We need to talk about Hugo

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Article by @ginolasleftfoot

Forecasting is a business practice based around the principal of attempting to foresee variable outcomes from studying both current and past trends.

Tottenham currently have the best defensive record in the league with only one goal conceded (by those dastardly bandits across the way) with Lloris keeping four clean sheets in the process, so what do we have to complain about?

Lloris is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Those who dispute that need to watch a Youtube montage of his superb reflexes and anticipatory skills, stick the Rocky soundtrack on whilst you’re at it. He is captain of France and surely Tottenham’s long-term answer to what has proven to be a serious banana skin for several prominent clubs over the years.

But the role of a goalkeeper is a lonely one and goalkeepers around the globe are prone to periods of ill decisions. The severity of the consequences caused by an incorrect decision are so definite, it is understandable for goalkeepers to suffer mentally on a greater level than their fellow outfield players.

Pepe Reina appeared to undergo a period where his form dropped for Liverpool last season, with a number of individual errors being attributed to him. Perhaps a more assured performance over the course of the season would have lessened the inclination for Rodgers to have to spend Liverpool’s respectable but limited funds on an understudy goalkeeper.

Which brings us to Hugo. By his nature, Lloris uses his levels of anticipation and athleticism as a core feature of his game. He is the foremost sweeper/keeper in the Premier League, and his role is vital to the foundation of Villas Boas’ swift transitional style of play. Yet, it seems Lloris is undergoing a crisis of confidence.

His performance for France vs Belarus in their recent World Cup qualifier was held up for question, as he was deemed to be at fault for both of Belarus’ goals, a game in which they won 4-2.

More recently was a moment in his performance against Norwich last week, which came in the 85th minute where, coming out to intercept a through ball on the edge of his 18-yard box, he blocked the ball outside his area. A yellow card and free kick were the consequences.

Finally, away to Cardiff on Sunday, he was yet again involved in three key moments that outcomes thankfully swayed in Tottenham’s favour. A dismal pass by Naughton in the fifth minute, forced Lloris into rushing once again to his 18-yard box to foil

Frazier Campbell. No free-kick was given but shades of the week before came to mind, and video replay showed it was an immensely close decision.

Further still, was his poor control of a long, unpressured clearance by Cardiff. His miscontrol led to the corner, which saw Cardiff have a headed goal disallowed for a disputed tussle involving Lloris.

These points in isolation could be glossed over as momentary lapses in concentration, but seen as a trend it could highlight an area that could cost Tottenham in the near future.

That Lloris’ position is not in any doubt and coupled with Villas Boas’ full backing should eliminate any internal, team-based problems. One fancies the Spurs coach to already be privy to these individual errors that have blemished an otherwise excellent series of performances of Lloris.

It will be another test for Villas Boas’ man-management skills to see if these errors can be highlighted and dealt with in the correct manner. His reference at the start of the 2012/2013 to Tottenham conceding late goals resulted in him implementing a focus in training sessions on key concentration during those final periods of the match.

Villas Boas is still shuffling his defensive pack, with Vertonghen switching between left-back and centre-back, as Rose is slowly growing into the role and uncertainty remains over his definitive centre-back pairing, as Chiriches, Kaboul, Dawson and Vertonghen all vie for a starting spot.

Lloris will benefit when Villas Boas as able to settle in his back four, as communication between centre-backs and goalkeeper is an essential ingredient in defensive solidity.

Should Lloris exercise a degree of self-awareness (which I personally think he would do), he will look to separate the errors into collective and individual. Naughton’s back pass clearly put Lloris in a difficult situation as the pass also caught out Dawson. This part surely comes under the collective aspect of his game but his decision-making at the point of interception from under Campbell’s feet must come under the individual part of his game.

In no way is this meant to question Lloris’ contribution to Tottenham’s solid defensive start to the season, as this writer personally thinks he is Tottenham’s best signing over the last three seasons. But rather a cautionary note, one that hopefully will be amount to nothing as Lloris puts in an absolute blinder when next between the sticks.

Over and out

@ginolasleftfoot

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