From the pitch to the dugout and up to the boardroom, Tottenham Hotspur are falling short of expectations. A problematic summer transfer window set the tone, with Thomas Frank losing out on several targets who would have strengthened the first XI and the squad. Now, the spotlight from supporters has turned on him, with many questioning whether he is the right man for the job.
But Frank is not the only one under fire. The jury is out on the new administration post-Daniel Levy, and their aptitude and efficiency will be tested in January. With depth and quality lacking across several positions, Tottenham’s co-sporting directors, Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, supported by the Lewis family, must approach the upcoming transfer window with urgency and efficiency to give the coach the best chance of success.
Despite Guglielmo Vicario’s recent troubles, it seems unlikely that they’ll be in the market for a new goalkeeper. The Italy international was involved in both of Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goals on Sunday, with varying degrees of culpability. Frank was keen to point out that the first goal was down to Archie Gray’s error, suggesting the England Under-21 international should have laid the ball off to Cristian Romero with a first-time “bounce” pass. Instead, he took a touch, allowing Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare to come from behind and win the ball.
Some may suggest Vicario should have protected Gray, who had a player breathing down his neck, and played long. In his post-match analysis, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher highlighted that his pass was bobbling and should have been directed to Gray’s stronger right foot. Still, it was a decision backed by the coach’s instructions, and for that, the 29-year-old is largely exempt from blame.
The second, however, was due to his misjudgement. Hudson-Odoi’s bending cross looped over the Italian and nestled into the bottom corner. It’s an error that may be written off due to bad luck in different circumstances, but it’s one of several errors he has made this season that have ultimately cost his team points. Last month, Vicario was booed by a section of home supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the 2-1 home defeat to Fulham after his miscued clearance led to the visitors’ second goal. Distribution has never been his strongest suit, but his decision to send the ball down the line with his weaker left foot was careless and costly. His reluctance to accept responsibility for the error in the moment, immediately deflecting blame toward a team-mate, won’t have helped his cause with the fans. Vicario is one of eight Premier League players to make two Opta-defined errors leading to goals this season — no player has made more.
But it’s worth remembering that Vicario has also saved Spurs on several occasions this season. He was crucial in their 2-1 away win against Leeds United and delivered possibly his best performance since joining Spurs in 2023 in the 0-0 draw at Monaco in the Champions League, making eight saves and preventing 2.68 expected goals (xG). Across the 2025-26 season so far, only Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez (2.7) have prevented more goals according to the xG metric than Vicario (2.5). As the numbers indicate, his ceiling as a shot-stopper can be outrageously high. But like Frank’s Spurs, the eye test indicates his floor across all aspects of the role can be concerningly low.
If Tottenham are truly targeting a return to the Champions League next season, the goalkeeper position is undoubtedly one that could be strengthened. Antonin Kinsky, Vicario’s backup, is a brave and skilled distributor, with the capability to hit passes at short, medium and long distances, a quality Frank leaned on David Raya to provide at Brentford. He is also inexperienced and not yet accomplished in English and European football, with his performance in the fourth-round 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United in late October indicative of a player who is not quite ready for the rigours of the Premier League. That leaves the inconsistent Vicario as the only genuine option.
A goalkeeper’s job is significantly more complicated than it was before Pep Guardiola’s arrival in the Premier League. A brief look around the division doesn’t throw up many gettable alternatives that represent a clear upgrade, so, considering the more pertinent needs in the squad, the potential Vicario issue may be put on the back burner. Issues in attack, starting with the left wing, where there is no standout option, should be prioritised, as should the imbalanced, creatively limited midfield. Overlooking those needs in favour of an unproven Vicario replacement seems an inefficient use of the notoriously challenging January window.
Not least because replacing Vicario will require not only an elite goalkeeper, but also a commanding personality. Tottenham are short on leaders, and Vicario’s willingness to speak candidly publicly after humbling defeats reflects positively on his status within the group. He retained his position in the club’s leadership team under Frank and is one of the few starters who are visibly demanding on the pitch.
With James Maddison sidelined for most, if not all, of the season with an ACL injury sustained in pre-season and Ben Davies a rotational option, Frank can scarcely afford to risk losing Vicario’s influence on a young squad, even if his outward displays of frustration and individual mistakes have dented his reputation with fans.