Jan Vertonghen Has Tough Premier League Debut for Tottenham against WBA

West Bromwich Albion gave Tottenham’s Belgian international central defender, Jan Vertonghen, a tough baptism on his debut at White Hart Lane. Vertonghen was introduced by Andre Villas-Boas to replace the injured Younes Kaboul and played alongside William Gallas the the heart of the Spurs’ defence. The match was played in sunshine, heavy rain and thunder and the weather conditions very much reflected the defender’s performance for Spurs.

Jan Vertonghen who joined Tottenham during the summer has the experience of winning two successive League titles in Holland, playing in Champions League football with Ajax, representing his country and winning individual honours. He has the ability, application and temperament to become a great player at White Hart Lane but he discovered in his first match that nothing can prepare a player for the rigours, demands and intensity of the Premier League.

As the match started in sunshine, Vertonghen, playing on the left side of central defence, started well as Spurs controlled the tempo of game. He had time on the ball and was comfortable in possession. After ten minutes, there was a small lapse as he stepped forward to intercept a ball but misjudged it. Sandro, however, was alert and covered the situation. Vertonghem then showed his desire to move forward by bringing the ball out from defence and played a one – two with Gareth Bale before releasing the left winger to speed away towards the goal-line. Vertonghem carried on with his forward run and was on hand when Bale’s cross was cleared to the edge of the penalty area. The ball bounced up but unfortunately Vertonghen’s shot went high and wide. A ball playing defender, he is comfortable on the ball and wants to pass it out to colleagues – he looks an ideal replacement for Ledley King who was watching from the stands.

For an hour Tottenham’s defence had rarely been tested and Gallas and his co-defender had everything under control. The introduction of Vertonghen’s Belgian compatriot, Romula Lukaku, with thirty minutes remaining, brought some rain to fall on Vertonghen’s debut experience. The young striker introduced pace and a strength, which the West Bromwich Albion attack had previously been lacking. Albion now looked to play the ball long towards Lukuka at every opportunity and Gallas and Vertonghen were very uncomfortable under this new, very direct style.

Vertonghen struggled to cope with the young striker who brought a good save from Brad Friedel, within minutes of coming on, having out-muscled the defender. While Spurs went ahead through Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s deflected shot, the arrival of Lukaku changed the course of the game. For the remainder of the match, Spurs struggled defensively and Vertonghen looked terrified of his young Belgian’s desire to run with the ball and take on defenders.

For Vertonghen, the Albion pressure and momentum which they created in the final minutes must have been like the thunder which had rolled around the ground earlier in the afternoon. Tottenham’s defending during the final minutes of the match was shambolic as Albion built the pressure on a disorganised defence. They had an number of close calls before finally conceding when they failed to clear a corner. Watch the build up to the goal, especially the activity involving Vertonghen at the back post. He is caught up in a wrestling bout with an Albion player whose sole intent is to prevent Vertonghen making any meaningful contribution to Spurs’ defensive play. It goes on during the build up to the goal and as the ball is hacked away by Bale the two players are lying on the ground wrestling. Welcome to the Premier League, Jan!

Neither, the referee not his assistant made any attempt to intervene. If they had acted it would have been to award a penalty to Albion or a free-kick to Tottenham. Having watched it a number of times, the Albion player starts it by pushing the Spurs defender and then it escalates, so by rights a decision would should have gone in Spurs’ favour.

While the match ended in sunshine, unfortunately, it didn’t for Spurs as they had a goal disallowed in the final minute generating much disappointment and frustration at dropping two points so late in the game especially when so much of their play had been positive. The final half-hour demonstrates why foreign players take time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League – its pace, physicality and competitiveness. Rarely, can a team take it for granted that they have the match won as Albion showed in the final thirty minutes with a complete change of emphasis from them which put the Tottenham defence on the back foot.

Commenting on the Tottenham website about his debut, Vertonghen said,

"“It was our first game at home this season and we really wanted to win, so it’s painful we drew the game…….West Brom had the energy to press us and in the end scored in the 91st minute. As I said, that was painful.”"

Vertonghen will learn from that experience and can go on to be an exceptional defender for Tottenham, following in the footsteps of Ledley King. He has the ability to bring composure to the defence and will be a great asset as a ball-playing defender who can pick his pass and is capable of stepping out in support of the midfield players. It was a tough start for Vertonghen and after doing so well for an hour he suddenly encountered the reality of the Premier League.