Tottenham Hotspur have yet to fully realize their potential under Ange Postecoglou, with several areas of the team still requiring significant improvement.

As they prepare for their next Premier League game against Coventry City, Postecoglou faces a number of pressing issues that need to be addressed to get his team back on track.

One glaring issue from Tottenham’s recent performance was their inability to defend effectively in set-piece situations, as evidenced by the costly goal they conceded during the North London derby against Arsenal.

Gabriel Magalhaes was able to outmaneuver Cristian Romero, giving Arsenal the only goal of the match. The trend of teams crowding the six-yard box to create chaos for goalkeepers was executed perfectly by Arsenal in that instance.

Although Romero received some criticism for losing track of his man, much of the scrutiny from fans and pundits fell on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

During a discussion on NBC Sports, a former Arsenal player voiced his concerns about Vicario’s performance, particularly in dealing with balls played into his six-yard box.

He remarked that Vicario’s inability to assert dominance in such situations has made him a weak link for Tottenham, especially given his height and expected command of the area.

The pundit highlighted how teams will continue to target this vulnerability in Tottenham’s defense, with set pieces being a recurring problem.

In this instance, Arsenal capitalized on Vicario’s hesitance, and Gabriel was able to make the most of the opportunity.

Despite the criticism, Tottenham don’t seem poised to make any immediate changes in the goalkeeping department.

Reports suggest that the club doesn’t have an unlimited budget, making it unlikely they will bring in a replacement for Vicario anytime soon.

Additionally, it appears Postecoglou is not inclined to call on backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster for Premier League duties, further underscoring the fact that Vicario will likely remain the team’s first choice between the posts for the foreseeable future.

While Vicario has the potential to become one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers on his day, his current form leaves much to be desired.

His hesitance in commanding the six-yard box during set pieces is allowing opposing teams to put him under pressure, and until he can establish greater authority in these situations, Tottenham will continue to struggle with conceding from set plays.

The defensive frailties witnessed in the North London derby were not limited to Vicario alone, as the entire backline needs to step up and take more responsibility in such situations.

The pressure on Postecoglou to address these defensive lapses is mounting, and Tottenham cannot afford to keep giving away soft goals if they hope to improve their standing in the league.

There is little doubt that Postecoglou’s system demands a lot from his players, both defensively and offensively, and the team is still adjusting to his philosophy.

Tottenham’s attacking play, while promising in moments, has lacked the sharpness and consistency needed to truly challenge top teams like Arsenal.

This lack of cutting edge in front of goal has only compounded the team’s defensive woes, leaving them vulnerable to defeat even when controlling large portions of the game.

Tottenham’s next few matches will be critical in determining whether Postecoglou can turn things around.

The team’s performance against Coventry City in the upcoming Premier League fixture will offer fans a chance to see if the manager can instill more discipline and resilience into his side, especially when it comes to defending set pieces and protecting their goalkeeper.

For now, though, the focus must be on ironing out these key issues in training, so they don’t continue to cost Tottenham valuable points as the season progresses.

Ultimately, Tottenham need to find a way to balance their free-flowing attacking style with greater defensive stability if they are to push further up the table.

Vicario, in particular, will need to show he can rise to the challenge and prove his doubters wrong by becoming a more commanding presence in the box.

Postecoglou’s task is to inspire confidence in his players and ensure that the entire team plays with more cohesion and purpose. Only then can Tottenham start to deliver the kind of results their fans expect and climb out of their current rut.

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