Micky van de Ven and Levi Colwill compared as pair cause uproar when pundits clash live on air
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Tue 16 September 2025 11:02, UK
Micky van de Ven was heavily praised by a former Tottenham player as co-presenters clashed over his world-class status.
The Lilywhites wowed against a shoddy West Ham side on 13 September even in the absence of Everton and West Ham target Yves Bissouma who could leave north London in January, as exclusively revealed by Football Insider.
Even when Cristian Romero had a goal disallowed for Tottenham against West Ham, Thomas Frank‘s side breezed to a 3-0 victory.
Pressure continues to mount for Graham Potter at the London Stadium as he was taunted by former Iron Mohammed Kudus who is set to impress for Tottenham against Villarreal in the Champions League.
Both the Argentine and his centre-back partner Van de Ven will be integral for Frank this campaign as ex-Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara strongly felt the latter was better than Chelsea’s Levi Colwill.
Credit: Imago
Speaking on talkSPORT (16 September), the former Lilywhite waxed lyrical about the Danish manager’s central defenders who have been key to his success at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
O’Hara even suggested that Romero and Van de Ven could breeze their way into the Real Madrid team before turning his attention to Jason Cundy’s beloved Chelsea.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
The ex-Fulham terrier said to his co-presenter: “Would you have Van de Ven at Chelsea?
Does he get into your team?”
To which the former Ipswich Town man snapped back with: “He’s not better than Colwill, right?”
This caused O’Hara to be completely startled by his statement, responding with: “What?…He’s not better than Colwill?
Mate, I’ll go home now…What are you talking about?”
When reviewing last season’s data from FBRef, there is actually little to split the pair who outshine one another in various per-90 statistics.
For instance, from a progression perspective the Dutchman dominates the Englishman by registering 0.71 progressive carries per-90 and 4.51 progressive passes per-90 to Colwill’s 0.40 and 3.74.
Yet, defensively, the duo are very hard to split with the former Brighton defender beating the Spurs man with 0.97 tackles won per-90 compared to the latter’s 0.53.
Selected stats 2024-25 Premier LeagueLevi ColwillMicky van de VenAppearances (starts)35 (35)13 (12)Progressive carries per-900.400.71Progressive passes per-903.744.51Tackles won per-900.970.53Recoveries per-903.465.58(Source: FBRef)
Furthermore, the 22-year-old won 60.7 per cent of his aerial duels last year in the Premier League which is higher than Van de Ven’s 48.7 per cent.
Conversely, the number 37 recovered 5.58 balls per-90 which is far superior to Colwill’s 3.46 which likely lends itself to Ange Postecoglou’s chaotic set-up last season.
In reality, there is little to separate the two with and O’Hara may have to take back what he said given it would appear unlikely the Dutchman could oust the England international from his perch at Stamford Bridge when fit.