Pundit claims two Spurs players would look comfortable in the Man City side 

Pat Nevin thinks James Maddison and Micky van de Ven would both look completely at home in Manchester City’s starting eleven.

While Maddison had already established a reputation as one of the most creative midfielders in the Premier League, perhaps some did not realise just how good the 27-year-old was until he made the step up to Tottenham last summer.

The England international has taken his game up a couple of notches now that he is surrounded by better players and is thriving in the number ten role in Ange Postecoglou’s system.

While Maddison’s performances may not have come as a surprise to many, Van de Ven’s showing certainly has caught many off guard, with the Dutchman taking to the Premier League as few centre-backs have over recent years.

The 22-year-old has shown tremendous composure on the ball and an ability to read the game but it is his incredible pace that has been the x-factor, enabling Postecoglou’s men to play a highline without fears of being caught out by a ball over the top.

Van de Ven and Maddison could get into Man City XI

Nevin named the Tottenham midfielder and centre-back among a list of six underrated players in the Premier League.

When asked who in the division is underrated, he told BBC Football Extra newsletter (7:02 pm March 4, 2024): “Currently players have so much exposure that it is hard to see anyone that underrated. Spotting hugely overrated current players isn’t that difficult!

“My judgement is usually, are they good enough that if they played for the likes of Man City would they look at home?

“In that category, I would put Kaoru Mitoma and Billy Gilmour at Brighton, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven at Spurs. Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise at Palace are two more and there are a few others.

“Those are some contenders, but are they really underrated? Maybe it’s just that I rate these players extremely highly.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I am not sure I would classify Maddison as underrated while it also appears like a lot of opposition fans and pundits are starting to see just how special a talent Van de Ven is.

The player who is perhaps the most underrated at Spurs is Cristian Romero, with the Argentine perhaps still perceived as being reckless despite constantly putting in extremely solid displays.

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