Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur’s enigmatic captain

When you look up enigmatic in the dictionary don’t be surprised if you see a picture of Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris staring back at you. 

Tottenham’s captain continually defies logic. The fateful play that ended up in Lloris dislocating his elbow yesterday sums up the Frenchman’s puzzling persona.

One of the main reasons France won the 2018 World Cup, Lloris is inarguably an elite shot stopper. A medley of sublime athleticism and cat-like reactions place him firmly amongst the world’s best.

However, his enigmatic nature often rears its ugly head, as witnessed in the inexplicable howler yesterday that led to both his elbow injury and Brighton’s early lead. Not to rub salt on his fresh wound, but Lloris too often is his own worst enemy.

Time after time Lloris gets himself into a right old mess. You might recall his gaffe that cost France a goal against Croatia in the World Cup Final. While it didn’t hamper his nation’s World Cup triumph, it was one of his more infamous mistakes. I’d rather not delve into the numerous howlers he’s committed as Spurs Number One in recent years, but suffice to say there’s been plenty.

If your long-term memory is somewhat deficient, I’m sure you’ll recall his horrendous mistake against Southampton last week. In the Frenchman’s defence, he pulled off two miraculous saves later in the match to redeem himself and help Spurs to victory.

While he more than made up for his mistake in that match, should Spurs supporters be okay with a keeper who closely resembles Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? You don’t see other world class keepers make a fraction of the errors Lloris commits. Something’s not right when you’re forced to hold your breath every time a pass is knocked back to him.

The world’s best keepers are known not only for their ability to steal a match, but also for their unerring consistency. Not to be harsh, but Lloris’ spill yesterday afternoon more resembled a mistake you’d see at a schoolboy kick around. That type of blunder has no place in England’s top flight.

While Lloris’ injury is a huge blow to Tottenham, is it time for the north London side to look into more viable long-term option in goal?

For all his acrobatic saves, one should not have to worry every time a back pass is played or a rudimentary cross is knocked into what should be Lloris’ domain. A team short on confidence and devoid of spirit can ill-afford to rely on a keeper they can’t unceasingly trust.