Spurs Media singles out 5/10 star for criticism for his poor display in Tottenham loss to Forest

Tottenham Hotspur Slump to 18th Premier League Defeat as Nottingham Forest Pile On the Misery
Tottenham Hotspur’s dismal Premier League campaign continued as they slumped to their 18th defeat of the season, falling 2-1 to an energized Nottingham Forest side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The result marked yet another low point in what has been a frustrating season for the North London outfit. With this win, Forest climbed to third place in the league table, while Spurs languish in 16th, alarmingly close to the relegation zone.
The performance from Tottenham was nothing short of catastrophic, with failures evident across every department of the pitch. From defensive lapses to midfield sloppiness and lacklustre attacking play, the home side showed little cohesion or fight for most of the contest. It was a night to forget for many Spurs players, whose inability to rise to the occasion further amplified the growing concerns among supporters and pundits alike.
Manager Ange Postecoglou, known for his no-nonsense approach, made his dissatisfaction clear by making sweeping changes at half-time. In a move that underlined his frustration, the Australian head coach substituted both of his starting centre-backs—Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven—at the break. While Romero was skating on thin ice after picking up a yellow card, Van de Ven was having a particularly torrid time, looking uncharacteristically nervous and disorganized, especially when defending set-pieces.
Forest capitalized on Tottenham’s defensive disarray, scoring twice before the break. Although Spurs pulled a goal back in the second half, they failed to find the crucial equaliser. The result reflected not just the quality of the opposition but Tottenham’s inability to respond with enough intensity and intelligence when it mattered.
Van de Ven, who has otherwise had solid stretches this season, was heavily criticized for his display. He looked off the pace, lacked awareness during key moments, and was directly involved in conceding the opening goal. He was outmuscled by Forest striker Chris Wood, who rose above him to head home, and his general lack of sharpness left the backline vulnerable.
Media outlets didn’t hold back in their assessments. Football London rated him a disappointing 5/10, stating: “Grappled with Wood before losing him for his first-half header and never really looked on his game either. The Dutchman also came off at the break.” Other outlets echoed similar sentiments. To The Lane and Back labelled his performance as “rusty and reactive,” while London World remarked that he “looked stuck in the mud” when trying to defend against Forest’s powerful front line.
Statistically, Van de Ven’s night was just as poor. He lost possession four times, completed none of his two attempted long passes, and won only one of three aerial duels—an especially worrying figure for a central defender tasked with neutralizing set-piece threats.
With both Romero and Van de Ven struggling, and their future speculated upon due to ongoing transfer rumours, Postecoglou may need to reconsider his first-choice defensive pairing. One potential alternative gaining traction is Kevin Danso. The Austrian centre-back, though not without his own flaws, has shown composure and strength in his limited appearances. At the very least, he offers consistency—something that has been sorely missing in Tottenham’s back line.
It might be time for Postecoglou to give Danso an extended run in the starting eleven. While the manager must decide whether to bench the reckless Romero or the faltering Van de Ven, Danso’s case for selection is growing stronger by the week. Spurs need stability and discipline at the back, and if their marquee defenders can’t deliver, changes must be made before it’s too late.
With just a handful of games remaining, Tottenham must find answers—and fast—if they’re to salvage any pride from this turbulent season. For now, the pressure continues to mount on both the players and the man in charge.