As a nation, it’s been said that British people tend to hold something of a sympathetic quality, amongst others. And in the Barclays Premier League, of all places, we used to see supporters take a far more understanding approach; especially in regards to the foreign signing.

There used to be a school of thought that any player who’d come to England from foreign pastures, would be afforded a season of acclimatization. This isn’t to say that new signings were allowed the luxury of having a complete stinker of a season, but fans were patient. They understood that the fabled pace of the Premier League wasn’t something that could be adapted to overnight.

But it feels like there’s been something of a change in attitude in recent times. This isn’t to say that supporters have began throwing their toys out the pram when their new summer signing doesn’t hit the ground running. Although a change is in the air.

Some may be rolling their eyes at another generic footballing article; stoking up the fires of controversy without good reason. But for white side of North London especially, they may unwittingly represent an accurate acid test for modern day levels of patience and sympathy at a football club.

As the Spurs coaching staff in Los Angeles are currently putting Jan Vertonghen through his paces, supporters have bestowed very high hopes indeed on their new summer signing from Ajax. A classy defender who compliments strength and aerial ability with a superb technical part of his game, it is hoped he can finally bring stability back to the White Hart Lane defense.

But whilst there’s nothing wrong indulging in the fresh optimism that’s currently surrounding the club, there has been a distinct lack of caution surrounding the Belgian’s signature. Getting behind your man or needless blind faith?

Vertonghen has all the tools to be an unparalleled success in the Premier League. But the level of expectation is that this is a burgeoning guarantee and the risk is that should Vertonghen not fire on all cylinders immediately, some may end up feeling a little disgruntled.

Because although it may have been just down the road, the singing of a certain Per Mertesacker can serve as a viable example for all involved. Mertesacker came to Arsenal last summer, with a stock that was arguably higher than what Vertonghen’s was now.

Before Spurs fans swing off in rage, the level of performance in the Bundesliga, where Mertesacker plied his trade for Werder Bremen is of a far higher quality than the Netherland’s Eredivisie- home of Vertonghen’s previous club Ajax. And as much as Alan Hansen would have you think otherwise, Mertesacker was hardly a passenger as he played an integral part in the Germany teams that reached the Euro 2008 final and World Cup 2010 semis. No one is denying that Vertonghen may ultimately become the better Premier League player, but the example is a valid one.

But despite having something of a negative stigma before he came, you can make a good case for Mertesacker having stronger credentials than Vertonghen pre-Premier League. The fate of the German exemplifies why Spurs supporters must keep their Vertonghen based optimism cautious.

Mertesacker was expected to perform from the off. All new singings should be, but the reality is that it takes time to adapt. Mertesacker was and still has been lampooned in certain quarters, for looking off the pace and out of his depth. Yet he’s only had 21 chances to get to grip with his new league. Those writing the German off for next season are surely being as unfair as they are impatient.

Vertonghen has the advantage of already being a fluent English speaker, but too often we take for granted the process of moving to a foreign country, coming to grips with an alien culture and most importantly, adapting to a different brand of football. The wealth of these players of course, greatly softens such a blow. But the impact of such a change is something we shouldn’t be underestimating as supporters.

Ironically, it is Vertonghen’s most likely defensive partner that gives Spurs fans a taste of the ghost of Christmas past. Younes Kaboul was three years younger than Vertonghen when he made his switch to White Hart Lane in 2007 and although he wasn’t necessarily brought in as a first team regular, fans had a certain degree of expectation about the Frenchman.

A few mistakes in a baptism of fire during his first season at Spurs saw him shipped off to Portsmouth after one season. Fast-forward to today and Kaboul is now an integral part of this Spurs team. Not all felt quite as happy about Kaboul’s initial departure, although there were certainly many who felt that they’d seen enough in his debut season to cast him aside. An opinion that we can now say was emphatically incorrect. Is that just the nature of football, or a culture of impatience?

Of course, every club in the Premier League has it’s examples of players being afforded little time and sympathy, but it just feels as if Vertonghen is the perfect example. You can argue that trying to pick holes in your most recent summer signings game is more throwing the glass at the wall than leaving it half empty. But there is certainly a lofty amount of expectation that’s been placed upon Jan Vertonghen.

There isn’t a right or wrong way to get behind a new, foreign signing at your football club. All you can do is back them to the hilt and give it your all. But the longetivity of that backing is surely set to last a lot longer if supporters verge on the side of realism.

Every Spurs supporter has the upmost faith in Jan Vertonghen’s ability to become a superb Premier League footballer. But if the big Belgian doesn’t quite hit it off from the start let’s not reach the panic stations or act dumbfounded. Time must be on Vertonghen’s side.

How do you feel about the expectation surrounding Jan Vertonghen? Are foreign players allowed enough time to adapt to the Premier League? Or are we wrong to douse the optimism? Tell me what you think on Twitter, follow @samuel_antrobus and tell us how you see it. 

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