An old mantra within this sport indicates that you shouldn't drop them until they give you a reason to. When the player in question is the ever-reliable Brad Friedel, with Premier League experience seeping out of his ears, his understudy will be left to wait in the wings for a while. That particular No.2 just happened to be one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, in French No.1 Hugo Lloris, with the club having just splurged £8 million in acquiring him from Lyon.
''I'm training, I do the maximum, and the coach made his choice. It is difficult to accept. It is a little hard. You will have to ask the coach. I just stay professional.'' - Hugo Lloris, November 2012.
Former Spurs' third-choice keeper Heurelho Gomes' has since let slip that Lloris was actively seeking an instant exit from White Hart Lane, as Friedel tightened his grip on the first-choice gloves with some inspired displays in the opening six weeks of the season. Unable to get a look in, the highly-rated Frenchman had not anticipated swapping icon status at the Stade de Gerland for a tracksuit and a couple of splinters in his backside. The 41 year old former US international's run of 310 consecutive league appearances came to an abrupt end on 7 October, when Lloris lined out between the posts for a long-anticipated debut. Keeping a clean sheet against Villa, the 25 year old starlet wouldn't look back, amassing 25 league games for the club in what turned out to be an impressive debut season for the club. He has since gone on to establish himself as possibly the clubs' most valuable asset, linked with a host of top clubs following a string of impressive displays for the White Hart Lane side, and was subsequently rewarded with a lucrative five year contract last month.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
