Could Michel Vorm really start for Tottenham?
Mauricio Pochettino has built up a ton of goodwill with Spurs fans, but he could erase it all with one erratic decision on Saturday. If Tottenham start Michel Vorm ahead of Hugo Lloris against Manchester United, Spurs fans might actually riot.
Per reputable journalist Ben Pearce, that is a distinct possibility. He asked Pochettino about his plans ahead of this weekend’s massive clash and the Spurs boss declined to name a starting keeper. It’s up to you whether or not to believe Pochettino is still deciding which keeper to start or if he’s just playing coy with the media.
#thfc Pochettino, asked if Michel Vorm could play in goal in the semi-final: "You know I never confirm the team before confirming it to the players. It’s one possibility of course."
— Ben Pearce (@BenPearceSpurs) April 19, 2018
Call me crazy, but I could see Pochettino giving Vorm the nod. Firstly, Vorm has played all of the club’s other FA Cup competitions. There’s something harsh about dropping him from the side after he’s played such an integral role in getting Tottenham to this stage in the competition.
There’s also the small matter of Lloris’ erratic form of late. The Frenchman is still one of the top keepers in Europe in my opinion, but there’s no denying his recent drop in form. One mental error against United this weekend could see Spurs crashing out of their last chance of the season to end their trophy drought.
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Giving Vorm the nod in such a massive fixture could also help Spurs retain his services beyond this season. It’s no secret he’d like to leave this summer to become a first choice keeper somewhere else.
Perhaps trusting him with one of Tottenham’s most important matches of the season would be enough to keep him for another season or two.
Despite all those arguments to the contrary, you should still expect Lloris to start against United this weekend. No matter how much credit Vorm deserves for helping Spurs get this far, it’s Lloris that deserves credit for sticking with the club during some real lean years. Sitting him on such an important day would be a poor reward for his service to the club.
It’s not a lock though. Pochettino has a different way of thinking about things than most fans. It shouldn’t be an absolute shock if he sticks with Vorm on Saturday.