Hugo Lloris urges manager Andre Villas-Boas to keep him as No 1 keeper

André Villas-Boas is under renewed pressure to consistently select the same Tottenham goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris admitted that he needs more regular first-team football to perform at his best.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...e-Villas-Boas-to-keep-him-as-No-1-keeper.html

So the battle is on for the number 1 spot, a short term battle I expect as while I have respect for Friedal and am happy for him to get games, there is no denying Lloris was purchased with the view to becoming our number 1 and how long can Friedal hold onto the position? or has it already lost it?

The rotation of keepers doesn't mean Friedal is no longer our number 1 keeper, as its perfectly acceptable for a manager to rotate a squad and leave out his 1st choice, if the player coming in needs/deserves to play 1st team football, yet the keeper situation is slightly different. Its rare for a club to rotate keepers, so with Lloris now finding a path into the 1st team through rotation, how does the manager decide who should be our number 1 this season?

Friedal clearly can't carry on for much longer, due to age so this could well be his last season with our squad and considering he has spent 99.9% of his career in the premier league as number 1 choice, would he be content to stay on at the club as understudy? as I know one of his ambitions was to play champions league football and last year would have been the most disappointing of his career.

If AVB selects Lloris for the Chelsea game then I would say he has decided the time is right to allow Lloris a path to become number 1 and Friedal will have to accept he is now part of a rotation.

Or, if AVB goes with Freidal for the Chelsea game, he clearly still views Friedals experience and big game performances, not to mention his outstanding talent, as a vital part of the 1st team this season.

Whatever happens this season, I think we all should have huge respect for Friedal, as while he has some faults, he is an outstanding goal keeper, a true professional and has saved our bacon on plenty of occasions.

 

Can we please not let this reduce to the same old argument and insults please

The only real benefit I can see of playing Lloris for the Chelsea match is that he's quicker off his line and with Chelsea liking to play through balls in behind the defence in the final third that could be important. That said, Friedel's no slouch, I remember him coming out quickly to block a shot in preseason game(Valencia, I think). Ultimately Brad's experience and reliabilty is a greater asset to us in this type of game, it's an unnecessary risk to play Lloris in my view.

 

I have to say I was truly stunned on Sunday to learn that Lloris was starting. Not because I don't like Lloris because I do, but because I consider Brad to be one of the 3 in-form keepers in the PL so far this season. And also because although Lloris performed well enough in Greece last week, he hadn't really done enough to overtake Friedel for Sunday. I saw it as Friedel's place to lose and as far as I was concerned, he hadn't lost it. At the time, I also thought it was slightly disrespectful of AVB to drop him for a game against one of his former clubs, but that's just a minor personal view.

After the game, I was prepared to concede that AVB had taken a bold gamble and it had paid off. We had won the match and kept a clean sheet and there were enough signs in Lloris's performance to show he is going to be a real asset to our club. There did continue to be mixed messages coming from AVB as to what was behnd this decision and although I do see some logic in this, I felt he was bowing to the wishes of the French FA a little bit too muc for my liking.

Having since had more clarification on this decision, it sounds as if the coaching staff saw signs in his display in Greece which concerned them as they felt he didn't look sharp enough for the PL if required to step in at short notice. Further reflection made them decide if he played on Sunday, he would get a decent run of games over the next 10 days or so, he would regain his sharpness. A decision I do agree with now.

With our next game still 11 days away, it is too early to say who will start aginst Chelsea. I did say on here last evening that my understanding is that barring illness or injury, it is intended at this stage to go with Friedel against Chelsea. That could change, but that is my understanding.

 

YV, I understand the point about brads experience, yet many would say it's ludicrous to suggest that starting with the French Number 1 and one of Europe's most highly rated keepers, is a risk, regardless of the game.

I can see both point's on this discussion and regardless of which decision AVB makes, i''ll be content.

 

Hi SC, that is an interesting point, as I think we all expect keepers to just come in and do a job, and not require games to keep their sharpness, unlike outfield players.

It could be a case that AVB goes with Lloris for the europa league and then the following premier league game, while Keeping Friedal as 1st choice for the remaining games, I just wonder if Lloris is going to accept this type of position as both keepers aren't number 2 keepers, they are clear number 1's and don't strike me as individuals that would be happy to sit around waiting for their chance.

 

I don't understand all the fuss.

Friedel said in a TV interview that he knows his days are numbered and that Spurs are looking for a long term keeper. His Twitter comments are nothing but team focused. He has no problem with this situation.

Lloris is a great keeper and his time will come. Maybe not this season, but with the long career of a keeper, I can't imagine he's losing sleep over it.

AVB is handling it well enough. Let him get on with it.

 

Fat chance of that YV!!
Mind you - as most of us appear to be on the 'ignore list' the comments may be somewhat one-sided!!

Seriously though - the media are on this like a dog with a bone and it will be interesting to see how AVB plays it. You could argue that Hugos comments are not very helpful, but in essence he hasn't said anything that unreasonable and is certainly not making demands. Hopefully, between themselves Brad and Hugo will find a happy medium. And I think we all agree that Lloris represents the long term future.

Now, just off to get my ear plugs!!

 

I want Hugo to stay as the No 1 in the League.

No point playing him in the "easier" games and leaving him out for the big'uns. He needs to get the experience of the high pressure games.

Brad's had an amazing run of games in his career but there comes a time where eventually someone comes along that replaces you. Luckily for us, we have a top, top keeper in Lloris to do that.

Granted Lloris hasn't had a lot to do and that's credit to the team but he's played 3 games and conceded just 1. Friedel hasn't kept a clean sheet yet. As good as Friedel is (believe me, I'm a big fan) he does annoy me slightly at his reluctance to move off his line which I think has cost us at times. Lloris is out like a bullet to claim/ punch crosses and to prevent a striker running onto a through ball. Been impressed with the little we've seen of him. Very excited about our future defensively with the likes of Lloris, Verts, Caulks, Kaboul and Walker. Benny and Daws still have a big role to play too with this being Gallas' last season with us (I'd presume).

 

I don't know what the rivalries are like in France but Brad has experienced many derby games in the Premier League, including Spurs-Chelsea. Lloris is talented but he dropped two crosses in Greece, threw the ball to a Villa player and punched a shot that he should really be catching. It would be wrong to criticise him for these mistakes but it'd also be wrong to ignore what is 2 slightly nervy performances when considering throwing him into a big game against a team that like to pressure the 'keeper.

Thanks for the insight, Spurcat. As much as I don't like the thought of AVB bowing to the French coach, I think it's worth recognising that they do have the abillity to stir things up and make it difficult for us.

I too disagreed with the decision to play Lloris prematch. Reading what you're saying you now believe to be the reasoning, what AVB said after the game makes more sense to me now.

 

Can we line up with both in goal?

 

We've got a run of games coming up after the internationals where I'd expect both to be used.
Chelsea, Maribor, Southampton, Norwich, Wigan, Maribor again and then City, with games every few days and no big break between them.
They'll both have opportunities to make their case.

Any chance that we could loan out Gomes to give him some game time?
We've got Friedel and Lloris fighting it out to start and Cudicini as back-up, so why not get the Brazilian back into the swing of things?
Can't hurt.

 

We'll probably be playing Gomes in the COC.

 

Gomes still holds the club record for consecutive clean sheets, along with Ian Walker, so he we should respect this and play him against Chelsea, throw a real spanner into the Lloris/Friedal debate.

 

Don't say that, I am still recovering from Gomes's last performance against Chelsea.

 

The 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in 2011?
To be fair to him, he didn't concede a legitimate goal that day. Total balls up for the first one, though.

 

Ferguson would appear to disagree with you, Lidls.

 

It's a good problem for AVB to have...two good keepers who are both desperate to play!

 

Lloris is also a dominant, experienced keeper, Lidls.
He has 40 caps for France, captaining his country on 7 occasions, as well as having several seasons of Champions League football under his belt and has been nominated for UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year award.
He's hardly a novice.

 

Which is why Friedel shouldn't be frozen out.
The American seems to be fully aware that he's being replaced and has even backed the move, as he knows that his days are numbered.
He is still a very good keeper, though and we've got a large number of games coming up, that'll hopefully develop into an even larger number, so there's plenty to go around.

 

Brad has said nothing that I can see, very little if anything, I'd prefer Lloris to do the same, but somehow I think some French journo will lever more comment during this Int break.

I took a huge risk even reading this thread and am delighted to have got through it. I don't think I will be so lucky next time...so there won't be a next time!