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Ex-Player Watch Player watch: Jan Vertonghen

diamond lights

active member
Aug 31, 2012
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5,657
Looks to me like he just wasn't on it in training and Poch was making a point. Fits with what Poch said post match and Valencia yid's dropped comments. No Biggie. Verts will need to up the attitude this week.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Verts and toby will be gone next summer unless they extend. So it is reasonable that poch is giving more opportunities (both in the team and on the bench) to players he knows are going to be here. Villa (with their huge overhaul of players) at home is probably the biggest gimme of the season.
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
Looks to me like he just wasn't on it in training and Poch was making a point. Fits with what Poch said post match and Valencia yid's dropped comments. No Biggie. Verts will need to up the attitude this week.
Valencia yid said he was dropped, he didn't say why, it could be nothing, but he didn't say why..
 

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,652
26,046
I hope (and think, based on Val's ITK) that this was nothing more than Poch setting the tone early that players have to apply themselves fully in training in order to get a look-in at the matchday squad.

There's finally going to be genuine competition for places this year, so by dropping a senior player in the first match Poch is sending the message loud and clear that you've got to bring your absolute best day in, day out in order to survive in this team. Jan is mature and professional enough that it shouldn't cause any problems. Real competition for places will bring out the best in our players and will be for the best in the long term.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
I personally think it was exactly as Poch said - he had to leave someone out and felt that Toby and Davinson deserved to start, and Dier offered more flexibility from the bench in terms of positions covered.

From day one Poch has always said he will pick a team on merit. It is how Kane and other youngsters got their chance in the first place. He has often said that the club pays players to train and improve, with the best ones picked to play on Saturday. I imagine Poch picked his team based on fitness following pre-season and effort / sharpness in training in the week leading up to the game. It's also why Eriksen was benched to start with.

Hopefully now training will be intense with 25 quality players pushing to get into the 18 at the weekend and the team being 'at it' from the first minute each week. If Vertonghen is a leader and has fire in his belly he will be first in on Monday and be the sharpest player in drills and make training difficult for Harry, Son, Moura and the other forwards in practise games.
 

degoose

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2004
2,832
3,012
i just figured there are only a certain amount of positions in the team and on the bench and we have city up in a week as well.
 

ComfortablyNumb

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2011
3,975
6,129
Yeah we did that, he realised it didn’t work, changed it then we won, so yeah I’d back him
Is that a lesson learned, or will we see the same pattern of cycling between formations? I’m guessing we’ll start with a diamond against Citeh, it’ll go badly, and we’ll finish with a different formation.
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
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I personally think it was exactly as Poch said - he had to leave someone out and felt that Toby and Davinson deserved to start, and Dier offered more flexibility from the bench in terms of positions covered.
That is not factual, though. Vertonghen can cover both CB and LWB, and is better at each position than Dier at "his" positions, + Vertonghen can be used as an attacking threat or defensive anchor. Clearly, out of pure flexibility, Vertonghen is the answer to more possible scenarios when on the bench.

Oh fuck, please don't tell me Jan is becoming the new Janssen.
Doubt it. Because if you put Vertonghen up front, he might actually score.
 
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Gareth88

Well-Known Member
Sep 19, 2017
4,592
6,727
Yay, let’s go with the diamond!
I am also not a fan of the diamond but I don't think I can change his mind on it. I posted satirically #backpoch due to the whispers and speculation in the thread about Jan it was Poch’s choice to drop him he watches them day in and out during training. I love a good moan like the rest of us but its game one of many lets relax before we get the Vertonghen is on his way out chat going ??
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
That is not factual, though. Vertonghen can cover both CB and LWB, and is better at each position than Dier are at "his" position, + Vertonghen can be used as an attacking threat or defensive anchor. Clearly, out of pure flexibility, Vertonghen is the answer to more possible scenarios when on the bench.


Doubt it. Because if you put Vertonghen up front, he might actually score.

Poch disagrees with you and I think Poch knows more about football than you do.

More seriously, Poch said Dier covered CB and CM and Aurier covered LB and RB. And that is why Verts wasn’t on the bench. It doesn’t explain Skipp and Wanyama also being on the bench. Plus I think Verts is better than Rose at LB so should have started there if not needed at CB.
 
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