'Achilles heel': Glenn Hoddle slams £17m Tottenham player after seeing his display v Arsenal
09/16/2024 01:45 AM
Tottenham were beaten by Arsenal in yesterday’s north London derby and Glenn Hoddle was far from happy with one Spurs player.
A goal from Gabriel was enough to ensure Tottenham were beaten again by the Gunners and it’s now just one win in four this season for them.
Of course, there were a number of issues in the Tottenham performance that pundits picked up on.
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Jamie Redknapp called out Cristian Romero for his man-marking skills, while Henry Winter pointed out the Tottenham fans being unhappy at too many sideways passes.
Another watching the game in a pundit role was former midfielder and manager, Glenn Hoddle.
And speaking on the game, Hoddle was quick to pick out goalkeeper Vicario for being a weakness for Tottenham.
Glenn Hoddle wants more from Vicario after seeing him against Arsenal
Speaking about Arsenal’s goal for Premier League Productions, Spurs legend Hoddle suggested that Tottenham need far more from Vicario at set-pieces.
"For me, the goalkeeper has got an Achilles' Heel here because other clubs have seen it. Any ball in that in swinging area, into that six-yard box, I am not sure he can come. There are too many bodies there, but his intent is to go back. He's never looking to come out,” Hoddle said.
“Look, he's involved in the sort of battle up. He has got to detach himself away from that and think to himself, where is my intent? His body is always going backwards.
“He has got to come and punch some of those balls, not necessarily that one, it's a bit different, but they have played that corner because time and time again, he has conceded or he has looked, he flapped at one in the first half. That's an Achilles' heel.
“He's a good shot-stopper, but he has got to come and make himself more physical, come and get more balls, come and punch."
Vicario needs to do better
While Vicario has been a smart enough signing at £17m and he has had some good moments for Spurs, there is no doubting he’s a bit away from the top keepers.
The very best teams all have brilliant goalkeepers. You only have to look at Liverpool, Man City, and Arsenal for example in England, while Real Madrid have Thibaut Courtois.
For Vicario, in only his second season in England, you’d assume this sort of thing would improve.
But Arsenal clearly targeted it here and as Hoddle says, Tottenham simply need more from their man in the stick.
