I’ve spent most of this season going on about Jan Vertonghen and what a complete footballer he is, so this goal has a special place in my heart.
There is, after all, always something special about watching a centre-back do something like this.
When Vertonghen plays the ball into Gareth Bale, none of the Swansea defenders are expecting him to keep moving forward. In fact, watch Jonathan De Guzman’s reaction: he allows Vertonghen to go beyond him, and gets sucked in towards Bale – ignoring the Belgian centre-back. Unfortunately for Swansea, Chico FLores does exactly the same, and by the time he’s realised what’s about to happen, it’s to late for him to prevent it.
There are two elements at work here: firstly, the fear which opposition players now have for Bale, but also the value of having a defender who is willing to make this kind of run. More than likely, Swansea wouldn’t have game-planned for Vertonghen being so progressive, and that creates a split-second of hesitancy – all the other Tottenham players are comfortably contained, yet the Belgian is allowed to run in on goal unchecked. He’s nobody’s responsibility, the home team have no plan to deal with him.
All that considered, the execution from the two visiting players is sublime. Bale’s lofted chip is perfect enough to hit Vertonghen in-stride, and the latter has the technical ability to kill the through ball, and poke it beyond Michel Vorm as a natural forward would do.
It’s total football, and as a goal it’s a work of art.
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He is a great player, beautifully comfortable and confident on the ball, and he reads the game magnificently – his performance against Arsenal was sublime. This is a goal any forward would be pleased to have scored, and it’s a pity Adebayor doesn’t take a leaf or two from his book. I know which one I’d rather have in my team.