Cartilage Free Captain is again reviewing the Tottenham Hotspur first team players after the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. Up next: reserve goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Michel Vorm

Appearances: 11 (5 EPL, 4 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Goals conceded: 7
Clean sheets: 6

What went right?

Michel Vorm stepped up admirably when Hugo Lloris went down with an injury. The Dutchman was called into emergency action in the first game of the season and made a handful of key saves to blank Everton.

He kept a clean sheet against Crystal Palace then put in a man of the match performance at home to Liverpool, only conceding from the spot. All in all, not a bad week’s work!

He’s also by all accounts extremely well-liked in the dressing room.

More importantly, he’s apparently extremely close with Lloris. According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas “They push each other in training at a level described to me as ‘insane’ at times.”

That’s about as ideal as it gets for your backup goalie: if he can keep regular clean sheets when called into action, push the starter to get better and not make noise about playing time, you’ve got a keeper (*ahem*).

What went wrong?

His distribution isn’t the best, I guess? But it’s fine. You could say he didn’t push Lloris for the starting position, but was anyone under the impression that he would?

He’s exactly who we thought he was — he also ranked either #1 or #2 on every list of “best backup keepers in the Premier League” I just Googled, so let’s move on.

What now?

Vorm unexpectedly signed a new contract in December that will keep him at Tottenham through the end of next season. He just turned 33 — still relatively young for a goalkeeper. He could easily play five or six more years; but it appears the powers that be have decided they won’t be in North London.

Recent reports that Spurs have put in a bid to make Pau Lopez’s loan move permanent would suggest that Vorm’s days are numbered. It makes sense for Spurs — the Spaniard is just 22, more than a decade younger than Vorm, and could conceivably blossom into Lloris’s eventual replacement.

You’d expect Vorm to be the No. 2 next season, but if Lopez does sign on a permanent basis, the Dutchman will likely be let go in the summer.

Vorm could easily start for a Premier League team for a few more years, then have a few as a backup somewhere. I was pretty surprised when we signed him and remain equally so that we managed to keep him happy as a backup.

A quick perusal of his Instagram reveals he has two young children, which might have something to do with it. Having a steady situation with less pressure than a starting gig in a metropolitan city is probably pretty great for him and his family. I hope whatever’s next is equally as good for all the Vorms.

Rating: 3 Chirpys