asajoseph wrote:
On a more positive, and optimistic note, can anyone who's actually seen him play there tell me - is Jan Verthongen actually a realistic option as a defensive midfielder, as well as centre-back?
No, he's not a particularly good defensive midfielder, doesn't have the all-round ability or athleticism for it. Nor is he anything like a top class centreback right now. His concentration sucks, constantly letting people run off him, get in front of him at set-pieces and crosses etc. He has big potential as a centreback, could definitely become top class there, but he's not close to the likes of Cahill right now, let alone Vermaelen.
Left back he's quite reliable, his lapses aren't as costly, but we don't need a left back, and long term that's not where Vertonghen will end up.
He wouldn't be a bad signing for the right money, big potential, but he won't solve any problems short term, not really.
