealed what he liked and disliked about Ange Postecoglou’s playing style at Tottenham Hotspur, while drawing comparisons between the Aussie and Thomas Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur have played very differently over the years depending on who is in charge of the club.

There is often talk about the ‘Tottenham DNA’, which involves being brave and taking the game to the opponent. Ange Postecoglou certainly embraced this philosophy, orchestrating some of the most attacking football the club have ever witnessed.

Thomas Frank on the other hand has taken a more cautious approach, setting up his team in a way not too dissimilar to the likes of Jose Mourinho and Nuno Santo when they were at the club.

Micky van de Ven outlines the differences between Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou

According to Micky van de Ven, Tottenham’s pre-match planning is very technical under Frank and the Dane has made his team more secure in defence.

Although the Netherlands international enjoys an attacking style of play, he is happy that Spurs are not as vulnerable at the back as they were under Postecoglou.

Van de Ven told The Overlap: “The new gaffer [Thomas Frank] came in and has his new way of playing and thoughts about the game. When he came in pre-season, it was [him teaching us] everything about his system, because we’re going to need to play a totally different system compared to Ange.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“Now, it’s a lot of walk-throughs and technical stuff. Before every game, we do some tactical work about the opponent- the meetings and everything is the same as it was under Ange in terms of scouting the opponent.

“It’s different of course, the way Ange thinks about football and how Frank thinks about football. The meetings are the same but it’s a lot of walk-throughs we do with Thomas Frank. You play so many games, so we just go out and walk through everything. It’s Italian-style.”

He added: “I liked the offensive football, but I also like what we have now with Thomas Frank, now that we are more secure in the back and not getting exposed in some situations.

“I really liked the offensive football, but I don’t like to be exposed every game on the counter attack.”

Tottenham have improved in defence under Frank

Some Spurs supporters have been left unimpressed by the club’s displays under Frank and this is not just because of a lack of attacking threat.

Tottenham have been poor in defence during some matches, leading to questions over whether the team are being set up to be overly negative.

However, Spurs have conceded an average of 1.31 goals per game in the Premier League this season, which is a better record than both of Postecoglou’s campaigns in charge.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is going to get its first ever statue and the club have revealed how the player or manager to be honoured will be decided.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the state-of-the-art arena was opened more than six years ago.

The lack of atmosphere on matchdays continues to be a problem, and the team’s performances there in the Premier League are no better.

Spurs have been working towards making the ground feel like home, which included reopening the Bill Nicholson Gates earlier this year.

Tottenham will consult the fan advisory board over a new statue

Following the reinstallment of those iconic gates, Spurs have more plans in the pipeline to showcase the club’s rich history in the area surrounding their stadium.

Plans have been drawn up to have a statue sculpted outside the ground for the very first time, and the fan advisory board have been invited to offer their opinions during the process (Tottenham official).

A location for the statue has been identified, and the FAB will help with engaging supporters and deciding which Tottenham figures will be honoured. The responsibility for the pose of the statue has been maintained by the club and statue designer.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spurs are doing a better job at preserving the club’s legacy

There was definitely a time when it seemed those within the Tottenham hierarchy could not care less about keeping the club’s history at the forefront.

However, there have been a number of developments to alter this in recent years, including the recent Heung-min Son mural.

Having a statue built and placed outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is another step in the right direction, and it will please the supporters.

Micky van de Ven has revealed his biggest career objective, and it could provide a clue on whether he has a long-term future at Tottenham Hotspur.

Micky van de Ven has been one of the most important players at Tottenham Hotspur since he made the move from the Bundesliga.

In fact, the Dutchman’s partnership with Cristian Romero is considered to be one of the best in the Premier League.

However, while Romero has committed his long-term future to Spurs, there are still concerns that van de Ven might choose to depart for one of the top teams in Europe.

Micky van de Ven reveals his career goal, and it should worry Tottenham

Van de Ven recently appeared on The Overlap to discuss his time at Tottenham up to this point, and he also looked ahead to the future.

The 24-year-old revealed his primary career objective, and it could concern Spurs supporters, as he may need to leave the club to fulfil his goal.

Van de Ven said: “I want to be one of the best centre-backs in the world – maybe the best.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spurs are not one of the top clubs in Europe

Spurs may have been finalists in the Champions League once upon a time, but they are a long way off the team they were at the peak of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign.

Even after winning the Europa League, Tottenham are struggling to register victories and are currently mid-table in the Premier League.

If van de Ven is to achieve his target of becoming the world’s greatest defender, he may one day follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane and join a club who compete at the very top on a regular basis.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up a significant change in the dugout as pressure mounts on Thomas Frank, with a Barcelona legend emerging as a potential candidate to take charge.

Tottenham Hotspur find themselves at a crossroads regarding the performance of the team under the stewardship of the newly appointed Thomas Frank.

The former Brentford manager replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer and signed a three-year deal as the club hoped for improvement on the pitch following the Australian’s dismal 17th-place finish last term.

Results and performances on the pitch have not improved greatly under the Dane, with Spurs already having suffered six defeats in 16 matches, while Postecoglou ranked higher at the same stage last season.

Tottenham consider Xavi Hernandez move to replace Thomas Frank

Following Spurs‘ poor run of results, Fichajes are now reporting that internal discussions are already underway regarding a potential change in the dugout at Tottenham Hotspur.

It is explained that with results stalling and confidence ebbing away, Xavi Hernandez is a name that has emerged with the north London club showing genuine interest as they weigh their next steps.

Xavi has been out of work since he departed from Barcelona in 2024 after he was sacked, but the Spaniard did enjoy a measure of success in Catalonia, winning two trophies with the club, including a La Liga title.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Conflicting reports on Frank’s future at Spurs

Thomas Frank’s perceived lack of identity and inconsistency is seen as the reason for Tottenham looking elsewhere, with the recent 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest framed as a turning point.

However, the report from the Spanish outlet is entirely different from reports coming from England, where it is claimed that Tottenham are not keen on parting ways with Frank.

The British press have constantly reported that Spurs are instead looking to back Frank in the coming transfer window as they hope he can turn things around in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be keen on Antoine Semenyo, but the odds are not in their favour as January approaches.

Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need of a left winger, and it appears Antoine Semenyo is the club’s top target when the January transfer window opens.

Spurs are ready to shatter their wage structure to sign Semenyo, in a move which would see him become the best-paid player at the club.

However, Semenyo has agreed personal terms with Manchester City and Liverpool, which means convincing the attacker to make a switch to North London will not be easy.

Tottenham are less likely to sign Antoine Semenyo than Manchester City

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are now firmly in the race to sign Semenyo and the side are considered serious rivals to both Tottenham and Man City.

However, Pep Guardiola’s team are believed by some insiders to be the strongest contenders to secure his signature, despite the interest Spurs have shown.

Liverpool are also lurking in the background, and so Tottenham are having to compete against teams that possess greater resources and are performing better on the pitch.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spurs look unlikely to sign Semenyo

It is hard to see why Semenyo would opt to join Spurs over any of the other teams interested in signing him. Thomas Frank could offer him consistent game time, but it is unlikely he would turn down a move to Man City or Liverpool.

Spurs must therefore have an alternative in mind before the window reopens, because there are no left-sided wingers in the Tottenham first-team squad who possess the required quality.

One Tottenham Hotspur legend has now been tipped to become Thomas Frank’s successor following external scrutiny on the Dane.

Tottenham Hotspur have built a reputation over the years for being ruthless when it comes to managerial decisions in north London, with patience often wearing thin once results begin to slide and performances lose their edge.

Over the past decade alone, fifteen managers have been dismissed at N17, with high-profile figures such as Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino all eventually shown the door despite varying levels of success and backing.

Ange Postecoglou was the most recent casualty, axed despite ending a 17-year wait for silverware, a decision that still lingers in the background whenever Tottenham find themselves stuck in a run of poor form.

Robbie Keane tipped for Tottenham return amid Thomas Frank struggles

His successor, Thomas Frank, is finding life in north London far from straightforward, with results failing to match expectations and frustration beginning to bubble across the fan base.

However, despite the outside noise, Tottenham have so far opted for patience rather than a swift dismissal of the Dane.

That, though, has not stopped speculation gathering pace, with a former Spurs legend now being touted in some quarters as a potential replacement.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Speaking live on talkSPORT on 15 December at 8:40am, Ramon Sosa put Robbie Keane’s name into the conversation, pointing to his work in Hungary and suggesting his background could be an asset, saying:

“Robbie Keane, the Irish boy, in Ferencvaros, has done very well. He has just beaten Rangers as well. He would be a good one. As an ex-player, he knows the psychological side of the dressing room. For me, what is missing with Thomas Frank is that I do not see him inspiring his players.

“I do not see inspiration, connection, or this respect that managers get. It is shown by the body language on the pitch. That is where a Premier League manager needs to earn it. Everyone thought he was a tactic master – what tactic master?”

Responding to that assessment, Ally McCoist acknowledged Keane’s progress but urged caution when discussing a job of Tottenham’s scale, adding: “Robbie Keane, who is a great lad and is doing a great job, deserves a chance, but I am not sure what he is capable of at Tottenham. With that current squad of players, I do not know if he is going to alter things dramatically.”

Keane is currently impressing at Ferencvaros, having won a significant portion of his 54 games in charge, with the Hungarian side sitting second in the top division and just one point off the summit, although that alone does not place him at the level Tottenham requires right now.

If Tottenham do decide to part ways with Thomas Frank, the club will need a proven operator with experience of managing at the highest level, rather than another gamble driven by sentiment or nostalgia.

Mauricio Pochettino remains an option and could become available after the 2026 World Cup, while Xavi Hernandez should also be considered following his spell at Barcelona, where he delivered a La Liga title.

Thomas Frank is not entirely off the hook at Tottenham, with internal pressure now mounting despite talk of transfer window backing.

Thomas Frank will be desperate to get his Tottenham Hotspur side back on track, particularly after a run of just one win in their last seven Premier League matches, a sequence that has steadily eroded confidence.

But it does not get any easier for the Dane, who is coming under intense pressure from supporters as Spurs’ poor run of form continues to expose familiar structural and tactical issues.

Liverpool up next is the last fixture the Tottenham boss will want on his agenda, as he searches for solutions and some much-needed stability within his squad.

Thomas Frank faces internal pressure as Tottenham falter in the league

Reports have suggested that while there is significant external pressure on the Dane, internally Spurs are keen to show patience and avoid any knee-jerk reaction following the loss at the City Ground.

Tottenham fans have since expressed their dissatisfaction with the club’s patience toward Frank, with many believing that the Dane is not the right man for the job.

BBC Sport have now claimed that while patience remains the prevailing view within the boardroom, it is not unanimous, with differing opinions emerging behind closed doors.

MORE SPURS STORIES

It is understood that members of the board are fully aware of the poor performances and the growing frustration among supporters, but Tottenham are not at a point where serious consideration has been given to dispensing with Thomas Frank.

Spurs form, January window and pressure on Frank

The underlying statistics, however, do not necessarily work in Frank’s favour, with Ange Postecoglou having been sacked despite delivering stronger overall performances than the Dane at this same stage of the campaign.

Injuries proved costly for the Australian, who also received little backing during the winter window, but reports have claimed that Tottenham’s hierarchy is now looking to support Frank when January arrives.

It remains to be seen the calibre of player Tottenham can bring in, although, as is often the case during the winter window, prising top-level talent away from clubs mid-season is rarely straightforward.

Micky van de Ven has waxed lyrical about his fellow Tottenham Hotspur defenders, even describing one of them as ‘like a brother’.

Tottenham Hotspur have not looked as secure in defence as they would have been expected to be under the management of Thomas Frank.

Spurs have conceded 21 goals in 16 matches and there have been certain matches where their defending has left plenty of room for improvement, such as the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Despite this, Tottenham have kept the joint sixth most clean sheets in the Premier League, as well as conceding fewer goals per game than 11 other teams.

Micky van de Ven heaps praise on Tottenham’s defenders

Even with Spurs struggling at the back on some occasions, their defence is still much improved compared with last season when the backline was plagued with injuries.

Micky van de Ven certainly has no complaints about his defensive teammates and he has even described one of them as being ‘like a brother’ to him.

He told The Overlap: “I have a good relationship with him [Cristian Romero]. He’s like a brother to me – on the pitch you can see we back up each other every time, but off the pitch, it’s the same.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“We have an unbelievable back four, with Pedro [Porro], Destiny [Udogie], and Ben [Davies], who brings a lot of experience to us. We have a good back four that can do a lot in when everyone is fit.”

Spurs must work collectively as a team to improve their defence

Tottenham might not be defending as well as they should on paper, but there are other areas which have at times let them down.

The midfield has often been too open this season, allowing the opposition to play their game and dictate proceedings. This puts added strain on van de Ven and those in the Spurs backline and so there needs to be improvement all over the pitch if the team are to begin conceding fewer goals.

Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, and Aston Villa have now been informed how much they have to pay to land Igor Thiago in January.

Thiago has been one of the standout players in the Premier League so far this season, with 11 goals to his name from 16 league outings this term.

The 24-year-old has ensured that Brentford have not missed either Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa, and it has now emerged that he may be the next big-name to exit the Gtech Community Stadium.

It was first reported back in October that Tottenham are eyeing a £30m move for Thiago in January, but it has now emerged that the Lilywhites have to break the bank to land the striker.

Brentford tell Tottenham how much they have to pay for Igor Thiago

Brazilian journalist Felipe Silva has now taken to social media to reveal that the Bees have no interest in negotiating the sale of their star striker mid-season.

However, they now expect offers to come their way for Thiago in January, amidst interest from Spurs and other clubs around the Premier League and Europe.

As a result, the West London club have now reluctantly set an asking price of £70m for the centre-forward, which would make him a record signing for the Lilywhites if they pull off the deal.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Two Premier League clubs are battling Spurs for Thiago

Silva is not the first journalist to name Aston Villa and Newcastle as Tottenham’s main competitors for the Brentford star.

A recent report from CaughtOffside revealed that Villa and Newcastle are going toe-to-toe with Spurs for Thiago, with all three clubs holding a serious interest in his services.

The outlet claimed that Newcastle see the Brazil international as their ‘ideal signing’ while the Villa are prepared to break the bank on the Brentford man.

Tottenham are looking to strengthen their squad in 2026, and there could be 37 free agents available in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur need more quality in their squad, as the early stages of the 2025–26 season have shown that Spurs remain some distance away from competing consistently with the very best sides.

Defeats to Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have underlined those issues, with several of those performances seeing Tottenham outplayed and outmuscled for long spells.

Reports have suggested that the Tottenham board are prepared to back Thomas Frank across the upcoming transfer windows, as they look to avoid another premature managerial change and instead focus on improving the playing group.

The free-agent market contains a wealth of quality players that Spurs could look to secure on pre-contract agreements in 2026.

There are strong options across every area of the pitch, from goalkeepers through to forwards, and it is a market that should naturally appeal to Tottenham given the potential value involved.

Transfermarkt have now compiled a list of 37 players whose contracts are due to expire next summer and who will be available on a free transfer, offering Tottenham plenty to consider.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Five free agents Spurs could target in 2026

A number of names stand out immediately as players who could raise the level at Tottenham if the opportunity presents itself.

Mike Maignan brings elite-level experience from his time at AC Milan and would represent a serious option in goal, particularly with Guglielmo Vicario having endured an error-prone spell.

In defence, Marc Guehi remains a familiar target after Spurs explored a move earlier this year, while Antonio Rudiger offers pedigree at the highest level with both Real Madrid and Chelsea and would strengthen any back line.