Vicario: Scapegoat or Reliable
Vicario is an interesting case for Spurs. He is a genuinely talented goalkeeper, but like with every player, he has some flaws in his game. The overall verdict for the young Italian is positive: someone who can genuinely turn into a world-class goalkeeper.
So, what are the current issues that are hampering his growth?
Timid…
Vicario is a solid shot-stopper with great awareness and positioning. What stops him from being world-class is his lack of physicality, especially during set pieces. Arsenal exploited that weakness in the North London Derby. But the flaw of not being able to be dominant in his own area has been present since his arrival in England.
Vicario is an easy target on set pieces, and he gets bullied quite a bit. Once he gets bullied, two things happen: first, he flaps at the set pieces and doesn’t get close to the ball to make a decisive interception, and second, he eventually concedes an easy goal due to an error. This has happened time and again with the Italian, and sometimes, it overshadows his genuinely great shot-stopping ability.
So, what are the current issues that are hampering his growth?
Indecisiveness…
Look at someone like Alisson or Ederson. They are THE boss of their area. They are a commanding presence in their box, and whatever they say or do goes. This is what Vicario needs to improve. You will never see Alisson being indecisive, and we have witnessed that for many years. He may make a mistake, but that is more human error rather than indecisiveness.
Vicario needs to start commanding his area more. His indecisiveness unnerves the whole backline. It is something that eventually snowballs into a catastrophe, and it has happened many a time. The youngster is still learning his trade, and England is a difficult place to come and dominate. Due to the league’s physicality, we’ve seen quality keepers like Barthez, Dudek, and De Gea struggle in England. Vicario has the qualities to succeed and become one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has seen, but he needs to work on his game a bit to achieve that status.
So, what are the current issues that are hampering his growth?
The Coaching Staff…
Vicario can’t do it alone. The Spurs staff, especially the goalkeeping coach, has to step in and take some responsibility. Vicario is young, and he needs proper guidance and training. What worked in Italy doesn’t necessarily translate in England. His shot-stopping ability is there to be seen, but his indecisiveness during set plays needs to be eradicated, and that is where the coaching staff comes in.
Spurs have a real talent on their hands, but if they do not make an effort to raise his game to the league standard, he will just be another wasted potential for the Spurs.