Paul Robinson in ‘very strange’ Guglielmo Vicario reaction after Tottenham draw at Everton
Paul Robinson is confident that Guglielmo Vicario is learning quickly in the Tottenham goal and doesn’t believe he has a problem with crosses.
Everton appeared to target the Spurs keeper in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on 3 February, stationing Jack Harrison on the Italian while firing set pieces into the box, with TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch saying after the game “he just couldn’t deal with it” and it was a “chink in his armour”.
But ex-England keeper Robinson says most who play the position would struggle under the same circumstances.
So he doesn’t believe a particular weakness in Vicario’s games has been uncovered and was actually quite impressed with how the 27-year-old adapted to the situation during the Everton game.
He exclusively told Tottenham News: “I think it’s a part of the English game that he’s learning very quickly, but in the Everton game, second half I thought he did really well because Everton didn’t stop the bombardment, the crosses and corners coming in under the bar.
“Dwight McNeil was whipping them right underneath the crossbar, as was James Garner. Jack Harrison was on him.
“But he learned, he created himself a bit of space. I thought he caught a couple of really good crosses in the second half under pressure.
“I don’t think it’s an inability to deal with crosses. It’s just a situation when the box is full. It’s a very strange one because there’s not many teams that do it, let’s be honest.
“There’s not many teams who swing set plays right underneath the crossbar of a goalkeeper. You put any goalkeeper in that situation and it’s difficult.
“We might see more and more teams doing it because for a goalkeeper it’s very, very hard when the protection’s not coming from a referee and you’re getting penned in on your line it’s a very, very difficult if your six-yard box is full.
“The majority of goalkeepers will struggle in that situation. It’s very, very difficult to deal with.”
Ex-England keeper Robinson is confident in Vicario.
The problem for Vicario is that it has been highlighted for him specifically now so all opponents will know it is worth trying to put him under pressure.
He is faced with a sink-or-swim situation as he either rises to the challenge and adapts or he will be targeted on an ongoing basis.
The former Empoli keeper has been an excellent signing so far for Tottenham but is now facing his first real challenge in the Premier League.
