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Guglielmo Vicario picked up a rare start for Italy on Monday night, but the Spurs keeper made a big mistake that is symptomatic of one of his biggest weaknesses.

Set-piece problems for Vicario again

Since joining Tottenham last summer, Guglielmo Vicario has begun to make great strides in his career at international level. He made his debut for the Azzurri in March of this year, went to Euro 2024 with his country, and is consistently in the matchday squads under Luciano Spalletti.

During this international break, the Spurs stopper was given the starting spot ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma for the Nations League tie against Israel on Monday.

While Italy won the game 4-1, there was one big moment of real concern for Vicario, who again struggled to deal with a set-piece delivery into his box.

With Israel preparing to take a corner, Vicario was seen pushing defender Matan Baltaxa away, with the Hapoel Be’er Sheva player standing right on the keeper’s feet and causing problems in the six-yard box.

Mohammad Abu Fani then floated in the corner, Vicario was outmuscled and unable to deal with the delivery, and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

You can watch a clip of the incident here, thanks to ViaPlay.

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Same old issue

This exact scenario has now occurred multiple times for Vicario while he has been in goal for Spurs, and is clearly a weakness opponents are taking advantage of.

The pattern emerged in the back half of last season, when teams like Everton and Arsenal began aggressively man-marking the keeper at set-pieces, forcing him into errors that often lead to goals.

Spurs may look to replace Vicario

If this issue is not resolved this season, Tottenham will have to look for a new goalkeeper next summer. While Vicario is brilliant at shot-stopping and pretty effective in his distribution, this inability to command his box will cost us dearly.

Former Spurs midfielder Dele Alli could be set to sign for a new club in the near future, with the free agent currently being eyed by a top French club.

Lille interested in Dele

Dele has been without a club since his contract with Everton came to an end in the summer, but has continued to train with the Toffees over the last few months.

Recently, the former England international has been linked with a move to Serie A side Genoa, as the Italians look for reinforcements in midfield after the injury to Ruslan Malinovskyi (Secolo XIX).

But, the move to Italy has yet to come to fruition, and Dele may now have another avenue to explore on the continent, as Ligue 1 club Lille have emerged as a potential suitor for the 28-year-old.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim Lille are among the clubs showing interest in Dele, with a view to picking him up as a free transfer.

No money for Spurs

If that move were to happen, it would mean Spurs would no longer be in line for any financial compensation from Everton for the player.

The original terms of the deal taking Dele to Goodison Park in January 2022 included a number of appearance-based bonuses, but that was renegotiated to pivot towards performance-related payments.

They would only become eligible, however, if Dele were to sign a new contract with Everton. As things stand, he is training with the club to work on his fitness, but there has been no mention of a deal being imminent.

Money doesn’t matter

It really isn’t important for Spurs to get any money from the Dele situation, to be honest. While it would always be nice to get some compensation for the manner in which he left the club, the main thing is that he finds a new team and gets playing again. Hopefully, Lille can offer him that.

Tottenham Hotspur have a number of top players in their squad right now, and three of them have been recognised in a list of the 100 best footballers in the world.

Heung-min Son makes it… just

As per FourFourTwo’s list of the top 100 players in the world right now, Heung-min Son is the first of the Spurs first-team squad to make the ranking. But, the South Korean star has only just made the cut.

Son is ranked at number 92, with the outlet writing: “The dip in form Heung-min Son suffered under Antonio Conte feels a long time ago now. Since Ange Postecoglou rocked up at Tottenham, Son has managed to get back to his best form. Harry Kane’s departure made him the main man in North London and the South Korean has taken the responsibility in his stride.”

The Spurs skipper has now been with the club for almost ten years, scoring 164 goals in over 400 appearances for the Lilywhites.

Micky van de Ven rising the ranks

Spurs fans have been delighted with Micky van de Ven‘s impact since joining the club last summer, and he has quickly established himself as one of the most competent defenders in the Premier League.

Respected football magazine FourFourTwo clearly appreciate the Dutchman’s qualities, as they have him ranked at number 85 on the list, praising his pace and ball-playing ability.

They wrote: “It’s no coincidence that Tottenham’s 2023/24 season suffered when Micky van de Ven picked up an injury. His searing pace at the back allows Spurs to play a high line and underpins the team’s wider tactical approach. His incredible assist against Manchester United in September showed just how good he is with the ball at his feet as well. Easily one of the best young defenders in Europe.”

Pedro Porro is the top Spurs player in FourFourTwo’s list

Somewhat surprisingly, it is Pedro Porro who ended up being the top-rated Spurs player on the list at 64. The Spaniard has settled into life at Tottenham really well over the last year, especially since Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the club.

On Porro’s talents, the outlet wrote: “A very modern full-back… by which we mean he is unbelievably attacking to the extent that his defensive work sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. But there’s no faulting Porro’s application, and after a difficult start to life at Tottenham, he has become one of the most notable right-backs in the division. At 25 years old, his prime years may still be ahead of him too.”

Micky van de Ven has been in fine form for Tottenham Hotspur so far this season, but his latest display at international level has left onlookers shocked as the Dutchman appeared nervous on the ball.

Pundit shocked by van de Ven display

While he may have quickly established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, Micky van de Ven was unable to impress on the international stage during his team’s 1-0 defeat to Germany on Monday night.

The game was underpinned by a number of errors and clumsiness from the entire Dutch team, and pundit Hans Kraay Junior (speaking via FC Update) has discussed the issues at play, with van de Ven among the culprits for a poor performance.

He said: “What I am very shocked about, and at Tottenham Hotspur they will be too… We only hear that van de Ven is fantastic at Tottenham as a central defender and we hear that he is fantastic as a left-back, but I have seen such an incredibly nervous Micky van de Ven.

“When they put zero pressure on him, he is good. Now he was so uncertain on the ball. Everyone was getting each other into trouble, whether it was van de Ven or Timber or Gravenberch or Reijnders. It was really unbelievable.”

Uncharacteristic from van de Ven

That performance was far from what Spurs fans have come to expect from van de Ven, and may be a little concerned that the young defender is hitting a bit of a rough patch.

He certainly looked off the pace against Brighton before the international break, and it could be the case that his confidence has taken a hit as a result of that display there.

Spurs defence needs a reset

That game against Brighton was a real catastrophe for the whole defence for Spurs, and the players involved in the backline there really need to get back to their best as soon as possible. Hopefully, a win against West Ham at the weekend can rejuvenate them and imbue them all with some much-needed confidence.

While there was hope that Richarlison could be back in training and in contention for Tottenham’s next match, new information has emerged suggesting he may have to wait a little while longer for a return to action.

Richarlison is due back in November

Injury issues have really gotten in the way of Richarlison‘s time at Tottenham. The Brazilian has been out of action since the second game of the new season with a lower leg injury, and his rehabilitation appears to be taking longer than anticipated.

There was hope that Richarlison could be back in full training this week and have a chance of being a part of the matchday squad for the West Ham game on Saturday afternoon, too (Football.London).

However, the latest from Premier Injuries suggests otherwise, with Richarlison’s potential return date pushed back to November 3rd. That would put him in line for a comeback in the Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Son and Odobert closer to return

Still, at least there is some good news in the form of optimism that both Heung-min Son and Wilson Odobert can be back for the West Ham game.

The pair have been on Tottenham’s injury list for a number of weeks now, and while Son’s situation has always been less severe, Odobert was expected to be out until the end of October.

Both players have a potential return date of October 19th on Premier Injuries, though how likely it is that they will actually feature against West Ham is yet to be seen.

Richarlison setback is a real worry

How many more times is Richarlison going to get hit by injury problems? He has missed so much of this season already, and his recovery is really not going according to plan. If he cannot turn a corner with this soon, sadly, the time will come when Spurs need to move him on and sign a new striker.

Tottenham legend Paul Gascoigne has shed light on the way he is treated by the club’s hierarchy and his words will leave Spurs fans seething.

Treatment of former players

The treatment of the club’s former players, managers and employees is something that a section of Spurs fans have raised their voices against on social media in the past.

Most recently, David Pleat revealed that Tottenham do not even offer him free matchday tickets, despite the many years of service he has given to the club (The Athletic).

It appears even Spurs icon, Gazza, has run into a few ticketing problems of his own at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of late.

Gazza’s admission

Gazza has now admitted he is charged whenever he asks Daniel Levy and co for tickets to watch the Lilywhites play – and a hefty price at that.

When asked about the upcoming Europa League clash between his two former sides, Tottenham and Rangers, he told Football 365: “If they’re at home, definitely. It’s difficult, that one. I was so close to Rangers. At Rangers, I’m welcomed in every way and at Tottenham, I asked for a couple of tickets and they said ‘that’ll be 400 pounds each.’

“I was like, wow, with all I did for that club, you know? When I left Tottenham I got them a lot of money when I signed for Lazio and I put in my contract when I went to Lazio that Tottenham had the first option to sign me back and they didn’t so I was a bit upset at that, considering the teams I could’ve went to.”

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Cheering for Rangers

Gazza admitted that the Scottish club have treated him much better than Tottenham have over the years, which is why he will be cheering for the SPL side on December 13.

He added: “I made the right choice in going to Rangers, the fans were fantastic, they love me up there. I didn’t like doing venues up there because I speak for an hour and they start singing for 55 minutes.

“The last time I went, ‘Can I please talk?’ I said, ‘Let me say something’. They’re singing ‘The Bluebells Are Blue’ and then all the Gazza songs. Let me get my money’s worth at least! When they play Spurs, I think I’ll be a Rangers fan.”

Former Italy goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani praises Guglielmo Vicario for his impact at Tottenham but suggests one area in which the 28-year-old can improve.

Big step to move to Tottenham

Vicario has been a massive hit since his move to Spurs, and is ideal for the way Ange Postecoglou wants his side to build up from the back.

He was a bit of an unknown quantity to Premier League fans when he made the switch from Empoli, and Marchegiani has now praised him for getting out of his comfort zone and challenging himself.

He told Football Italia about Vicario: “He is a goalkeeper I really like and he showed bravery in making the move to a very complicated division like the Premier League. It helped him grow and he also did well to immediately prove he was up to the task.

“There was some confusion at first in Italy as to whether he could continue the performances at Empoli in a top club, but he proved at Tottenham that it was easy for him.

“I am glad to see Guglielmo work his way up from Serie D to the Premier League and Italy, which is rare for a goalkeeper to not be spotted earlier in his career. He did well not to let his head drop and realise dropping down some divisions was not a failure.”

Vicario needs a cool head

Spurs fans will tell you that Vicario is an extremely emotional and expressive guy, who is not shy of having a go at his teammates when they make mistakes.

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Lucas Bergvall found that out in Tottenham’s first game of the season against Leicester City, but Marchegiani believes that the Spurs number one needs to become calmer on the pitch.

The 58-year-old said about Vicario’s tendency to be animated: “I think that his perfectionism, the desire to constantly improve, is a bonus for a goalkeeper, but where he needs to improve is the way he expresses himself.

“I understand this attitude can help pump him up, but at times he seems too agitated, too worried and too angry. In my view, a goalkeeper at a big club should be a calming presence.”

Shot-stopping praised

Marchegiani identified Vicario’s shot-stopping as his biggest strength, suggesting that the Tottenham man makes saves that other goalkeepers cannot.

The Lazio legend added: “He is a very elastic goalkeeper, so in that sense, he is a modern Giovanni Galli. Vicario has this ability to pull an extraordinary save out of nowhere that everyone assumes is a goal, but he still manages to keep it out!”

Alasdair Gold thinks that Daniel Levy is hoping for a major development regarding the NFL and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the future.

Tottenham’s stadium is a major money minter

Since its opening back in 2019, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has proven to be a major money printer for the North London club.

With the venue having a retractable pitch, it is able to host other sporting events and concerts on a regular basis, without having to worry about how it will impact the footballing calendar.

The biggest non-footballing event that occurs at N17 is the annual NFL fixtures, with the club having an agreement to host two games every season.

Levy’s dream

Gold has now predicted via Football.London that Levy hopes to one day find an NFL side willing to make the Spurs stadium their permanent home.

The Spurs chairman is allegedly dreaming about having an NFL side based in London, who will play their home games at Tottenham’s stadium.

That would open the door to having doubleheader weekends with both NFL and football, with both matches perhaps even taking place on the same day.

Not all Spurs fans are happy

A section of the Tottenham fan base on social media feels uneasy about the events hosted at the stadium, with many seeing them as evidence that Spurs are no longer a football club but rather an entertainment brand.

However, to compete at the highest level in the current financial landscape, it is imperative for clubs to find ways to generate higher revenue. Having a stadium that can host a lot of other major events is undoubtedly a huge advantage for Spurs.

Tottenham legend Paul Gascoigne is levelling a major accusation at the current Spurs players, making a startling claim about how he thinks they view Ange Postecoglou.

Modern-day comforts

While Tottenham boast some of the best facilities in the world at the moment, Gazza confessed that things were very different during his time at White Hart Lane.

He suggested that the current players have it too easy, which is why they struggle when they are put in uncomfortable situations.

He told Football 365: “I mean, when I played for Tottenham, we used to change in like the nursery kiddies school and now they’ve spent one billion pounds on a training ground and a pitch. They’ve got it all on a plate for them and I thought, ‘They’re going to struggle,’ you know.

“Everything’s there for them. Some of them park their car up and then they have to walk 50 yards, but they’re sitting in a little buggy to go 50 yards.”

Gazza makes Ange Postecoglou claim

Even more starkly, the Tottenham legend accused the players of letting down Ange Postecoglou, suggesting that many of them do not believe in the Australian’s philosophy.

The 57-year-old added: “Getting rid of Harry Kane, that was a shock he went to Bayern Munich and not Real Madrid. They just seem to be dependent on [Heung-min] Son and if he’s not in form, then they seem to be struggling.

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“They’ve got so much money, you’ve got to buy players and the manager, he’s foreign, isn’t he? Australian. The managers I played for, I respected them so much that I wanted to play so well for them.

“And I just feel like some of the players are letting him down, thinking, ‘he’s from Australia, he doesn’t really know much about English football’, and just f***ing going out there to play the game and collect their wages.”

Postecoglou does not tolerate slackers

Postecoglou is certainly not someone who would keep any player who is unwilling to deliver what is demanded of them. Such players have already been shown the door at Spurs. There is no doubt that the players have bought into the Australian’s method.

Tottenham will have Premier League competition if they choose to pursue one particular central midfielder in 2025 – and his shining performances for England certainly won’t help with that.

Clubs queuing up

The player in question is Angel Gomes, who has turned many heads with his performances for Lille over the last couple of years.

Now that the 24-year-old is impressing in the England set-up, a number of Premier League clubs are thought to be considering a move for him.

According to GiveMeSport, Spurs are one of those, but they are expected to face major competition for the player’s signature.

Three other Premier League clubs in the race

This is because Manchester United are keen on re-signing their academy graduate while Aston Villa and Newcastle are also plotting moves for the midfielder.

These three clubs and Spurs allegedly sent scouts to watch Gomes in action in Helsinki on Sunday and were left impressed by his performance.

With the 24-year-old’s current deal running out next summer, Lille expect him to leave in January or at the end of the season.

Race open

GiveMeSport explain that apart from the Premier League sides, Gomes is also attracting interest from Bundesliga and Serie A clubs.

As things stand, it is unclear where the England international’s next destination will be, with the outlet adding that there are ‘no firm leaders’ in the race at the moment.