Inside Futbol

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Former Premier League striker Dean Ashton believes Tottenham Hotspur have a problem in that there is no experienced option to come in and replace under-fire goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Vicario made mistakes in Tottenham’s 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs were hoping to build on an upturn of form by beating a Nottingham Forest side battling against relegation, but they were second best at the City Ground.

Vicario made an error with a sloppy pass for Forest’s first goal, while a Callum Hudson-Odoi effort flew over him for the hosts’ second.

Former hitman Ashton thinks that Vicario’s error for Hudson-Odoi’s second goal was incredibly poor goalkeeping.

He said on talkSPORT (14th December, 15:09): “I mean, it’s just terrible goalkeeping.

“It’s not as if it’s been whipped right to the top corner. It’s just gone in, middle of the goal, over the top of Vicario who flapped a hand at it, misjudged the flight of it.

Club Udinese Fontanafredda Venezia Cagliari Perugia Empoli Tottenham Hotspur Clubs Guglielmo Vicario has played for

“Really, really poor goalkeeping. Another gift for Forest.”

Ashton admits that Vicario is a good shot-stopper, but stressed that goalkeepers need to have more about their games and in other aspects, the Italian often makes mistakes.

Both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United were keen on signing Vicario before he joined Tottenham.

“Shot-stopping I don’t really think you can argue too much. He is outstanding in that aspect.

“But there are other aspects, playing out, silly mistakes, maybe being weak from set plays and crosses at times in his Tottenham career.”

Tottenham could look to pull Vicario out of the firing line, however Ashton thinks they have a problem in that regard as young Kinsky is the second choice.

“The problem is, they’ve got Kinsky on the bench, who is still a very young goalkeeper”, he said.

“It’s not as if they’ve got a real senior goalkeeper that they could turn to to take the sting out of the situation for Vicario.”

Matters do not get any easier for Tottenham as they are next due to take on Liverpool, who have recently returned to form.

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Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 14:00 UK time

Thomas Frank has selected his Tottenham Hotspur lineup to lock horns with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in the Premier League this afternoon.

Frank saw his men swat aside Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek to build on last weekend’s Premier League win over Brentford.

Two wins and one draw in the last three games have eased some of the pressure on Frank, but the talk of doubts about him will only start up again if Spurs lose at Nottingham Forest today.

Spurs have benefited hugely from the form of summer signing Mohammed Kudus and he was recently dubbed ‘electric’ by one former Spurs star.

In the lead up to the match, Frank has issued praise of Archie Gray, who he thinks could be a leader in the future.

Nottingham Forest welcome Spurs on the back of a 2-1 win away at Utrecht in the Europa League.

Sean Dyche is still battling to get consistent results from Nottingham Forest, who have swapped between wins and losses in their last four games.

The last meeting between the two sides saw Nottingham Forest win 2-1 in north London.

Guglielmo Vicario is selected by Frank as the goalkeeper in his Tottenham lineup vs Nottingham Forest today, while at the back the Spurs boss trusts in Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.

Midfield could be a key battleground today and Tottenham field Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray, while Xavi Simons also starts. Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani lead the attacking threat.

If Frank needs to influence the game from the bench and change his Tottenham lineup vs Nottingham Forest then he has options to call for and they include Mathys Tel and Lucas Bergvall.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Nottingham Forest

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Gray, Simons, Kudus, Richarlison, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Danso, Palhinha, Tel, Bergvall, Johnson, Odobert, Sarr, Davies

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has lauded Archie Gray for his strong character, stressing that the 19-year-old could become a leader in the future.

The Durham-born talent grew up in Leeds United’s youth system and impressed playing versatile roles for the Whites in his two senior seasons at the club.

Last year, Spurs paid a hefty £40m for the youngster, penning a six-year deal with the England youth international.

Georginio Rutter, now at Brighton, admitted when he first saw Gray at Leeds he knew he was special.

It was suggested that if Gray did leave Leeds he would go abroad and not stay in England, but the midfielder joined Tottenham.

Even though the plan was to get him in the Tottenham team slowly, multiple injuries at the back saw him get thrown in the deep end, as he ended up playing in 46 games for the north Londoners last term.

Gray can play in a multitude of positions, despite him being only 19, but Spurs boss Frank has made it clear that he sees the teenager more as a midfielder.

Frank, though, appreciates Gray’s positional fluidity, as the ex-Leeds man has played at left-back when needed this term.

He started two of the last three league games for Spurs in the engine room and has seen a good amount of game time in the Champions League as well.

Frank pointed out that Gray plays with his head up, lauding him for his beautiful pass against Slavia Prague earlier this week in the Champions League.

The Spurs boss is clear about what Gray can do and he feels that the England Under-21 international has all the qualities to become a leader.

“What I like about Archie is, he is very good on the ball”, Frank told a press conference (11:09) when he was asked about the teenager.

“I like that he plays with his head up, so he can play short, and he can drive with the ball.

“The pass he played to Pedro Porro for the penalty against Slavia was an excellent pass, perfectly weighted, played in behind.

“[He has] great capacity to cover the pitch, good pressing skills.

“And I think he is young, but he has a very good character, I think he could be a leader in future.”

The 19-year-old has suffered from a calf injury for a while this season, but has clocked close to 600 minutes in all competitions for Spurs.

It remains to be seen if he will be given a start against Nottingham Forest in midfield to show his pedigree again in order to cement a place for himself in the first team.

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Tottenham Hotspur midfield talent Alfie Devine has admitted that he is loving his loan spell with Preston North End and revealed that the Lilywhites fans have taken to him.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder joined the Deepdale outfit from Tottenham on a season-long loan to play regularly and Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom remarked early in the campaign that the Spurs star’s versatility makes him a key player for them.

Devine has featured 18 times in the Championship so far with three goals and one assist to show for it and he has done very well for Preston according to Deepdale team-mate Ali McCann.

The Spurs star made his fourth start in a row when he took the field against Wrexham at the weekend and featured for 90 minutes in Preston’s 1-1 draw.

Saturday’s game also marked the fourth game in a row where he featured for the entire 90 minutes, which Devine pointed out is exactly what he wants from his loan spell with Preston.

The Tottenham academy product admitted that the loan spell so far has been what he expected and stressed that he is loving his time at Deepdale, while appreciating the fans for taking a liking to him.

When asked about his loan, Devine told Preston North End’s in-house media (3:50): “I am loving it.

Loan club League Port Vale League One Plymouth Argyle Championship Westerlo Pro League Preston North End Championship Clubs Alfie Devine has been on loan at

“I have said it quite a lot now that this loan so far has been everything that I had hoped it would be.

“I think for me on a personal note, it is more about playing the minutes in the games and getting my legs going and obviously playing four 90 minutes in a row helps that.

“For me personally, that is what I want to do.

“I want to play as much as I can, stay in the game for as long as I can and obviously help the team as much as I possibly can. So far I am loving it.

“The fans have taken to me, players, staff, so I am pretty sure every single other boy that’s come in this summer can say the exact same thing as well.”

It is not the first time Tottenham sent have Devine out on loan to a Championship club, as he featured for Plymouth Argyle during the 2023/24 season while helping them escape relegation.

Devine is highly rated at Tottenham and last season spent on loan with Westerlo, where he made 30 appearances in Belgium while turning some heads.

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Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 15:00 UK time

Thomas Frank has picked his Tottenham Hotspur lineup to welcome his former club Brentford to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon in the Premier League – match preview here.

Spurs visited St James’ Park in midweek Premier League action and two goals from the unlikely source of Cristian Romero ensured they came back from Newcastle United with a 2-2 draw.

Frank could have done with all three points, but the draw stopped a run of three consecutive defeats which has put his position under pressure.

The Spurs boss will need no reminding that losing against his former side Brentford today would crank the pressure up even further.

Brentford arrive on the back of a 2-0 loss at Arsenal, but have swapped between wins and losses for their last six games.

The Bees last won away at Tottenham in 2023, when they came out on top 3-1.

Tottenham take to the pitch amid the club having confirmed that legend Heung-Min Son will be returning to say goodbye to the fans in the new year, when Spurs face Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

Guglielmo Vicario is in goal for Tottenham this afternoon, while at the back Frank goes with a four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.

The midfield battle could be crucial on the day and Spurs deploy Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray and Xavi Simons, while Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani will provide the goal threats.

If Frank needs to influence the game through his changes then he has options off the bench and they include Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Brentford

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Gray, Simons, Kudus, Richarlison, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Danso, Palhinha, Tel, Bergvall, Johnson, Odobert, Sarr, Davies

Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images

Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 6th December, 15:00 UK time

Tottenham Hotspur will host Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon as both sides look to regain momentum in the Premier League.

The two clubs are level on points, currently with 19 each, with Spurs aiming to end a run of inconsistent home form, while Brentford seek to end a three-game winless streak on the road.

The Lilywhites have struggled in recent weeks, winning just once in their last six league matches and remaining winless in five games across all competitions.

Their home form has been particularly concerning, with their last Premier League victory at N17 coming on the opening weekend of the season.

Midweek, a 2–2 draw at Newcastle United offered manager Thomas Frank some relief after a run of defeats, but Saturday marks a significant occasion: his first reunion with his former club.

Frank will want his summer signings to start to make a real impact soon and has declared his faith in Xavi Simons, while Randal Kolo Muani has started to catch the eye.

Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke remain unavailable for Spurs.

Brentford arrive under Keith Andrews, who succeeded Frank. Their form has been inconsistent, most recently a 2–0 loss against Arsenal at the Emirates, but the west London side have produced some impressive results this season, having recorded wins over Manchester United and Liverpool.

Their away record remains fragile, with just one win from six league trips, though Spurs’ struggles at home suggest an upset is well within the realms of possibility.

Historically, Tottenham have dominated the fixture, winning five of the nine meetings between the clubs across all competitions, with Brentford claiming just one victory and three matches ending in draws. The last two encounters at this venue both resulted in Spurs wins, adding another layer of pressure on the visitors.

Both sides face clear challenges heading into the clash. Frank’s team need to convert chances and assert themselves in possession, something they have shown glimpses of in the Champions League, but have struggled to replicate in the Premier League.

Andrews will hope his side can draw on the form of players like Igor Thiago, who is the league’s second-highest scorer with eleven goals this season.

Defensively, the Bees’ captain Nathan Collins will be charged with keeping Spurs frontman Kolo Muani in check, a player yet to find his Premier League rhythm despite his Champions League exploits.

Brennan Johnson, who scored in this fixture last season and will be looking to reignite his early-season form, could find himself up against Michael Kayode, whose pace and defensive awareness have consistently stifled opposing wingers this season.

A strong performance on the road in the London derby would provide a timely boost for Brentford, with Andrews eager to claim a result against a Tottenham side struggling for form, while Frank will be keen to prove himself against his former colleagues and guide his team to a much-needed home victory.

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur Brentford Vicario Kelleher Porro Kayode Romero Collins Van de Ven Van den Berg Spence Henry Palhinha Henderson Bentancur Jensen Bergvall Ouattara Johnson Damsgaard Kudus Schade Kolo Muani Thiago Predicted lineups

Recent Form (league)

Tottenham: LDLLD

Brentford: LWLWL

Key Men

Tottenham Hotspur

Captain Cristian Romero, fresh from his dramatic brace on Tyneside that salvaged points for his side, will be pivotal at the back alongside Micky van de Ven in keeping the Brentford attack at bay. Their composure and defensive cohesion will be key if Tottenham are to hold firm and control possession from the back.

Mohammed Kudus has been the standout performer for the Lilywhites, contributing two goal involvements in the last two games. His ability to link play and influence the final third will be central to Spurs’ chances in the contest.

Brentford

Igor Thiago has been in electric form this season, already the second top scorer in the Premier League with eleven goals in 13 games. The striker will be the main man to watch going forward for the Bees, with his movement and finishing likely to keep Spurs on constant alert.

Michael Kayode, with his pace, defensive awareness, and long-throw prowess, will be a constant threat on the right flank, capable of both shutting down opposition wingers and setting up chances for Brentford to capitalise on.

Result Competition Brentford 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford Premier League Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Brentford Premier League Last three meetings

Match Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford carries added intrigue, with the two managers having worked together before. For Frank, however, it feels close to a must-win, given the recent results of the north London side.

Brentford’s trademark fast starts from last season have continued under Andrews, meaning Spurs must be alert from the outset to avoid conceding early. They will need to stay switched on in possession to cope with Brentford’s aggressive pressure off the ball.

The Bees enjoy winning back possession and quickly advancing it through long passes and fast breaks. Their threat from set pieces, especially long throws, remains a major weapon, having already produced three goals this season. Spurs’ defensive line, led by their captain, will need to stay sharp to avoid falling behind from such situations.

Spurs on home soil will want to control possession, but it will be crucial to convert their chances into goals against Caoimhin Kelleher to put the game to bed early. Coming off a strong second-half performance against Newcastle United, Spurs may feel they have enough on home soil to edge the contest.

Inside Futbol Score Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brentford

Where To Watch?

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford will not be broadcast live in the UK, but can be followed via each teams’ respective website.

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Fixture: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 20:15 UK time

Thomas Frank has picked his Tottenham Hotspur lineup to take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the Premier League this evening.

Frank’s Spurs have already visited Newcastle this season, in the EFL Cup, and put on a meek display as they were beaten 2-0.

The new Tottenham boss arrives for a second bite of the apple coming under pressure, with Spurs having lost their last three games in a row, something which has put the club under scrutiny and especially big money summer arrival Xavi Simons, who Frank has defended.

Frank will though be wary of Nick Woltemade, who he has admitted gives Newcastle something different.

Their last win came against Danish side FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and defeat here tonight would make life even more difficult for Frank.

Tottenham have slipped all the way down to 12th in the Premier League, with just five wins from their 13 games this season.

A win tonight would put Tottenham level on points with Liverpool and Manchester United though in what is a congested middle of the table.

Guglielmo Vicario slots in between the sticks for Tottenham tonight, while at the back Spurs have Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

The midfield battle is sure to be key tonight and Frank picks Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall, while Brennan Johnson, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani lead the attack.

Substitutes will need to be called for at some point as part of Frank’s game plan and they include Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Newcastle United

Vicario, Porro, Danso, Romero, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall, Johnson, Kudus, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Palhinha, Simons, Richarlison, Tel, Gray, Spence, Van de Ven, Odobert

Carl Recine/Getty Images

Fixture: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 20:15 UK time

Newcastle United have officially confirmed their starting lineup for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League tonight.

Eddie Howe’s side thumped Everton 4-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on their last outing and Howe will be licking his lips at a repeat tonight.

With Tottenham considered realistic rivals for a top five spot in the Premier League this season, the clash carries even more importance.

Newcastle will be boosted by already having seen off Spurs this season, in the EFL Cup, which they are the holders of.

With games coming thick and fast over the course of December, Howe must make sure he gets his rotation spot on; he has been criticised for preferring to largely stick to the same team.

There have been worries over a lack of midfield options beyond his tried and trusted selections, with one former top flight star explaining the Magpies need more depth.

With Newcastle level on 18 points with Tottenham, a win would push them towards the top six and continue a run of two straight league wins.

Aaron Ramsdale is Newcastle’s goalkeeper this evening, while in front of him Howe goes with Tino Livramento, Dan Burn, Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall.

Howe’s midfield are often crucial in games and tonight Newcastle have an engine room of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley, while Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy support Nick Woltemade.

If Howe needs to shuffle his pack at any point then there are options off the bench for him to call for and they include Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock.

Newcastle UnitedLineup vs Tottenham Hotspur

Ramsdale, Livramento, Burn, Thiaw, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Miley, Murphy, Barnes, Woltemade

Substitutes: Ruddy, Schar, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, A Murphy, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Neave

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank believes that Xavi Simons is a very good player, but just like any other player coming from a different league, he needs time to adapt and get going.

Despite having managed 17 appearances for the north London club already, Simons has hardly lasted the full 90 minutes.

His only 90-minute appearance for Spurs has come against Newcastle United in the 2-0 defeat in the EFL Cup.

Frank has been clear about what he expects to see from Simons, with intensity wanted.

With the club now set for a busy festive period wherein they are scheduled to play six games in the space of 26 days, Frank insists that Simons will be in for more involvement with the team.

Answering a question about Simons’ minutes, Frank said at a press conference (4:50): “Yes, of course [you can expect him to get more minutes in this busy period]. That is the reason why we got him here.

“I think he is a very good player in every aspect.

“Xavi has trained well in the last couple of days and in general has been training well.”

Coming from a different league, Frank insists that adaptation needs time, and in that, Simons is no different from anyone else.

Player James Maddison Archie Gray Dominic Solanke Djed Spence Dane Scarlett English players in Tottenham Hotspur first team squad

“I think, we have talked about before, it is not the first time a player is stepping into the Premier League.

“They just need a little bit of adaptation to hit the ground running and then there is one thing that this is a physical league, but also you have to play games every third or fourth day.

“And then in a team that maybe not top in sync. How can we help each other – that is part of the process.”

Simons was criticised earlier this season by a former Netherlands winger, who believes opposing players have worked him out.

Tottenham’s season under Frank has been going from bad to worse recently as they succumbed to yet another defeat, their third in the last four games, against Fulham at the weekend.

Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has already insisted that Frank is ‘not for Spurs’.

It now remains to be seen how long the patience of the board runs with the former Brentford boss if results remain inconsistent.

Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has dubbed Spurs star Guglielmo Vicario ‘remarkable’, lauding his bravery to carry himself professionally after making errors.

Spurs made a decent start to their campaign, but their loss to Fulham at the weekend marked their third defeat on the bounce in all competitions.

The north London club are currently sitting ninth in the Premier League table and recently one former top flight star predicted that they will finish there by the season’s end.

Spurs lost 4-1 against their bitter rivals Arsenal late last month and after a 5-3 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, London rivals Fulham handed them another loss at the weekend.

Italian custodian Vicario’s performances have received criticism and he made a fatal mistake against the Cottagers, which led to Fulham’s second goal of the game.

Frank, though, has hailed the Italy shot-stopper for his characteristics, praising his ability to carry himself through bad times, dubbing him ‘remarkable’.

“Vic is remarkable; his character is fantastic in every aspect”, the Spurs boss told a press conference (7:25).

Goalkeeper Nationality Guglielmo Vicario Italian Antonin Kinsky Czech Brandon Austin American Tottenham’s goalkeepers

“It is about how you carry yourself every day, in the good times and bad times and he is very consistent in that way.

“Everyone can make mistakes, but the way he carries himself impressed me very much.”

Frank also revealed that he asked the Italian how he is doing, mentioning that he is delighted with his response to the setback.

“I spoke with him and asked how he was. He said he was okay.

“He is a good player to deal with when it is setbacks like that…. How you deal with mistakes is a big part of how good you become as a player.”

The Italian shot-stopper has been Tottenham’s first-choice, racking up 93 all-competition appearances for the north London outfit.

He was in the last Italy squad, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is the country’s undisputed first choice.