ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – FEBRUARY 12: Kyle Walker of AC Milan speaks to the media in a flash interview at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Feyenoord and AC Milan at De Kuip on February 12, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Oliver Hardt – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Paul Robinson says Tottenham player is a ‘fish out of water’ in Ange Postecoglou’s system….
Paul Robinson has claimed that one senior Tottenham Hotspur man never looked comfortable in Ange Postecoglou’s system, opining that a returning star has made a massive difference to the side during their recent encounters.
It is not a coincidence that Tottenham have looked far more assured defensively in their last three Premier League outings against Man Utd, Ipswich and Man City after welcoming Guglielmo Vicario back.
The Lilywhites have conceded just two goals in those three matches, and not only has the Italian made several key interventions, but he has also been typically vocal, constantly organising the defence.
Ange Postecoglou admitted that Vicario’s return is a huge boost to the dressing room environment, given his presence and leadership qualities.
Fraser Forster
(Credit @thefrederikkejensen / Instagram)
Paul Robinson makes claim about Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster
Paul Robinson has now claimed that the return of Vicario makes a huge difference to Tottenham, technically and tactically.
He thinks the former Empoli man’s decision-making and comfort in possession allows Spurs to play out from the back, something they could not do when Fraser Forster was in goal.
The former Spurs goalkeeper told Stadium Astro: “You look at the goalkeeping situation, you look how key he is to actually the way that Tottenham build up as well. So there’s a stat that I looked at when Vicario came out of the team, 7% of his passes in open play went over the halfway line, only 7% so that shows how key he was to the way that Ange Postecoglou played.
“Fraser Forster came in, and the manager asked him to do something that he couldn’t do. It was, you know, he looked like a fish out of water at times because the manager was asking him to play in a certain way that he couldn’t do and then that affected his form, it affected his game.
“Kinsky came in, did okay and looked good with his feet. First game, he got through against Liverpool in the semi-final of the EFL Cup and I thought he played really well.
“Got through on adrenaline, then he had the FA Cup game, then he played at the Emirates and he looked a little bit like a rabbit in the headlights. He looked a little bit like, ‘Oh, this is the Premier League?’ I’m here now.’ With Vicario coming back in, it’s just given Tottenham and that stability the confidence and the communication with the back four.”
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Kinsky will learn a lot from working with Vicario
Kinsky is extremely young for a goalkeeper and he seems to have all the raw materials to evolve into a top-class operator between the sticks.
The 21-year-old will learn a lot from working with Vicario on the training ground regularly, not only in terms of goalkeeping but also when it comes to professionalism and attitude.
The Czech youngster will get plenty of opportunities to impress next season as he aims to compete with the Italian for the number-one spot over the long term.
