Why Tottenham, Vicario have nothing to worry about after Everton draw
By Gary Pearson
Most long-term projects experience snares. The Premier League is as unforgiving as it is exciting, which, along with many other reasons, is why countless Spurs supporters unceasingly tune in each week.
Fearmongers will try convince you that all is not right with Guglielmo Vicario, saying he is a liability on high aerial crosses into the mixer, particularly from corners and free kicks.
While Vicario has struggled recently to command the air on fizzed set-piece deliveries, the Italian keeper has been almost flawless otherwise. Plus, there was a solid shout for a foul on both of Vicario's recent perceived errors against Everton and Manchester City.
Vicario has made a meteoric rise in the past few seasons, showcasing his ability to improve and elevate his level continuously. Expect the same to happen regarding his current temporary Achilles heel.
Things are looking up on the personnel front
Like Manchester United a couple of weeks ago, Everton was fortunate to play Spurs when they did. James Maddison had just one game under his belt after returning from an extensive, nine-match injury layoff. Micky van de Ven had two.
Both players will invariably return to peak form soon, a foreboding notion for the rest of the top flight. When they play over 45 minutes, neither Maddison nor van de Ven have tasted Premier League defeat since joining Spurs in the summer. You can add Rodrigo Bentancur's name to the list of players requiring more time to return to pre-injury form. Bentancur has missed 15 top-flight matches in the current season due to various injuries.
And then there are the forthcoming returnees, who Spurs fans can't wait to see back in N17. Pape Sarr played 26 minutes off the bench on Merseyside, while Yves Bissouma and Sonny will definitely be available for Wolves on Feb. 17.
With 15 matches remaining, Tottenham sits in fifth place, just two points adrift of Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Manchester City. If you told supporters before the season that Spurs, in the first season of a new long-term project and despite the aforementioned issues, would be within a victory of the Premier League's leading pack at this juncture, most would have deemed it fantasy.
Spurs should have no issue securing a top-four spot once Vicario solves his aerial yips, and everyone is back with the team and playing at their peak.