Glenn Hoddle was critical of Hugo Lloris for making yet another mistake during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.
The Spurs legend even noted how the Spurs goalkeeper was ‘nervous’ and looked ‘uptight’ when he was in the tunnel before kick-off.
On Boxing Day, Lloris returned from the World Cup finals and he was on the bench for his side’s 2-2 draw at Brentford before donning the gloves once again against Villa.
After a drama-free first-half, Unai Emery’s side turned it on after the break, including Douglas Luiz’s long-range shot being parried by Lloris, which fell into the path of the alert Ollie Watkins, who withstood a late challenge by Cristian Romero, kept his composure, before finding Emiliano Buendia who guided home the opener.
Another senior Spurs player – Harry Kane – was at fault for Villa’s second because the England captain was dispossessed by Boubacar Kamara inside his own half and then John McGinn fed an outstanding through ball which was finished home by Luiz.
After the game, Lloris was a hot topic of discussion, including the 36-year-old being slammed by Hoddle and how he just ‘didn’t like’ his mannerism and body language even before a ball was kicked, as he told Premier League Productions (01/01/23 at 4:10 pm).
“It’s poor goalkeeping, it’s pretty obvious that it’s really poor,” said Hoddle. “Romero was not alive. He was sleeping. He was closest to the knock-in. Watkins as a striker goes in there because that’s what you are always thinking.
“If it’s going to be parried. It has to be parried wide of the goal – it was a dreadful goal from Tottenham all round. Romero is on his heels and not even aware of that second ball. What if my goalkeeper doesn’t make the save that he should do? He doesn’t react. He’s dreaming of cleaning his World Cup medal.
“He’s (Lloris) has made mistake after mistake. Sometimes a goalkeeper can make mistakes and it doesn’t end up in the back of the net. I think with Lloris, at the moment, it’s happening too many times.
“I didn’t like him in the tunnel before the game and he looked really uptight. I said ‘he looks really nervous and he played like that’.”
LLORIS UNDER PRESSURE
For France, Lloris could argue that he was one of the top-performing keepers at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, only to be outdone by Emiliano Martinez of Argentina.
But, on the domestic scene, cite Tottenham games against Newcastle United and Sporting Lisbon this season, he has put in questionable and error-prone displays.
It isn’t a surprise that those at Hotspur Way are looking to replace their long-term keeper, who has less than 18 months left on his current deal.
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