‘Be a bit braver’ – Trevor Sinclair blasts experienced Spurs star after Everton defeat

Former England winger Trevor Sinclair has blasted Hugo Lloris for failing to keep out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first-half effort in Spurs’ 5-4 loss at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Lloris has been one of Tottenham’s most in-form players over the last 12 months and has not made too many mistakes since returning from his fractured elbow over a year ago.

Jose Mourinho even labelled the Frenchman ‘the best goalkeeper in the Premier League’ recently and insisted that the 34-year-old was one of the top three goalkeepers in world football.

However, the Tottenham captain did not cover himself in glory in the FA Cup fifth-round tie on Wednesday as he arguably could have done better for a couple of the home side’s goals.

It was Lloris’ failure to keep out Calvert-Lewin’s first-half equaliser that Sinclair particularly took issue, with as the pundit accusing the France number one of having ‘lettuce wrists’ and insisting that he should have been braver.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former West Ham star said: “It looks like it’s gone right through him.

“It’s a good strike, Calvert-Lewin has hit it well, but it’s lettuce wrists from Lloris.

“He’s got to keep that ball out. Stronger wrists, be a bit braver, put your body on the line – take it in the face if you have to! He didn’t look comfortable trying to save that.

“I mean, his teammates… especially his defenders who are fighting tooth and nail to keep the ball out of the net, they look at that shot going straight through your goalkeeper.

“You must be thinking ‘what is the point?’ Really poor, that, from Hugo Lloris.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Given the high standards that Lloris sets himself, I am sure he would have been extremely disappointed at his failure to keep out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strike. However, I always find that the goalkeeping role is such a specialised position that former outfield players are almost always off the mark with their critique of goalkeepers.

What Sinclair said here is a classic example. While Lloris will no doubt feel that he should have met the shot with stronger hands, the Frenchman’s failure to save the shot had nothing to do with a lack of bravery or an unwillingness to take the shot on the face.

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