Guglielmo Vicario has put his Tottenham future in serious doubt
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a deeply uncomfortable position after suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats to Arsenal and Fulham—both of which were as humbling as they were damaging. And while much of the current frustration is rightly being directed toward manager Thomas Frank, the problems at Spurs stretch far wider than the dugout. This is a collective slump, and the responsibility is shared across the squad.
One of the most scrutinised figures in recent weeks has been goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. On his best days, the Italian looks every inch an elite shot-stopper, capable of extraordinary reaction saves that defy logic. He has single-handedly kept Spurs alive in some fixtures this season—most notably against Bournemouth and Monaco—producing highlight-reel moments that underline his exceptional natural talent.
But the uncomfortable reality is that when the full season is evaluated, Vicario has had more matches where his errors have cost Tottenham valuable points than games where his brilliance has earned them. The balance is tilting the wrong way, and supporters are increasingly struggling to ignore it.
A mentality that isn’t evolving
The biggest concern isn’t simply that Vicario makes mistakes—every goalkeeper does. The real issue is the nature of his errors and the worrying mentality that appears to sit behind them. Too often, Vicario plays with the mindset of someone still anchored to his days at Empoli. His approach resembles a relegation-battling goalkeeper desperate to impress through spectacular, chaotic heroics rather than someone who embraces the calm, controlled fundamentals required at a top Premier League club.
At times he seems more focused on the acrobatic dive than the sensible one. Concentration lapses have become routine. Basic goalkeeping principles—claiming crosses, positioning, handling under pressure—are breaking down far too frequently for a player of his age and experience. These aren’t learning-curve mistakes; they are structural flaws.
Fans feel the insecurity
Tottenham supporters have grown increasingly uneasy every time Vicario is tasked with dealing with a high ball or controlling possession under minimal pressure. Despite his raw athleticism, he flaps at crosses, rushes off his line at the wrong moments, and treats simple situations like emergencies. When things go wrong, instead of taking immediate responsibility, he often turns to blame teammates around him—gesturing and shouting as if the fault lies everywhere but his own.
It’s only after the final whistle, when the boos begin to echo, that the apologies come. Public contrition helps soften the narrative, but the pattern on the pitch remains unchanged. The disconnect between his post-match humility and his in-game reactions hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fanbase.
Standards of top clubs vs. Spurs’ reality
Elite Premier League goalkeepers—the ones who play for genuine title contenders—are defined not only by their spectacular saves but by their reliability, their composure, their leadership, and their response to adversity. They exude calm. They learn from their mistakes. And they elevate the players in front of them.
Vicario, for all his gifts, hasn’t shown those traits consistently. When Tottenham are on top and controlling games, he looks strong. But when pressure mounts, when things turn chaotic, or when Spurs need their goalkeeper to steady the storm, he can become part of the problem rather than the solution.
Spurs must be ruthless with their future planning
There are indeed bigger priorities for Tottenham to address in their rebuild under Thomas Frank, but deep down, supporters recognise the uncomfortable truth: the goalkeeper position is quietly becoming one of them. Vicario has extraordinary potential, but potential is no longer enough. Spurs are a club trying to break into the Premier League’s elite bracket, and clubs of that calibre make hard, unsentimental decisions.
If Tottenham want to close the gap on England’s true contenders, they must demand higher standards from the man between the posts. Because when things go wrong—and recently, they’ve gone wrong far too often—Vicario doesn’t just fail to steady the ship. He becomes one of the waves rocking it.