Has Kevin Wimmer stolen Jan Vertonghen’s starting spot at Tottenham?
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino faces a selection dilemma when Jan Vertonghen returns to full fitness
When Jan Vertonghen limped off the field in late January versus Crystal Palace many Spurs fans were very concerned about how their sides’ defense would cope in the Belgian’s absence. After all, young Austrian centre-back Kevin Wimmer had never played a minute of Premier League football prior to coming on as Vertonghen’s replacement that day.
Instead of crumbling under the pressure of great expectations, Wimmer has filled Vertonghen’s role expertly as Tottenham has pushed forward in the race for a Premier League title. He’s played so well, that now manager Mauricio Pochettino will face a real decision when Vertonghen returns from injury. When both Wimmer and Vertonghen are fit, who should be the starter next to Toby Alderweireld?
The case for Wimmer
The best argument for the Austrian defender to stay in the Tottenham lineup is the old adage that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Spurs defense has been marvelous as of late with Wimmer starting alongside Alderweireld in central defense and there’s no reason for Pochettino to break up the continuity.
The 23-year old defender’s play has exceeded even the most optimistic of Spurs fans’ expectations in Vertonghen’s absence. He’s used his big, physical frame to bully opposing attackers off the ball and he’s shown a surprising talent to distribute the ball forward. More importantly, his propensity to sit deep has allowed Alderweireld more freedom to go forward with the ball. That’s been a huge plus for the Tottenham attack.
If Wimmer and Vertonghen are performing at a similar level, Pochettino would be wise to give the benefit of the doubt to the younger player. He’s got more potential to improve than Vertonghen does at 28. If he continues his development at the current pace then Tottenham could have a truly world-class centre back pairing for years to come.
He’s also the cheaper of the two players. If he can seize Vertonghen’s position then Tottenham could conceivably sell the Belgian for a big profit. That sort of transfer fee could prove useful in improving the overall quality of the Spurs attack.
Kevin Wimmer has played well enough in Vertonghen’s absence to stay in the lineup. Why would anyone want to risk breaking up the momentum of the Tottenham back-line at this crucial point in the season?
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The case for Vertonghen
Let’s not get carried away here folks, Wimmer has been an adequate substitute, but he’s got nowhere near the pedigree of Jan Vertonghen. The left-footed Belgian’s talent and experience could give Tottenham a crucial edge as they try to run down Leicester City for a Premier League title.
Vertonghen is a fixture for the Belgian National Team for a reason. He’s a solid defender and has real class on the ball as well. When he’s on his best form, he’s the ideal partner for Alderweireld for both club and country. He’s been through the Premier League wars as well and isn’t prone to a rash challenge or giveaway at the wrong moment.
When you’re in a title race, you need experience in the lineup, especially along your back line. Wimmer just hasn’t played enough meaningful Premier League football to unseat an old-head like Vertonghen. Wimmer’s inexperience could cost Spurs vital points at the absolute wrong time.
After all, it wasn’t Vertonghen’s fault that he had to leave the lineup for a spell either. He was injured by a rash action from an opponent. The Tottenham defense has been stellar all season long, and the majority of those games have featured a pairing of Vertonghen and Alderweireld. There’s a reason that Pochettino didn’t so much as give Wimmer a minute of Premier League action prior to Jan’s injury.
When Vertonghen is fit, he has to be the starter alongside Toby Alderweireld. His international pedigree and experience give him an insurmountable edge over the talented, but inexperienced Wimmer.
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The right choice
When Vertonghen is healthy he has to be in the Tottenham line-up. Give Wimmer all the credit in the world for stepping in to a really difficult situation and helping the club get through it. His play gives Pochettino three quality centre-backs that he can deploy at any given time.
With that being said, Vertonghen is just a more polished player at this point in time. The emergence of Wimmer should allow the Belgian to rest more than he did prior to his injury, but he should still be the starter in the team’s most important matches.