Vicario's Ankle Shows Up Last Summers Folly

I'm beginning to suspect that as a fanbase us Spurs supporters must have broken quite a lot of mirrors and trod on a fair few spiders over the last few years. The footballing Gods wouldn't even allow us 48 hours to bask in the euphoria of the seasons best performance at the home of the champions on Saturday evening before stunning us with the news that goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had fractured his ankle. He's subsequently had surgery and faces a 'significant' time on the sidelines.

'Venom' doing his Club Christmas hospital visit a month too early

This is a scenario that I personally had been dreading. Back on August 23rd I posted a blog 7 Days Left, Is There Still Work To Do? . Included in the list of priorities at number two was the following:-

At this point I have to make it clear that this is no slight whatsoever on Fraser Forster. He's been a really good signing as a short term back up or to rotate in what are in the modern game refered to as lower priority cup matches. 

The problem for me is that Fraser's set of skills are not suited to the duties the goalkeeper must perform in the current Tottenham set-up. His footballing education came in an era when there'd have been a lot less playing out from the back, and a lot more direct / long balls up to the forward players.

This isn't something that we do at Spurs these days. In fact this graph tells you everything you need to know:-

 As you can see, Vicario who's played every minute of the League campaign so far has made precisely zero long kicks this season. Zilch. Not one. 

There is also the situation of the high defensive line that Spurs play apart from on the odd occasion like when they're away at the champions without their two first choice centre backs. Being 36 years old and a big old unit means that understandably Fraser isn't as mobile as Vicario and won't be able to get off the line as quickly. Ange will have to adjust the defensive line to allow for this.

Fraser, the only keeper in the Premier League with false arms.

Of course Fraser isn't the only option, especially for the Europa League matches. Both Brandon Austin and  Alfie Whiteman are registered to play in the competition. Both are very inexperienced and though I'm all for throwing the youngsters in at the right moment, would we really want either of them in goal on December 8th against Chelsea for example?

On the positive side for Forster, he can be an excellent shot-stopper and has the experience to be able to command his area on set pieces. I think that fans of Barcelona still break out in a cold sweat at the mention of his name after his performance against them in the Champions League for Celtic. With a run in the team I think he can only improve. 

However, not bringing a keeper in to provide genuine competition for Vicario in the summer may well come back to bite Spurs on the arse. In a worse case scenario where the Italian's season is done the club will have to make a signing when the window opens in January. I'd assume they'd look for a loan with maybe an option to buy, perhaps a keeper from a big European club who's more suited to the role required and struggling for game time. Upgrading on Vicario, especially in the January window, would cost 'Solanke' style money so I'd say the chances of that happening are pretty much zero.

I think all we can do is send a 'Get Well Soon' message to Vic and hope that Fraser rediscovers his 'Celtic in the Champions League' form and that we miss our No.1 Keeper less than I fear we will. Come On You Spurs!!