John Herdman is impressed by Thom Haye, the versatile all-round midfielder that has Vietnam remaining on high alert.

Bogor, ITSMe – While all public focus has fallen on the goal scorers of the Indonesian National Team, John Herdman instead reserved special praise for the figure acting as the 'brain' behind Garuda's gameplay.

The English head coach admitted he has been most impressed by Thom Haye, a midfielder he describes as possessing exceptional adaptability and one of the core foundations of Indonesia's playing system at the 2026 AFF Cup.

Ahead of the crucial 2026 AFF Cup Group A fixture against Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor on Monday (3/8/2026), John Herdman once again emphasised the irreplaceable role Thom Haye holds for the squad.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, the Indonesia national team manager stated Thom is far more than just a tempo-controlling midfielder: he is a player capable of fulfilling multiple positional roles without any drop in performance quality.

"Regarding Thom, I have been absolutely amazed by his performances. He is demonstrating an elite level of adaptability," Herdman stated.

This praise is not ungrounded. Throughout the tournament so far, Herdman has repeatedly re-assigned Thom's role according to the team's tactical requirements. He has been deployed as an inside forward, lead striker, and also returned to his natural central midfield position.

Remarkably, none of these positional shifts caused Thom's form to dip. On the contrary, he consistently delivered major impact for Indonesia's play in every assignment.

Not Just A Midfielder, But A True Utility Player

Across Indonesia's first two matches of the 2026 AFF Cup, Thom Haye emerged as one of the most productive players in the Garuda squad.

He registered three assists during Indonesia's 5-1 victory over Cambodia, before scoring a spectacular free kick goal in Garuda's 3-0 win against Timor Leste. According to Herdman, these contributions prove Thom operates at a different technical level than his peers.

"For our team, he is an absolutely critical player," Herdman added.

Notably, Herdman does not view Thom solely as a midfielder. The coach noted the 31-year old is fully capable of pushing higher up the pitch whenever the team requires additional creativity or finishing threat.

His ability to both create assists and score goals makes Thom one of the most flexible players within Indonesia's tactical system.

Adaptability Forged Over Years Of Professional Development

The adaptability that earned Herdman's admiration was not developed overnight.

Thom Haye is a graduate of the AZ Alkmaar youth academy, one of the most respected player development systems in the Netherlands.

He built his professional career with Willem II, Italy's Lecce, ADO Den Haag, NAC Breda, Heerenveen and Almere City, before completing his transfer to Persib Bandung in August 2025.

This experience competing under different league environments and football philosophies shaped the playing style he displays today.

Early in his career, Thom was established as an attacking midfielder. Over time he was also trialled as a left winger, before maturing into a complete central midfielder capable of both controlling match rhythm and maintaining the team's defensive balance.

This history of positional adaptation means Thom is comfortable operating anywhere across the midfield and forward line - a quality that has become extremely valuable to Herdman.

International Experience As A Major Foundation

Prior to choosing to represent Indonesia following his 2024 naturalisation process, Thom Haye already held an established international pedigree with Netherlands youth national teams.

He represented the Netherlands at every youth level from U-15 through to U-21, and was part of the squads that won back-to-back UEFA European Under-17 Championship titles in 2011 and 2012.

This background meant Thom did not only bring technical quality when he joined the Indonesian National Team, but also matured tactical intelligence and match reading ability.

His senior international debut for Garuda was immediately impressive: on his first appearance against Vietnam during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in March 2024, Thom provided one assist in Indonesia's 3-0 victory.

Now over two years later, he is once again set to be the primary playmaker as Indonesia face Vietnam once more at the 2026 AFF Cup.

Valued By His Coach, Marked By Opponents

Thom Haye's influence is not only recognised by his own coaching staff.

Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik confirmed his side have thoroughly analysed Indonesia's game plan, and have assigned specific defensive attention to Thom Haye.

Kim stated that the Persib Bandung midfielder's passing quality and game vision represent one of the biggest threats Vietnam will have to neutralise.

This acknowledgement from the opposition camp makes it clear that Thom's importance extends far beyond just goals and assist statistics.

While Herdman values him for his unmatched adaptability, Vietnam see Thom as the heartbeat of Indonesia's creativity that must be shut down.

One Of The Highest Value Midfielders In The Indonesian Super League

Herdman's trust in Thom is also reflected in his club level reputation.

Born in Amsterdam on 9 February 1995, Thom is currently listed as one of the highest market value players in the Indonesian Super League. As per Transfermarkt's May 2026 update, his market value stands at approximately IDR 15.64 Billion.

But this official valuation only tells part of the story. Thom's true value lies in his match reading ability, tempo control, ability to connect defence and attack, and consistent effectiveness regardless of what role he is assigned.

More Than Just Statistics

In modern football, players capable of operating across multiple roles are very often the difference maker in high stakes matches.

Thom Haye is the perfect example of this profile. He is not just a creative playmaker: he also contributes to defensive transitions, controls match rhythm, and can step up as an assist provider or goalscorer whenever required.

This is exactly why Herdman's praise is not focused on Thom's raw statistics. What the coach values most is his deep understanding of the game, and his ability to adapt to any tactical demand.

Now, the next test has arrived.

The upcoming fixture against Vietnam will be Thom Haye's chance to prove that John Herdman's praise is not just passing appreciation. It will be an opportunity to demonstrate exactly why he is now the indispensable driving force of the Indonesian National Team's gameplay.