Italian Goalkeeper - Guglielmo Vicario - has become Ange Postecoglou's second signing as Tottenham manager after first bringing back Kulusevski. Guglielmo joins on a 5 year contract which cost Tottenham approximately €19 million. Vicario will slot straight into the No 1 position, Forster being his understudy. For Spurs fans who aren't familiar with him, here's a briefing.
1. He was Highly Sought After
Tottenham beat a range of other clubs for his signature this summer, proving his worth. Fabio Paratici made initial enquiries over Vicario's availability before his resignation in April, and Chief Tottenham Scout Leonardo Gabbanini took Paratici's advice and signed him as quickly as he could following the breakdown of David Raya's failed transfer to Tottenham. Juventus, Bayern, Inter, Napoli, Brighton and Manchester United have all been interested - particularly Inter Milan - due to the likelihood of their Cameroonian shot-stopper, Andre Onana, leaving this summer. This can be credited to Italian Ex-Goalie Pagliuca, telling Sempre Inter "Vicario is a very good goalkeeper, he will be the most sought-after goalkeeper of the transfer window." in relation to Onana's replacement.
2. He's a Great Shot-Stopper
One of his major strengths lies in his sheer ability to stop the ball from finding the back of the net. He is incredibly athletic and flexible and has made some stunning saves for Empoli. His 6"4 frame allows him to dive and get in the way of any attempt towards goal. His height is also advantageous in claiming crosses Last season, he saved 97 of the 135 shots faced - meaning Guglielmo Vicario's save percentage is 71.85%. If you put this against other goalies in the Premier League, his percentage is the THIRD BEST! only David Raya and Bernd Leno were above him. For anyone who doubts me on his skill in shot-stopping, take a look at the video below.
but - 3. Has a Weakness in his Game
Unfortunately, no one can be perfect, and Vicario's Achilles Heel seems to be his parrying into dangerous areas. Granted - he is athletic enough to get back in position to save a subsequent shot, but in a league like the Premier League, where players are so clinical and any small mistake can cost you, parrying the ball into dangerous areas is simply not good enough. Check out the video below, where Vicario parries a shot (that he should be tipping over the bar) straight back into the box. Kudos for the fantastic double save after though!
Overall, Spurs fans should be happy. This is a risky signing as Vicario has not played for a "top team" yet and he will have to adjust to the environment of the Premier League immediately. But in my opinion, Tottenham should be open to taking risks for the potential benefit of the future. It's clear that the expensive tactic of signing "tried and tested" serial players and managers - such as Jose, Conte and Perisic, doesn't work for Tottenham. What works - is taking risks and good scouting. Look at Pochettino's team between 2015 and 2018, the last time we were feared and respected as a side. Most of the players present there were relatively unknown or lowkey until they excelled for Spurs. To conclude this is a great piece of business, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he fares next season. Let me know what YOU think in the comments!
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