Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Preview – Goalkeepers

The 2013-14 season is less than a week away but with three weeks to the end of this summer’s transfer window, there remains uncertainty over the exact composition of the Tottenham squad, although this season the goalkeepers seem to be settled.

Hugo Lloris [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]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. This year Spurs have managed to complete some early signings so Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado can expect to make their Tottenham debut against Crystal Palace. Rumours and speculation suggest that there will be more new signings by the end of August while a number of players could be expected to be on their way out of White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Squad: Goalkeepers

Hugo Lloris was a very late signing twelve months ago but having been given time to settle into the club, the French international captain quickly established himself as the club’s Number 1. Lloris is a good shot stopper who is very quick off his line when forwards get behind the defence. He also comes out bravely to catch and punch crosses and high balls into the area, making sure to clear the danger. He played consistently last season and will be looking to build on the experience of playing in the Premier League last season to improve his standards even higher. the rotation in central defence must have made it difficult for him to develop an understanding with the defence so he’ll be hoping that Andre Villas-Boas decides on a settled partnership in central defence. Two areas where he’ll be looking to improve is on the number of clean sheets he has and also the problem of conceding goals from corners and set-pieces where the use of players on the posts could be very effective. The team appears to have changed to a zonal marking system but they again conceded from a free-kick against Espanyol.

The news from the French press that Monaco are considering a move for Lloris is not really surprising but not something Tottenham will consider as Lloris has the ability to be listed alongside some of the great Tottenham goalkeepers from the past.

Brad Friedel [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]Brad Friedel was unfortunate to lose his place to Lloris as he had done nothing wrong in the early months of last season. Having made 310 consecutive appearances over 9 seasons in the Premier League, Friedel was replaced  by Lloris for the game against Aston Villa last October. At 42 years of age Friedel shows no desire to retire and just keeps going on and on. He looks as fit and agile as ever and is a very reliable and experienced back-up goalkeeper. He is working on his coaching qualifications but in the meantime will keep Lloris on his toes and play in the Europa League and Cup ties.

Heurelho Gomes is now third choice at Tottenham, moving up after the departure of Carlo Cudicini. He has, however, not played a first team game since October, 2011 against Rubin Kazan at White hart lane. He missed the early part of last season through injury and then was sent out on loan in the second half where he sustained another injury. An exceptional shot-stopper, Gomes is very much a confidence goalkeeper who is either very good when in form or a liability when his confidence goes. The high pressure of the Premier League doesn’t suit him and as he is clearly not in AVB’s plans, he will probably go out again, if he has not been gone on a permanent transfer. he is unlikely to join a Premier League so may move to a club in Europe with his former club PSV being an option he would like or perhaps a return to Brazil.

Young Goalkeepers

Jordan Archer is the Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper and was called onto the Tottenham bench for the game against Swansea last March when Lloris was injured. He has been out on loan with Bishop’s Stortford in the Conference North and Wycombe Wanderers in League Two over the past two seasons to gain experience as well as playing for the Tottenham Under-21 team. Archer has progressed through the Spurs academy and at 20 years of age has time to develop but will need to sped further time out on loan at a higher level.

Jonathan Miles is also 20 years of age. He joined Spurs as an Under-9 player and has shared the goalkeeping role with Archer over the past number of seasons in the Tottenham Academy, NextGen and Under-21 team. He played two games on loan with Dagenham and Redbridge in League Two last season. Like Archer he will need to go on loan for an extended period to gain experience at a higher level.

Lawrence Vigoroux was released by Brentford as a fifteen year old but was spotted at a Tottenham Foundation scheme and joined the Academy last year on a one year contract. He is 19 years of age and played in the NextGen series games last season and for the Under-21 team.

Tottenham, at present, are well placed with experienced goalkeepers and have three young keepers looking to impress and vying for the opportunity to step up to the first team squad. to make further progress the young players will need further experience and that will only come when out on loan with lower League teams.