- Guglielmo Vicario faces months out of action after surgery on a broken ankle
- Postecoglou has backed Fraser Forster to deputise in the Italian’s absence
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW to It’s All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Ange Postecoglou has backed England veteran Fraser Forster to fill Tottenham’s goalkeeping void, claiming he won’t expect him to transform into one of world football’s pass masters.
‘There’s a misconception around that,’ said Postecoglou when asked if Forster could adapt to the demands placed upon a modern keeper in a possession-based team.
‘I do want to play out from the back but don’t need my goalkeepers to be Maldini or Platini. In fact, the simpler they can keep it the better for me. I keep saying to the players, don’t pass it to the goalkeepers, they’ve got the gloves on, they’re the goalkeepers and you’re the player.’
Forster, 36, has made only four appearances in 18 months but is needed by Spurs with Guglielmo Vicario out for months after surgery on a broken ankle, starting against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday.
Postecoglou ruled out signing a free agent as emergency cover and played down the idea of changing the club’s transfer plans in January, because of his faith in Forster.
‘It’s not about their technical ability,’ he added. ‘Look at the way we play out from the back, and Joe Hart is a great example of that when he came to Celtic, it’s about them executing really simple passes.
Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario has been ruled out for months following ankle surgery
Fraser Forster will deputise in goal with Ange Postecoglou ruling out signing a free agent
Postecoglou insisted he is not expecting Forster to develop into one of football’s pass masters
‘They’re actually quite good at it, all goalkeepers. It’s more about mindset. Them not thinking what they’re doing is risky, that’s what it comes down to. I’m not asking them to ping 50 yarders. That’s actually a harder skill.’
Vicario broke his right ankle in the first half of the 4-0 win at Manchester City on Saturday but stayed on until the end, before scans the next day confirmed a fracture that needed an operation.
‘It’s not going to be weeks, it’ll be months,’ said Postecoglou. ‘He’s had surgery and there’s certain timelines. Because it is Vic, and I don’t like giving timelines so early in a process like that because it puts undue pressure on the players and some expectations, but once we get past the rehab stage and he’s getting out there we’ll have a clearer idea.’
On the idea of picking up a free agent, he said: ‘That’s not going to happen.’ And on plans for the January transfer market, he said: ‘Any club that gets a significant injury in their goalkeeper kind of assesses where’ they’re at.
‘It’s not just another injury, but at the same time, it is just one injury. We’ve been dealing with setbacks for a while.
‘January, we’re always working towards the next window of what the best scenario is for us, and a lot of that will depend on where we’re at from the squad perspective and the game’s perspective. Just this injury doesn’t change any plans for January.’
Spurs are without centre-halves Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore.
Will Lankshear is banned and cannot play against Roma after a red card against Galatasaray.
Rodrigo Bentancur, who is serving a seven-match ban in domestic football, can play in the Europa League.
Spurs possible 433: Forster; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son.
