Tottenham 2012-13 Squad Preview – Goalkeepers

Brad Friedel – Will he continue at Tottenham?

With the 2012-13 season less than a week away and under three weeks to the end of this summer’s transfer window, there remains much uncertainty over the composition of the Tottenham squad, even among the goalkeepers. By the beginning of September, the club has to submit to the Premier League, a list of twenty five players who will be used during the first half of the season. Rumours and speculation suggest that there will be alterations to the names on that list with new signings expected to be completed by the end of August.

Tottenham Squad: Goalkeepers

Brad Friedel will be looking to extend his record of 304 consecutive Premier League appearances into a ninth season. Now aged, 41 years, he is already the oldest player to have played for Tottenham and the oldest in the Premier League. Last season, he brought an assurance gained from the experience of having played for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa to the Spurs’ defence which was plagued by constant changes in the central defensive partnership. With Ledley King’s retirement, Andre Villas-Boas will be looking to establish a new pairing in central defence which is bound to be beneficial to the goalkeeper in the development of an understanding with his defenders. Last season Friedel kept 14 clean sheets for Spurs, the most since Ray Clemence kept 19 as Tottenham finished 3rd in 1986-87. Commenting on his success, Friedel said,

"“Every goalkeeper is pleased when they record a clean sheet. I had no idea that fourteen was the best at the club for  25 years but what I will say is that I hope we can better it next season.”"

Friedel and Carlo Cudicini have shared most of the goalkeeping duties during the preseason matches and Friedel continues to defy his age. His performances were as composed and competent as ever. The only concern would have been a couple of moments of alarm early in the Valencia match when under pressure, his first touch and kicking put himself and the defence under unnecessary pressure. He could not be faulted for either of the goals conceded in Spain. As the situation stands, currently, I would expect Friedel to continue his record of appearances into the new season at Newcastle.

Carlo Cudicini has been the reliable reserve since signing from Chelsea in January, 2009. He has acted as deputy to first Heurelho Gomes and now Friedel. He missed much of season 2009-10 after serious career-threatening injuries received in a motor cycle accident in November, 2009 but has recovered from those and been a very capable deputy, especially when selected for the Europa League games last season. He was the experienced goalkeeper behind a young team and excelled in the away matches against PAOK Salonika and Rubin Kazan. Early in the summer, it had been rumoured that Watford were interested in signing him but nothing further has developed on that and he has started preseason sharing duties with Friedel.

Heurelho Gomes did not play in the Premier League last season and was restricted to three appearances in the Carling Cup and the Europa League. He played against Hearts in August and while Spurs won 5 – 0, there was a short period of pressure from the home team and Gomes looked very uncertain. Redknapp then selected Friedel for the opening match at Old Traford and he held his position for the remainder of the season. Gomes played in the Carling Cup tie at Stoke which ended goalless but Spurs lost on penalties. He then played exceptionally well in the home tie against Rubin Kazin, so in his three matches last season, he didn’t concede a goal.

Gomes joined Tottenham from PSV Eindhoven in June, 2008 for a fee of £7.8 million. He had starred in the Dutch side’s defeat of Spurs in the previous season’s UEFA Cup tie, making crucial saves in Eindhoven to take the game into extra time and then penalties where he saved a penalty by Jermaine Jenas which would have won the tie for Spurs. In those two games he displayed the good and the bad of Gomes’ goalkeeping. He is an outstanding shot saver but can be erratic and make mistakes in the simplest of catches. He is easily excitable and when first signed he didn’t cope well with the close attention goalkeepers receive in the Premier League. His uncertainty brought added pressure on his defenders and Harry Redknapp finally lost patience after a number of mistakes cost Tottenham points during matches, late in 2010-11 season. Villas-Boas has given Gomes only limited game time in preseason, suggesting he may not be central to the new coach’s plans.

Young Goalkeepers

Jordan Archer is a young professional who was on loan with non-League Bishop’s Stortford last season and he accompanied the squad on the summer tour to America. He is 19 years of age and has played for the Scotland Under-19 team. On the back of his performances at under-19 level, he was called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad last September and has been included in squads for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.

David Button has been at Tottenham since joining the academy as a 16 year old in 2005. He progressed through the youth system to the reserves but has since spent much of his time out on loan at twelve different non-League and lower League clubs, making over 100 appearances. He has represented England on 31 occasions at under-age levels with 10 appearances at Under-19 level and one at Under-20. In 2009, he made his senior Tottenham debut as a substitute for Gomes in a Carling Cup tie at Doncaster Rovers. Spurs goalkeeping coach, Tony Parks, speaking recently said of Button,

"“I think David’s technically a very good footballing goalkeeper. In the modern game you need to be decent with the ball at your feet, which he is. He works really hard in the gym to make himself as strong as he possibly can, and he comes and deals with crosses.”"

Button’s contract with Tottenham has another year to run so this would be the season when he has to make that step up to become part of Spurs’ goalkeeping future.

Possible New Signings

If newspaper stories are to be believed, Tottenham have been in search of a new goalkeeper during the summer. Two names which have appeared most frequently are the French international and Lyon goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris and Birmingham’s young goalkeeper, Jack Butland.

Is Hugo Lloris destined for Tottenham?

Hugo Lloris who is 25 years of age has played for France on 37 occasions and has over 140 League appearances for Lyon since joining them from Nice in 2008. A top class goalkeeper, his French team-mate, Tottenham central defender, Younis Kaboul, has admitted to L’Equipe that he has spoken to Lloris about a possible move to White Hart Lane.

"“It is true that I spoke with him by phone and he asked me about Tottenham but the choice is up to him. He is a great player and a great person, of that I have no doubt. If he played in a major championship and for Spurs it would be a very good signing.”"

Currently, it would appear that the transfer fee expected by the French club has put off Tottenham but at the weekend Lloris withdrew from the Lyon team for the opening match of the season due to an injury so perhaps, some movement is imminent in this transfer.

Jack Butland is reported to be joining Tottenham from Birmngham City and will then return to the Championship club on loan for the season to further his experience. Butland was called into the England Euro 2012 squad at the last minute and played for Team GB in the Olympics tournament. Butland is only 19 years of age and is widely tipped to become a top class goalkeeper. He was one of the successes of Team GB and has been called into Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the mid-week friendly against Italy. He is expected to challenge Joe Hart for the England goalkeeping position over the next number of years.

Mathew Ryan is a young, 20 year old Australian goalkeeper who has been on trial with Tottenham over the past week. He played in the Spurs XI friendly against Southend United on Friday when the young Tottenham team triumphed 6 – 0 against their League Two opponents. Ryan plays for Central Coast Mariners and was named the A-League’s best shot-stopper last season and was called in to the full Australian squad last February. Spurs were to make a decision about Ryan’s future this weekend.

If no experienced goalkeeper is signed before the weekend, I would expect Friedel to extend his record of consecutive appearances into another season. If, however, an experienced keeper  were to arrive a decision would have to be made concerning who is to remain as reserve. I would expect Gomes to leave and it could possibly be Cudicini who would be more receptive to remain to provide cover. Friedel, while apparently content at Tottenham as first choice, would probably want to be at a club where, towards the end of his career, he would be guaranteed a starting place every week. If that were the case he could possibly make a late departure before the end of August.

Tottenham, at present, are well placed with experienced goalkeepers but looking to the future, decisions have to be made to ensure the club continues to have good quality goalkeepers available and that there is the opportunity for young players to progress.

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