Roberto De Zerbi's goalkeeper antics at Brighton could hint at big Tottenham change - Opinion

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur could bring immediate and long-term change between the sticks in North London.

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans will be keen to get life under new boss Roberto De Zerbi underway, although some still have their reservations about the new manager.

However, more questions are expected to be directed at Roberto De Zerbi in his first pre-match press conference, which should offer greater insight into what life under his tenure will look like.

While off-field matters will take care of themselves, many supporters will be focused on performances on the pitch as Tottenham Hotspur continue their fight to avoid relegation.

How De Zerbi is likely to set up, and which players will be key to his system, are also key talking points that we have addressed this week.

But based on the Italian’s past decisions, a significant change between the sticks could be on the cards for Spurs.

Tottenham goalkeeper decision looms for Roberto De Zerbi

We already know that Tottenham have two goalkeepers with contrasting qualities and strengths. Guglielmo Vicario is an elite shot-stopper, while Antonin Kinsky represents a solid option with the ball at his feet (apart from against Atletico Madrid, apparently).

The question of who will be between the sticks has also sparked debate, given De Zerbi’s demands and the contrasting styles of both goalkeepers.

We already know that for the Sunderland clash, Kinsky might be the one in goal, with Vicario still recovering from injury.

However, when both are fit, we could see an entirely different approach at Spurs. During De Zerbi’s time at Brighton, the Italian had two goalkeepers who shared minutes.

Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele were De Zerbi’s shot-stoppers at the time, and both goalkeepers rotated 14 times in the 23-24 season. The manager himself even admitted that Verbruggen and Steele would get a 50-50 split of games.

Could we also see Vicario and Kinsky share minutes under the new boss?

Spurs may rethink long-term goalkeeper plans under De Zerbi

However, further investigation hints that it will be far from straightforward at Tottenham this season.

When De Zerbi was at Brighton, his two goalkeeping options were very similar in style, with both capable of playing out from the back. That could explain why the Italian opted to rotate as much as he did; regardless of who was in the sticks, his side would perform at almost a similar level.

At Tottenham, however, that is far from the case. Vicario has struggled with playing out and often opts to go long. Whether this is down to the coaches he has worked under this season is another question. Under Ange Postecoglou, who had a similar philosophy, the Italian struggled with his feet at times.

This does not just hint at a potential change this season, but could also give us a glimpse into what might happen in the future. The inability of either one of these goalkeepers could force a change between the sticks next season.

We already know Vicario is attracting interest from Inter Milan, and fresh reports claim that he has given a yes to the Italian side.

Should he be moved on, Spurs could then opt to sign a new goalkeeper, and if Kinsky goes out on loan, Tottenham might even need two.

In recent weeks, the profiles Tottenham have been linked with are goalkeepers capable of playing out from the back.

Bart Verbruggen has been linked with a reunion with De Zerbi, while James Trafford has also been linked with a move to Spurs.

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