Tottenham Hotspur Move A Poor Career Choice For Michel Vorm

As has been the case for many seasons now, the summer transfer window has presented the Barclays English Premier League many eyebrow-raising moments. From the transfer of Carlos Tevez from Manchester United to Manchester City or the Robin van Persie switch from Arsenal to United, there have been some memorable and unfathomable moves within the league.

While there may be several justifications warranting moves from one club to the other, perhaps one that till now baffles many is this summer’s transfer of Michel Vorm.

The undeniably gifted goalkeeper had time and again rescued Swansea City from the cusp of defeat with his razor-sharp reflexes to deny clear goals as well as keep his side in the game. The Dutch international, however, committed career suicide when he signed for Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £5 million. The 30-year-old consequently moved from a club where he was a revered icon, an ever-present fixture in the manager’s line-up and a highly dependable goalkeeper to his new role – a talented bench warmer who offers a back-up option to French international, Hugo Lloris.

The move was questioned by both sets of fans – the Swans couldn’t comprehend the need for the move to a side that continuously ran out of steam in the business end of the season to finish out of the top four. As for Spurs fans, the purchase of the gifted shot-stopper, barely a month after the current No. 1 keeper put pen to paper on a new five-year deal seemed peculiar. The North London side have in the past had the tendency of filling their goalkeeping quota with a plethora of talent. Perhaps this was best epitomised by the co-existence of Huerelho Gomes, Carlo Cudicini and Brad Friedel. Was Vorm a luxury purchase – one the club didn’t necessarily need, but couldn’t afford to pass up either? It seems so.

Time and again, clubs have moved for players that frankly seem too good to pass up, not thinking of whether or not the player is best-suited for the league, let alone the club. The Galacticos splash out millions and roll out six-digit salaries to sway the cream of football to the Bernabeu, but find it difficult to incorporate these gifted players into their side. As a result, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Kaka have been but a few casualties to this practice. Thus, has this habit filtered into the Premier League?

Whichever way it is viewed, the truth remains naked for all to witness – the lack of game time (just one appearance this season) will definitely culminate in the Dutchman being further relegated down the pecking order on a national front. The once ever-dependable keeper and indispensable keeper has now morphosized into a bench-warming antic that pleases the eye, but remains tucked under the covers.