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Ex-Player Watch Player watch: Jan Vertonghen

stormfly

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
4,584
11,990
I agree with giving Sanchez more minutes but Sanchez and Toby are both better on the right side of CB. We just look a little unbalanced with out Verts. Something to think about for the future.
 

SdB

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,367
1,878
Couldn’t agree more. Some seem to have blinkers on when it comes to him.
Haven't seen much criticism of Sanchez in this thread.

So a good move to bring Skipp on and have him marking Laporte with Vert on the bench. That's odd in my book and we clearly got lucky on that.
 

NovTHFC

Member
Aug 18, 2008
33
68
Thought Sanchez had a very decent game and made some crucial blocks. On a couple of occasions bought the ball out nicely.

I think with Jan, it was the worst possible game to reintroduce him into the side after being supposedly 'dropped'. His confidence would have been knocked and it would've been disastrous to put him back in the 11 against the likes of Sterling, Aguero & KDB. Guaranteed he will be starting against Newcastle next Sunday and will be a mainstay in the 11 again.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,336
329,025
Fair enough not to start if that is the case. But when we're under pressure for so long it does seem extremely odd we don't use one of our best defenders at some point. As we saw Skipp ended up marking Laporte for the last minute corner.
I agree.
 

nedley

John Duncan's Love Child
Jul 28, 2006
13,941
28,069
I reckon he'll be gone come Sept.

There's something not quite right with our club behind the scenes. I'm sure of it.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I don't think it's that strange. If Poch was not happy with his fitness and/or pre-season outings (which I agree with, I was saying in the friendlies he didn't look at the races) and has decided he needed punishing and has gone with Sanchez instead to start the season you don't just then change it back to normal the next week. The onus is on Jan to work his way back in, it's not going to be handed back to him on a plate. First week he sits in the stands, next week Poch benches him but he doesn't come on, it's part of the test and he's likely going to have to wait until after the international break before any rotation starts to happen and he gets a shot. A good day or two in training isn't going to magically get you back in the good books, Poch will want to see repeated hunger and hard work to make up for coasting it through the summer.
 

Yiddo100

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2019
9,894
52,009
If it’s solely down to fitness and his training, I have no issues whatsoever him being out the team
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Was a bit worried about this situation, but as some have said, perhaps it's simply a case of Sanchez being better (and fitter) in training. Who knows?

That said, we've got two good results and have Newcastle next at home, so it's not all doom and gloom.
 

stevenqoz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
2,776
553
Maybe there is no upset in the squad at all (apart from individual contractual issues) and people like you are the ones making a big deal out of something you don't have a lot of info on?
Just responding to what Poch said about tactical reasons in the press conference and adding my own opinion that I am surprised that possible upset would be risked with such a senior player considering our vulnerability with the three mentioned. Football manager has a lot to answer for these days, players actually have feelings (y)
 

LeParisien

Wrong about everything
Mar 5, 2018
3,212
8,169
Well done Poch. He’s the puta madré and calls the shots. No player should be guaranteed starting spot. Not even one of my favourite ever spurs players. That’s the whole point of having squad depth - it eliminates complacency.

Poch took Vertonghen to another level when he arrived. I remember him saying he looked at pictures of him on the tunnel before a game looking submissive and worked on his posture and mentality. He’s been our most consistent defender under Poch and the next time he’s picked, he’ll have worked for it and he’ll have fire in his balls.
 

stevenqoz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
2,776
553
Maybe there is no upset in the squad at all (apart from individual contractual issues) and people like you are the ones making a big deal out of something you don't have a lot of info on?
That Poch bloke: "The squad is still unsettled. We need to wait until the transfer windows close in Europe," he concluded.
"I am not complaining about the situation, only explaining it. Of course we still need to wait to see what happens with our squad. Maybe some players are still in a situation where things can happen.
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
Nothing you or I don't already know.

Eriksen wanting to leave, Jan getting benched, Trippiers confessions etc.

It's just a feeling in my gut. I hope it turns out to be nothing.
Eriksen wasn't happy with the terms offered in the contract and has aspirations to play at a higher level, Verts, who knows but if he gets back in the first team in the next couple of weeks then all will be forgotten and Trippier, this is a guy who had a poor season compared to the season before and maybe he fell out with Poch. I'm only surmising like you but three players, all with different situations doesn't mean that all is not well. That's just life at a football club.
 
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