The sight of Jan Vertonghen’s walk of shame around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last night was enough to make a grown man cry.
Hooked by Jose Mourinho less than an hour into the 3-2 FA Cup win over Southampton, Vertonghen’s body language as he made his way back to the Spurs bench was that of someone’s career flashing before their eyes.
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Jan Vertonghen wordt gewisseld.. En is daar zichtbaar teleurgesteld over 😔
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) February 6, 2020
Betekent dit het einde van Jan Vertonghen bij The Spurs? 😳
___#ziggosport #tottenhamhotspur #facup #janvertonghen #spurssouthampton pic.twitter.com/ziFegAp0rj
A combination of age and injuries appear to have caught up with the 32-year-old who has suffered a sudden decline in form this 2019-20 season.
With his contract up in the summer, these Spurs fans on Twitter are getting ready to say a sad and long goodbye to the defender after eight great years.
vertonghen looked like he just in that moment recognized that his career at the top level was over and it’s one of the saddest things i’ve ever seen on another person’s face
— toss a COYS to your witcher (@ComradeYouSpurs) February 5, 2020
Has anyone lost it as quickly as Vertonghen?! Aged about 10 years this summer. Getting beaten everytime
— Trevor Lloyd (@Trevorlloyd92) February 5, 2020
Makes me sad to see the decline of Vertonghen, one of my favourite players to wear the shirt but that is a look of a man who knows his times pretty much done
— Abbi Grace Summers (@abbi_summers) February 5, 2020
Been a fantastic player and servant to the club but the lads legs have gone. Shame but it happens to all of us eventually.
— Yiddo4Life2911 (@YiddoForLife29) February 6, 2020
Jan Vertonghen’s long trudge around the pitch last night, followed by THIS, actually broke my heart. pic.twitter.com/0M7v9GCfGL
— Ben Reynolds (@fictionalben) February 6, 2020
Been a great player but he should have been sold 12 months ago when he did not extend. It is a business and he is now a lost asset because of Levy doing what he did with Eriksen. Verts positioning has been suspect for some time and his panic clearing has been costly.
Having said the above he was a wonderful partner of Toby’s in arguably the best pairing in the EPL.
People need to get a grip.. They were saying the same about dier when he was subbed even earlier… One bad game and its not the end of the world for verts.. Messi and ronaldo have bad games too. Everyones human… Dele punched something when he was subbed recently. Verts was so frustrated, him reacting like that is actually more professional than ranting and raving. Im glad our boys care so much and show it…… Why is it now that so many parts of the media and bloggers alike are pumping out articles and pieces of fans on twitter? Often uneducated or illogical idiots talking nonsense.. Often a one sided opinion spammed by ten fans… Verts is only 32 and a centre back who doesnt rely on his pace,. The guy is entering his peak now really. Centre backs get better with age often like refined wine. Experience there counts for alot. Centre backs run the least. Only goalkeepers tend to be older and continue for longer.
I dont think it was shame, just sheer disappointment , he needs to get his head up and fight , we’ll need him in the games ahead with the squad so stretched.
If it is to be his last season it would be lovely if he could part with some silverware. If ever there was a player who deserves something to show for their time with Spurs its Super Jan.
Are these people stupid or something. Jan got turned over last night as he had to play central defence and left back. This isn’t Rose & Walker time here, this is an idiot on the right and an inexperienced LB. Watch the game (as hard as it may be), where TF was Sess when Jan was getting done up like a kipper down the side Sess the defender was supposed to be defending?