Three Is The Magic Number

It’s nearly two weeks since the final day of the season. We managed to survive, but only by the sink of our teeth, almost exclusively down to the fact Roberto De Zerbi was brought in for the final 7 games of the season.

Now that survival is secured we can look ahead (and possibly forward) to the 26/27 season. There have already been plenty of statements by various senior figures at the club, but most Spurs fans know that it is actions that will speak loudest moving forward.

Early developments include the signing of Andy Robertson from Liverpool, presumably for his experience and leadership qualities, instead of his footballing ability. It looks like Marcos Senesi will be next, and if this week’s rumours are anything to go by, Jan Paul Van Hecke may well be the first player of this transfer window that we sign for a fee.

What this is telling us is De Zerbi (and the club) view fixing the defence as an immediate priority. It makes sense after two 17th place finishes in a row, but doesn’t come without its complications.

Club captain Cristian Romero is undoubtedly a talented player, but a sadly has proven to be a liability when it comes to discipline (7 matches missed through suspension last season), performance (wasn’t playing at his usual level arguably for last two seasons) and loyalty (it is clear he didn’t want to be at the ground on that final game of the season). The latter will be the nail in his Spurs coffin and rightly so, but it does leave a gap in the Spurs defence.

Another player who I think can count himself lucky to not be on the verge of being sold is Micky van de Ven. He was my favourite player throughout the Ange era at Spurs, but this season we saw a new, more unpleasant side to the Dutchman. Ironically, from a fitness perspective it was his most successful season yet for Spurs, as the say, the best ability is availability. However in a season where he was part of the leadership squad, he defied Thomas Frank in front of the Spurs crowd after that Chelsea match. For someone of his standing to behave the way he did, I believe he really got away with it, and Frank’s failure to discipline van de Ven (and to a lesser degree, Spence) is when things started to go wrong for him. Van de Ven also did that interview with Gary Neville, simultaneously pushing hard for a move, and criticising Frank via his high praise of Ange. He then was terrible during the Tudor period, getting set off against Palace and regularly lambasting the players around him (he even did this in the Chelsea match at the end of the season too). Basically, whilst his form did improve enough at the end of the season to get us over the line, he failed as a leader, and in that first half of the season clearly felt he was too good for the club.

That will take a while for me to get over…but, it’s clear De Zerbi likes him and if he can get him playing back to the van de Ven of old then we have one of the best centre backs in the league.

So, this begs the question which centre backs will start for Spurs next season? I think the consensus is Spurs will play a back four given this has been the most common formation across multiple manager for the last few seasons. I think De Zerbi is going in a different direction, and having thought about it, I hope he does.

I think we’ll be back to playing three at the back next season. Why?

1. Van de Ven is highly likely to stay
2. I believe Van Hecke signs
3. Luka Vuskovic – the person I believe is most important in all of this

There have been a lot of rumours flying about Vuskovic since he went on loan to Hamburg. After a stellar season where his performances were excellent and he displayed exemplary leadership qualities at the age of 19, it looked like should we have gone down the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich would have pounced.

It’s clear we have a potential superstar on our hands, and whilst the latest rumours suggests he will head out on loan yet again, I think this is a smokescreen.

You only have to look to De Zerbi’s Marseille and see a back three was the preferred line up. It was this formation that allowed him to get them into the Champions League in his first season. It also makes sense for Spurs.

Vuskovic has spent most of his career in this formation. He knows it and thrives in it. Van de Ven and Van Hecke also have played in the formation. It provides Vuskovic extra cover as he gets to grips with the Premier League. It gives van de Ven license to go forward with his trademark runs. It suits our full backs, so the likes of Udogie, Spence and Porro can focus on attacking. If Robertson plays, it means there is less defensive responsibility on him too, and he can provide cover for Van de Ven.

We’d then also have very strong cover in the form of Senesi, Kevin Danso, and you can have a 6th younger player in the squad too (thinking a Junai Byfield or Kota Takai). It also means vif Vuskovic needs to be managed, Senesi can come straight in.

I think with the players at our disposal it both strengthens our defence, and boost our attack. It’s a win-win, and whilst I have always in the past been sceptical of back threes, it is undeniable this could really work in this scenario. We also have the option to change to a back four too.

It could well be Vuskovic does depart on loan and the back four remains, but I have a feeling this is the direction of travel under De Zerbi.