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Jan Vertonghen

Didn't watch the Manure-Ajax game.

For those who did, any further impressions of 'our' Vertonghen? I read that Redknapp was watching the game..

Thought he had a decent game, and made some good challenges, but Utds goal was farcical from a CBs point of view. People will of course start blaming the other guy, but they were both caught out terribly imo.

Dont think he's very fast, but looked like he knows what he'd doing.
 
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'Tottenham are an amazing club & I want to play in the Premier League' - Spurs target Jan Vertonghen
The Ajax defender has talked up a switch to White Hart Lane and revealed that Belgium team-mates including Vincent Kompany & Thomas Vermaelen are telling him to move to England
BET: RETURNS: Arsenal ?ú24.30 Draw ?ú32.00 Tottenham ?ú26.50
Feb 24, 2012 9:00:00 PM

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MORE ON*:* Ajax, Arsenal, Man Utd., Emirates Marketing Project FC, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Tottenham, Jan Vertonghen

PROSHOTS
By Greg Stobart

Ajax star Jan Vertonghen has described Tottenham as an ÔÇ£amazing clubÔÇØ and spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League next season.
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Saudi Sportswashing Machine interested in Vertonghen - reportTottenham line up Ajax defender Vertonghen

Goal.com understands Spurs are leading a host of English clubs in the race to sign Vertonghen and held talks with Ajax over a move for the Ôé¼11.8 million-rated (?ú10m) defender in January.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was in the stands to watch Vertonghen during AjaxÔÇÖs Europa League clash against Manchester United on Thursday night - and the 24-year-old made it clear after the game that he would welcome a move to White Hart Lane.

ÔÇ£I think Tottenham are an amazing club and you see how well they are doing this season,ÔÇØ Vertonghen told Goal.com. ÔÇ£They are in the top three in England and thatÔÇÖs where I want to play.

ÔÇ£I canÔÇÖt say anything about whether there has been contact about a transfer but I think my game can be suited to English football.

ÔÇ£I love the atmosphere and it has the best players in the world, it breathes football. ItÔÇÖs one of my goals to play in the best leagues and against the best players.

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs the only competition I watch apart from Barcelona.ÔÇØ

Vertonghen, the Ajax captain, is also a target for Saudi Sportswashing Machine and Arsenal while Emirates Marketing Project manager Roberto Mancini is a long-term admirer.

The versatile defender admits his international team-mates - including City captain Vincent Kompany and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen - are constantly in his ear trying to influence his decision on his future.

ÔÇ£A lot of my colleagues from the national team play here and some are calling me to come,ÔÇØ Vertonghen added.

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs a beautiful competition, the best in my opinion. I hope one day I can play in the Premier League with this atmosphere.

ÔÇ£To play for a team in the Premier League would be amazing and thatÔÇÖs what I am going for.

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs flattering to be linked with clubs, the rumours give me confidence but I just try to do my best every game.ÔÇØ

One player who is unlikely to sway VertonghenÔÇÖs thoughts is Belgium team-mate Eden Hazard, the Lille star who is also a target for Tottenham.

Vertonghen admits it would be ÔÇ£niceÔÇØ to play with Hazard but the two are not close friends as the Ajax man speaks Flemish and does not communicate with the winger in the same language.

ÔÇ£I read that Tottenham might sign Eden Hazard,ÔÇØ Vertonghen said. ÔÇ£It would be nice to play with him but he speaks a different language to me. He speaks French.ÔÇØ

While Vertonghen is almost certain to leave Ajax this summer, he believes another Premier League target, Christian Eriksen, should stay at the Amsterdam ArenA for another season.

The Dane has been linked with a number of leading European clubs including Manchester United but Vertonghen has urged the playmaker not to rush into a hasty exit.

ÔÇ£Maybe for Christian itÔÇÖs better to stay one more year and he can learn something, be the leader in the field for Ajax one day,ÔÇØ Vertonghen added. ÔÇ£I hope he stays one more year at least.

ÔÇ£Christian is a clever guy and he will leave at the right moment.ÔÇØ
 
Very nice to hear players bigging us up! I'm sure if we were seriously interested then Rafa could have a little word with him!
 
Left sided centre back
Can play left back and defensive midfield too
A leader(captains Ajax)
Young(24-25)
Comfortable on the ball(brings it forward from the back)
Would say average pace but seems to read the game well(a bit like Woodgate in his prime)

whoops, didn't see page 2 :-"
 
He is quite like Luiz in that he brings the ball out from the back - his goal today he just strolled through their midfield/defence and slotted home. But unlike Luiz he can actually defend.
 
I've not seen much of this lad, but the general view on here strikes me as being overly positive about him. He sounds like a proto-King, of a sort. And I really, really want to support us signing him. But I can't. We've got Caulker coming back next season, and he's one of our best prospects for quite a while. And I still trust Kaboul, despite his shocker today. So no, I don't think we should go for this lad. I have faith in our CBs.
 
I've not seen much of this lad, but the general view on here strikes me as being overly positive about him. He sounds like a proto-King, of a sort. And I really, really want to support us signing him. But I can't. We've got Caulker coming back next season, and he's one of our best prospects for quite a while. And I still trust Kaboul, despite his shocker today. So no, I don't think we should go for this lad. I have faith in our CBs.

I concur. But what about King? He didnt look too pretty yesterday, even if it was our first real blip since the team was Parker-ized. We would need another body there. I always get sad about King going, I hope he stays on the coaching staff forever.
 
I've not seen much of this lad, but the general view on here strikes me as being overly positive about him. He sounds like a proto-King, of a sort. And I really, really want to support us signing him. But I can't. We've got Caulker coming back next season, and he's one of our best prospects for quite a while. And I still trust Kaboul, despite his shocker today. So no, I don't think we should go for this lad. I have faith in our CBs.

Our current centre backs: King, Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas, Nelsen, Caulker, Bassong, Khumalo.

Of those I'm guessing Bassong and Khumalo don't really have a future at the club.

Nelsen, Gallas and King don't have long term futures with the club. We could easily see all of them gone in the next 12-18 months. And they all have injury problems meaning we can't rely on them to be fit.

Next season we will hopefully have CL football, that means more important games. We know King can't play league and CL football.

That means important games next season where Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas, Nelsen and Caulker are likely to be our available centre halves. That is assuming that Gallas is still here. It also means that looking forward one or two seasons the only centre backs likely to still be here are Kaboul, Dawson and Caulker.

We need another centre back sooner or later, no doubt. Kaboul has looked good this season, Dawson is solid, Caulker is promising. But, there is a difference between good and class. You need only look at what difference King has made to our results in the last couple of seasons to see the difference. The club should be on he lookout for a top class, or potentially top class centre back. If one of those is available then he should be brought in, cause there's a very good chance he won't be available when we desperately need him.

If Vertonghen is that potentially top class centre back is another question. In my opinion he's the closest thing to one of those we can get at the moment. I would prefer Hummels, but I don't think we will be able to sign him. Vertonghen does have many things going for him though. He is left footed and a good footballer. He can cover left back and defensive midfield positions. He is young, but has a good bit of experience and looks like a leader. He only has a year left on his contract and seemingly wants a move so he will be available for a reasonable fee.

The only way we shouldn't go for him is if we think we have someone better lined up that we can buy.
 
braineclipse, have you ever seen Otamendi play? When I've seen Porto this year he has looked the absolute bollox. I wonder if he'd be available in the summer at a reasonable price.
 
Vertonghen does have many things going for him though. He is left footed and a good footballer. He can cover left back and defensive midfield positions. He is young, but has a good bit of experience and looks like a leader. He only has a year left on his contract and seemingly wants a move so he will be available for a reasonable fee.

The only way we shouldn't go for him is if we think we have someone better lined up that we can buy.

not once do you mention him being a good defender ;)

i want my centre backs to defend, defend, and defend first, the fancy stuff can come later

someone like Hangelaand would be ideal. No nonsense, experienced, plays that left side that King has occupied when fit
 
braineclipse, have you ever seen Otamendi play? When I've seen Porto this year he has looked the absolute bollox. I wonder if he'd be available in the summer at a reasonable price.

I have seen him 2-3 times I would guess. He's looked good, but inconsistent from that. But I don't really have an opinion on quite how good he is. Certainly talented, and certainly highly thought of. And almost as certainly he won't be available at a reasonable price, good players from Porto never are.

not once do you mention him being a good defender ;)

i want my centre backs to defend, defend, and defend first, the fancy stuff can come later

someone like Hangelaand would be ideal. No nonsense, experienced, plays that left side that King has occupied when fit

Being good on the ball isn't "fancy stuff" imo. There should be an absolute minimum requirement of technical ability to play for Spurs, regardless of position.

Anywho, I've only seen Vertonghen twice myself, and I find rating someone's defensive ability in just two games very difficult. There is no doubt that he's a good defender, question is if he's a truly top class defender. Cause that's what we need. We have enough good defenders and even if we were lacking one good defender we could probably find one easily enough. That's why I said "If Vertonghen is that potentially top class centre back is another question. In my opinion he's the closest thing to one of those we can get at the moment." And then added some other (more obvious) positives about him.

As for Hangeland, him I have watched quite a lot (I'm Norwegian), he's good. Probably one of the best defenders in the PL outside the top 6 teams. However, he isn't top class, he won't be cheap, and he's 31 in the summer. Would have been a good signing if he was cheap and we couldn't find someone better, but he won't be cheap and we should aim to find someone even better.
 
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