Guglielmo Vicario must improve at Tottenham after ‘very weak’ Tim Sherwood verdict
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been branded “very weak” by Tim Sherwood following a series of sub-par performances.
Spurs’ struggles at set-pieces have been drawn into sharp focus recently, conceding goals from dead-ball situations in the defeat against Arsenal on 28 April and the loss at Chelsea on 2 May, while Vicario’s performance in the 4-2 defeat against Liverpool on 5 May also attracted criticism.
And Sherwood has picked out the goalkeeper’s poor command of his area as a significant contributing factor, while also criticising head coach Ange Postecoglou for understating the importance of set-pieces.
Speaking to Premier League Productions (6 May), he said: “When [Postecoglou] is talking there about the set-pieces [as] not important – it is important. He has no reason to say it isn’t important. Why would you say that?
“The goalkeeper has been found out. He has been a target and seems like he is very weak from crosses. People are highlighting that. This is the Premier League. This is the most competitive league in the world. You are going to get found out. It’s not Scotland, with respect. Or Japan. Or Australia.”
Tottenham need answers from Guglielmo Vicario
Vicario enjoyed a largely positive start to life in the Premier League upon his arrival last summer from Serie A side Empoli.
However, as Spurs’ fortunes have dipped following a fast start to the season, an area of weakness for the Italian has come to the fore – his command of his area.
There is little doubt that the 27-year-old’s sweeping abilities have been fundamental to helping Postecoglou implement his trademark high line, averaging 2.23 defensive actions outside the penalty area per 90 in the Premier League this season [FBref].
However, he has fallen short when asked to deal with wide deliveries from set-pieces and open play.
He has faced an average of 14.06 crosses per 90 in the Premier League this term but has stopped just 6.1 per cent of those, or an average of just 0.86. Those cross-stopping numbers place him in the bottom half of goalkeepers in the English top flight and are an area for improvement.
For Tottenham to continue taking steps in the right direction, their sweeper-keeper must learn from his debut season in England and improve his command of the box – or opponents will keep targeting this weakness.
In other Tottenham news, Santiago Gimenez wants a move to Spurs having been spotted at the North London derby
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