Spurs fans have been left upset by an image of Jan Vertonghen after the Belgian centre-back was substituted during the 3-2 win over Southampton on Wednesday night.
The 32-year-old struggled throughout the FA Cup replay, earning a disappointing 4/10 rating from Football.london before being replaced by Gedson Fernandes shortly after half time. The Belgian international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and it seems like after nearly eight years with the club, his time in North London is coming to an end.
Vertonghen joined Spurs from Ajax in 2012 and has been a mainstay in the side ever since, making 307 appearances for the Lilywhites. However, his performances this season have slipped somewhat, with the experienced defender averaging a disappointing 6.84 rating, with the image shared by LastWordonSpurs on Twitter showing just how frustrated and upset he was by his own performance.
Is Vertonghen a Spurs legend?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to the photo of Vertonghen can be seen in the tweets below. One fan even mentioned former club favourite Ledley King and how the Englishman was on borrowed time, perhaps because of the number of injuries he had suffered over the years, as per TransferMarkt.
I think he’s realising he just can’t compete anymore, saddest picture on twitter. @JanVertonghen love you bro
— Mark Lucas (@Mark_lucasSkem) February 5, 2020
This hurts more than Ledley. We knew King was on borrowed time but Jan’s decline has been startling.
— James Watkins (@JimWatkinsMusic) February 5, 2020
Super Jan. great player and will be missed if this is the end of him. Just hope the fans don’t get on his back because he doesn’t deserve anything but respect
— Tonetek (@Tonetek1) February 5, 2020
This makes me very sad
— Thomas norris (@Thomasn48010532) February 5, 2020
This shot was gut wrenching to see hope for your bounce back to form Jan, you’ve been crucial for our back line.
— Evan (@Evanificent) February 5, 2020
He actually didn’t play too badly last year in my eyes but something has happened this year where he has lost a yard of pace, looks very leggy and attackers are winning the ball off him easily. It was only last season he whipped in that cross to Sonny vs Dortmund. Great servant.
— EssexDogs (@dogs_essex) February 5, 2020
You know it‘s really sad seeing a club veteran like Vertonghen looking very devastated after his substitution. But he is simply just noot good enough anymore, his lack of pace damages our defensive playstyle
— PeterParker (@PeterPa1907) February 5, 2020
Sad to see but the only reason he has worsened this season is his age, at his peek he was join with King as our best CB of the prem era
— Chael Cormier (@ChaelCormier) February 5, 2020
This is heart breaking
— Si (@sim_ni) February 5, 2020
These Spurs fans clearly feel that Vertonghen is no longer good enough, but feel that he deserves no criticism after his performances over the last seven and a half years.
What do we think?
It is quite upsetting to see Vertonghen so distraught after a poor performance against Southampton, but his displays this season suggest that he should be a squad player rather than a regular starter under Mourinho. Hopefully, he receives an excellent send-off from Spurs fans should he depart at the end of the season.