{"id":31719,"date":"2025-12-08T16:39:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T16:39:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:39:28","slug":"spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs sign best central cornerback since King, and it&#8217;s not Van de Ven or Romero"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero\/#Spurs_defensive_performance_under_Thomas_Frank\" >Spurs&#8217; defensive performance under Thomas Frank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero\/#New_version_of_Spurs_Ledley_King\" >New version of Spurs&#8217; Ledley King<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/spurs-sign-best-central-cornerback-since-king-and-its-not-van-de-ven-or-romero\/#Kolo_Muani_upgrade_Spurs_prepare_to_move_%E2%80%98one_of_the_best_CFs_in_the_PL\" >Kolo Muani upgrade: Spurs prepare to move &#8216;one of the best CFs in the PL&#8217;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Manager Thomas Frank has changed the dynamic at Tottenham Hotspur and, after a tough start to the season for the Londoners, perhaps signs of success are beginning to emerge.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>European contention was back in the game as Spurs had only won one game in eight games before Frank took on his former club Brentford and won the spoils. There&#8217;s still a lot of ground to cover this season, but a loss to the Bees at home would certainly have made things difficult.<\/p>\n<p>    Tottenham&#8217;s attacking play was notable, with their total xG of 2.18 against Brentford being their highest in the Premier League since the season opener with a 3-0 win against Burnley.<\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-note\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom note\" id=\"custom_block_4\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content note\">\n<p>Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability that a shot will result in a goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>But what about defense? This season, Tottenham&#8217;s rearguard has not been as compact and well-trained as expected when Frank took over. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, both elite centre-backs, can do more.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"spurs-39-defensive-record-under-thomas-frank\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spurs_defensive_performance_under_Thomas_Frank\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Spurs&#8217; defensive performance under Thomas Frank<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Frank watched on as Tottenham conceded 15 goals in five Premier League games, failing to win any of them, before sending off his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Keith Andrews.<\/p>\n<p>At times, Spurs were in a terrible position at the back of the table. A perfect example of this was some of the defensive action we saw against Fulham just over a week ago.<\/p>\n<p>    What are the roots of this struggle? Structural problem? Are there still stains from the unstable Ange Postecoglou era?<\/p>\n<p>The important thing is that many of Tottenham&#8217;s goals this term have been avoidable, but isn&#8217;t that all?<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham have displayed an improved defence, but Romero, Van de Ven and others will need to work harder to match Spurs&#8217; most disciplined defense of the modern era. Think Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Consider Ledley King.<\/p>\n<p>For now, Frank will have to make do with what he has, but come next season the North London club&#8217;s next version of King could find himself rising to the first team.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"spurs-39-new-version-of-ledley-king\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"New_version_of_Spurs_Ledley_King\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>New version of Spurs&#8217; Ledley King<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>King was a pretty good defender. He rivaled Harry Kane for the title of Tottenham&#8217;s best academy graduate of the past 30 years, breaking into the first team in 1999 and completing his career at White Hart Lane.<\/p>\n<p>Harry Redknapp once hailed King as an &#8220;absolute freak&#8221;, extremely powerful and tenacious in the defensive third.<\/p>\n<p>The former England international was astute and possessed a rare ability to time things perfectly, with his defensive skill set running on a precise in-house stopwatch.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s certainly difficult for new prospects to emerge and imitate the club&#8217;s icons, but Luka Vuskoic could be the perfect addition to the ENIC group.<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham signed Vuskovi\u0107 in 2023, transferring him to Bundesliga side Hamburger SV on a one-year loan deal. The 18-year-old has flourished in Germany and has shown he has the talent to match someone like King in the future, and perhaps even possess a more robust and promising skillset than someone like Van de Ven.<\/p>\n<p>Van de Ven can score goals, but so can Vuskovic. This teenage talent has shown a certain penchant for the spectacle in Germany this year.<\/p>\n<p>According to FBref, Vuskovi\u0107 has an unusual profile, ranking in the top 3% of central defenders in the Bundesliga this season for goals scored, top 9% for chances created and top 1% for aerial duel success rate of 90%. He has what it takes to be a superstar.<\/p>\n<p>Although the Premier League is considered by many to be the toughest league in the world, it is interesting to note that Vuskovic is arguably playing more deftly than Spurs&#8217; athletic centre-backs, which bodes well for his future in London.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>League Stats 25\/26 &#8211; Van de Ven vs Vuskovi\u0107<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Match statistics (* per match)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>van de ven<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Vuskovi\u0107<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Match (start)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>14(14)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>11(11)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>the goal<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>assist<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>clean sheet<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>touch*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>68.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>79.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Exact path*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>52.1 (91%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>51.0 (86%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Opportunities created*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>dribble*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>0.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>collect*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>3.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>4.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Tackle + Interception*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>clearance*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>3.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Duel (win)*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>3.1 (48%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>7.5 (67%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>error<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><em>Data via Sofascore<\/em><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>The fact that Van de Ven has won less than half of his Premier League matches this season shows he needs to do more to stop the rampant corruption.<\/p>\n<p>However, such corruption is in its early stages and can be addressed. Frank has options for the remainder of his term, but adding Vuskovic to the mix could inject a King-like presence to take the project to the next level.<\/p>\n<p>    Anirst Ben Mattinson described him as an &#8220;extraordinary athlete&#8221; and an &#8220;extraordinary talent&#8221; with a &#8220;frightening ceiling&#8221;, thus highlighting the resonance between him and King.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether the Croatian talent will be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, but the signs are positive. He could eventually overtake Van de Ven and Romero, two top stars, to become a centre-half with similar talent to players like King.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"kolo-muani-upgrade-spurs-eyeing-move-for-mateta\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kolo-muani-spurs.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kolo-muani-spurs.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kolo_Muani_upgrade_Spurs_prepare_to_move_%E2%80%98one_of_the_best_CFs_in_the_PL\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tKolo Muani upgrade: Spurs prepare to move &#8216;one of the best CFs in the PL&#8217;<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing a centre-forward who could be an upgrade to Randal Kolo Muani.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manager Thomas Frank has changed the dynamic at Tottenham Hotspur and, after a tough start to the season for the Londoners, perhaps signs of success are beginning to emerge. European contention was back in the game as Spurs had only won one game in eight games before Frank took on his former club Brentford and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6828,7617,40,2716,5701,43,342,864,6351],"class_list":{"0":"post-31719","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-central","9":"tag-cornerback","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-king","12":"tag-romero","13":"tag-sign","14":"tag-spurs","15":"tag-van","16":"tag-ven"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31719\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}