Tottenham legend critical of Spurs goalkeeper

Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle has been discussing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario when on punditry duty for the North London derby, and has not minced his words when speaking about the current Spurs number one - suggesting that opposition teams are currently targeting him due to his lack of presence when it comes to defensive set pieces.

Speaking to Premier League productions, Hoddle said:

"His instinct is to go backward. He’s never looking to come out. He’s involved in the battle up but he’s got to detach himself away from that and think to himself: ‘Where is my intent?’"

"His body is always going backwards – he’s got to come and punch some of those balls. Arsenal have played that corner because time and time again he’s conceded from that situation. He flapped at one in the first half, he wasn’t convincing."

"He’s a good shotstopper but he has got to come and make himself more physical, come and get more balls and punch more balls. He’s not got to catch it there but clear the area. And until he does, they are going to concede even more goals"

Tottenham legend critical of Spurs goalkeeper

Whilst the Italian goalkeeper does have a weakness when it comes to set pieces, some of the comments feel a bit harsh and it feels like the main culprits appear to be escaping the blame. When a player has a free header a matter of yards from gothe al, the first thing that should come to mind is "Who was marking him?"

That was Cristian Romero, who let Gabriel escape from his eyesight to not home the only goal. Spurs had generally defended set pieces well, although that felt more as a result of poor deliveries from Arsenal than anything inherently good about Spurs' shape, but it only takes one moment of switching off to cost you a game, and one as big as the North London derby.

That too, and the fact that Vicario's pathway was blocked by his own player for the goal in any case.