TTLB Opinion: Why Ange should make this controversial decision when Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt

Tottenham have European silverware on their mind already as the Lilywhites visit Norway in the Europa League semi-finals as they face Bodø/Glimt in the second leg of the tie at Aspmyra Stadion this Thursday. The North Londoners are in a comfortable position in the tie with a two-goal cushion, and while many expect that Ange Postecoglou would name a strong side to ensure that Spurs walk into the finals, we at TTLB believe that the Australian head coach should make a controversial decision that would show the world how the club cares about success on the pitch but also about player welfare and their long-term interests.

The artificial surface should make Ange think twice about Van de Ven

Given the fact that Bodo’s home hosts a 4G artificial surface, which significantly increases joint load and soft-tissue strain, we think that Spurs would be better off in the longer run if they bench Micky van de Ven for the tie.

Yes, the Dutch international would want to be lining up in that tunnel when the kickoff comes around, but let’s face it – his game is built around a few key attributes. To start with, his explosive recovery sprints, complemented by lateral shifts and high-volume ground coverages, make it a highly amplified injury risk on the artificial turf.

But that’s just not me saying this is a data-backed statement. The thing is that when players with a hamstring history (like Van de Ven) are playing on a synthetic surface, they run a 16% higher injury risk per play because of how their body would have to adjust with the reaction forces of the ground, and if you’ve played in a turn before, you’d know how your body gets almost stiff after playing because of how your studs have to stick into the ground.

And we all know where the former Wolfsburg man stands on the injury side of things. He has served over 12 weeks on the sidelines because of a hamstring tear. And while he has logged a few ninety minutes into his game despite only recently returning from the treatment table, playing on turf within this recovery arc will have a high risk of a possible re-injury which could end up ruling him out for the rest of the ongoing campaign but also would have a chance that he contributes to serve the sidelines at the start of the next.

But more importantly, this isn’t just about protecting a player from risk; it’s also about managing your resources a bit strategically given that Van de Ven is not just another defender, he is irreplaceable in our system when it comes to line height and recovery structure that the Australian head coach has deployed at Hotspur Way, and a fresh setback not only affects his availability but would also force the Lilywhites into a complete tactical reconfiguration going into the potential final. While Romero (with someone like Archie Gray) can hold a back line, only Micky brings this kind of recovery profile that allows us to be brave against world-class transitions.

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Bodø want a composed game, we will give them just that

Furthermore, Bodø/Glimt are not a team built to play off the shoulder or exploit space behind aggressively, so they prefer composed possession buildup play as they try to attack in compact phases, which means that Van de Ven’s recovery pace isn’t a requirement for this game, it’s a luxury. The smarter play is to trust someone like Gray down the middle of the defence, keep possession, and avoid unnecessary defensive sprints altogether.

And let’s not forget: we are two goals up. Risking a season-defining player for the sake of rhythm in a second-leg tie on an unfamiliar surface with a lead in hand is not courageous, it’s careless. Our fans will remember silverware but they will also remember if we limped into a final missing key men because we refused to rotate.