Brad Friedel deserves to remain Tottenham’s number one goal keeper until such time as Manager Andres Villas Boas decides that Hugo Lloris would be a better option in goal for the team.
I happened to be at Spurs preseason friendly in Valencia against the team that finished third in La Liga the 41-year-old American was the first Spurs player on the field warming up a good ten minutes before any of his teammates came onto the pitch.
It is fair to say that two goals were scored against him that night, but neither of them could be blamed on him.
The coach is doing the right thing leaving Friedel in goal, and here is what he had to say about his decision. “Hugo fully understands his position — he has made his own reflection. No, he was not angry. He was completely fine.
“At this moment out of our respect for Brad Friedel the most common-sense decision was to entitle him to play against Reading and continue to be our first-choice keeper.
“You don’t sign any player that has the right to play in the first team every week.
“The collective objective is much more important than individual objectives — and Tottenham comes first before any person.
“Things will happen for him individually because he is a player of massive talent.”
Friedel put in a superb display to earn Spurs a point in a 1-1 draw with Norwich last time out. But AVB still expects the French star to play a big role.
He added: “Hugo has no fear of competition. He’s succeeded in competing against the best goalkeepers in France.
“Brad’s form has been excellent and he is a leader. The decision is easy for us at this moment but Brad knows he has one more competitor.
“I’ve told him at the moment the shirt is his and deserves it for his performances.”
Spurs have yet to win under Villas-Boas, who said: “With the amount of games coming up it will be a good chance for the players to get more acquainted.
“This is the first day we have had everyone together. It’s the first day the players have seen Clint Dempsey’s and Hugo’s face. It is important to have more time together to establish ourselves.”
