October was indeed a great month for Tottenham Hotspur, who registered three wins and a draw in the Premier League.

It started with 10-man Spurs earning a credible draw at Manchester United. The result followed wins over Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. The Lilywhites produced a dominant display in the 2-0 win over 10-man Crystal Palace last weekend thanks to goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Not only were Tottenham as a team excellent, but several individual players impressed as well, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side turned their early-season disaster around over the last four weeks. One of the club’s consistent performers has been Micky van de Ven.

Tottenham podcaster lauds Micky van de Ven for developing a new trait

Van de Ven has featured eight times for Spurs this season. The Dutchman was very good in the victories over Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, which have kickstarted the Lilywhites’ season. The 25-year-old has been leading the side well after being made the club’s captain in the summer following Cristian Romero’s departure.

It seems that the centre-back has added a new trait to his game this season. This is the verdict of famous podcaster John Wenham, who has observed that Van de Ven is now comfortable spraying balls out from defence and switching play when required. He thinks the defender might have developed this technical quality on the training ground.

“Micky van de Ven is now starting to play balls out from the back; it’s something he never ever did before,” John Wenham said exclusively to Tottenham News.

“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.

“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.”

Van de Ven has significantly improved his passing ability

Van de Ven was one of several players who struggled in N17, as Spurs narrowly avoided relegation. There was intense speculation surrounding the Netherlands international’s future, and Tottenham fans actually felt that it could be his last season at the club.

The centre-back seemingly made a U-turn and committed his future to the club by signing a new bumper contract after being made the club’s captain. He appears to have found a new lease of life since De Zerbi walked through the door. Under the Italian boss, Van de Ven has transformed his game on the ball.

As per data shared by Gradient Sports on X, Van de Ven is among the highest-graded passers in the Premier League this season. He ranks eighth on the list. Instead of being asked to carry the ball up the pitch, the Dutch star is being tasked with preserving his energy and breaking the lines with his passing instead.

Wenham is spot on with his observation!