Different Games, Different Centre-Backs? | Spurs Tactical Analysis

00:00 — Senesi vs Van de Ven: Who Should Start? 01:08 — Why Senesi and Van Hecke Worked Against United 03:25 — Van Hecke vs Van de Ven: The Data 06:32 — Could Senesi Partner Van de Ven? 08:19 — Why Coventry Requires a Different Approach 10:35 — Why Van de Ven Could Be Crucial Against Coventry Marcos Senesi was outstanding against Manchester United — but should he keep his place in Tottenham’s starting XI? In this video, Kish breaks down Spurs’ centre-back dilemma under Roberto De Zerbi, exploring why Senesi and Van Hecke worked so well against Manchester United, what the data tells us about Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven, and why the best partnership could change from game to game. We look at De Zerbi’s demands on his centre-backs: brave build-up play, progressive passing and the ability to break opposition lines. Against United, Senesi and Van Hecke exploited gaps in midfield with direct vertical passes, allowing Spurs to bypass the press and create attacking opportunities. But the numbers reveal a different side to the debate. Van Hecke’s progressive passing stands out, while his duel-winning and aerial numbers raise serious questions. Van de Ven offers a different defensive profile, with his pace and ability to cover space potentially crucial against teams looking to attack Spurs on the counter. So what about Coventry? With the expectation of a more compact defensive block and fewer passing lanes through midfield, Spurs may need a different approach. We explain why Van de Ven’s recovery pace could be especially important, and why Mateus Fernandes’ role in midfield could be key to breaking Coventry down. The bigger question is whether Spurs need one settled centre-back partnership or different combinations for different opponents. Senesi and Van Hecke could be ideal against aggressive pressing teams, while Van de Ven may be the better fit when protecting space in transition. Who would you start at centre-back against Coventry — Senesi, Van de Ven or Van Hecke? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to LilywhiteLab for more Tottenham tactical analysis, match previews and breakdowns. Follow LilywhiteLab: X: https://x.com/LilywhiteLab TikTok:   / lilywhitelab   Instagram:   / thelilywhitelab   #thfc #spurs #coys #premierleague