Interesting article, posted a few months back on Goal.com.
Dearth of Quality Keepers Exposed
Webber’s World: Dearth Of Quality Keepers Exposed
2/24/2005 12:44:00 AM
Tim Webber considers the lack of top class goalkeepers in the Premiership – a fact exposed in European competition…
Just one night into the Champions League second round a familiar theme was emerging. The English league, once a bastion for goalkeeping, is severely lacking between the sticks.
Jerzy Dudek and Jens Lehmann have both come under the microscope once more, as perceived errors have threatened to de-rail their side’s campaigns. It is an all too familiar theme throughout the English game with no sign of abating.
The English national side and top division has long had a reputation for solidarity, composure and confidence between the sticks. When potentially the best goalkeeper of all time, Gordon Banks, was sold by Leicester it was because he was holding back Peter Shilton. Shilton fought tooth and nail in his formative international years with Ray Clemence for the number one jersey. Elsewhere in the league the great Pat Jennings plied his trade. From Shilton to the Premiership; and Seaman and Schmeichel came to the fore.
Two giant presences, two huge names with impeccable reputations and the ability to win game after game for club and international sides. But where have all the keepers gone? Admittedly Chelsea are unlikely to be found out on this score in the coming weeks. The giant Petr Cech has shown that his lack of experience is not a problem; his sheer size and presence have more than made up for his relative goalkeeping youth. In reserve they hold possibly the Premiership’s second best goalkeeper in Carlo Cudicini, who has never made the slightest impact on the Italian national squad.
But beyond Mourinho’s side there is a definite problem. Seaman and Schmeichel have never fully been replaced by their club sides, depending to an extent on how Fabien Barthez is viewed - Ferguson may wish he had the eccentric Frenchman in his squad today. Two of the top clubs in the land have serious goalkeeping problems.
At Manchester United, Roy Carroll continues to shred nerves and quicken heart-rates every time the ball comes near the United net. The appalling refereeing error that led to a disallowed goal by Tottenham seems to have overshadowed the sheer failure of Roy Carroll to catch the ball, and then manage to throw it over his own shoulder in a single move. Carroll refuses to sign a new contract with the club, because he believes that Ferguson doesn’t view him as a long term number one. You’re probably right Roy, but that’s your own fault for continually reminding him of your inadequacies.
Tim Howard has been sidelined following errors against Lyon in the early stages of the Champions League this year, yet following an even worse one from Carroll in the return match the Irishman stayed in the sticks. All this leads to the conclusion that there must be something else going on where the young American is concerned. Early promise was shown last season, and maybe the pressure has proved a little too much for him. Otherwise surely he is a better option then Carroll, who can’t kick the ball even remotely in the direction of his own players.
At Arsenal they have been having their own version of musical chairs. Lehmann, who spent most of last season seemingly trying to get sent off, began the campaign in the sticks. But after a rush of blood too many, was replaced by Almunia. It is unlikely that Mr Almunia is popular amongst the Spanish goalkeeping fraternity having dragged their collective name through the mud. He is not however reflective of the norm in Spain, where Canizares, Casillas and Valdes among others prove that there is a considerable goalkeeping force in La Liga.
Almunia was brought to Arsenal from Celta Vigo, but that does not offer the full story. Last season he was loaned out, as he could not get a game for his own club, oh and by the way they were relegated, did I mention that?
Almunia could well find himself back in goal for Arsenal’s weekend trip to Southampton after Lehmann’s performance on Tuesday night. At least Lehmann finally helped decide one issue. He has been stoking the flames in the German national squad for a few years now, professing to be better than number one, Oliver Kahn. At least he has helped to end that dispute in their head to head meeting in Munich.
Manchester United and Arsenal have certainly done themselves no favours whatsoever in their pursuit of honours, and one or both could find themselves pointing to the lack of a real presence between the sticks come the end of the season. So is this just a failure by these big two to recruit the right man? Well not if we glance at the Premiership as a whole it is not.
The best English goalkeeper playing at the moment appears to be Nigel Martyn. But age and circumstance suggest he will never get a look in at international level. He of course holds back Richard Wright, the once great hope of English goalkeeping, who along with the perpetually injured Nicky Weaver have dropped off the radar.
Paul Robinson appears to be the pick of the keepers outside of Chelsea, yet without ever fully inspiring confidence or suggesting he could be one of the world’s best. The fact that the previous England ‘keeper is more famously known as ‘calamity’ than David, suggests the problem runs deep. James continues to baffle in his ability to save and then stumble in a matter of minutes. With the exception of West Ham, who were relegated, he has often found himself surplus to requirements due to his lapses in concentration. James’ former club Liverpool have their own calamity goalkeepers currently, Dudek’s performances and Kirkland’s injuries put them up there as the leading exponents of the accident prone ‘keeper.
So to the rest of the Premiership. Shay Given is a creditable keeper, as is Mark Schwarzer, but again not really for the top clubs. Edwin Van der Saar has almost let his career wind down at Fulham, when holding the attributes to be a big player. Yet his failure at Juventus suggests he maybe lacked the necessary character or drive at the biggest clubs.
So it appears there is little in the way of great goalkeeping talent in the Premiership. When Dean Kiely of Charlton can tell his manager that he will always stay on his line because he doesn’t like coming for crosses, the standard is evident. This is supposedly one of the top goalkeepers in the country, yet he is not confident enough, or just not able, to come and catch a cross - it is ridiculous.
This week, with the resumption of the Champions League, more than ever we are struck by the realisation that this is not a general trend of football. Many in the country, champions of the English game, suggest it affects all. But it is quite simply not true. Over the two nights, Cech, Buffon, Casillas, Toldo, Dida, Valdes and Kahn prove that there are plenty of top talents out there, they just seem to be avoiding the Premiership these days.
Tim Webber
Do you agree that English football is suffering something of a goalkeeping crisis? Let us know your views by e-mailing you@goal.com
Dearth of Quality Keepers Exposed
Webber’s World: Dearth Of Quality Keepers Exposed
2/24/2005 12:44:00 AM
Tim Webber considers the lack of top class goalkeepers in the Premiership – a fact exposed in European competition…
Just one night into the Champions League second round a familiar theme was emerging. The English league, once a bastion for goalkeeping, is severely lacking between the sticks.
Jerzy Dudek and Jens Lehmann have both come under the microscope once more, as perceived errors have threatened to de-rail their side’s campaigns. It is an all too familiar theme throughout the English game with no sign of abating.
The English national side and top division has long had a reputation for solidarity, composure and confidence between the sticks. When potentially the best goalkeeper of all time, Gordon Banks, was sold by Leicester it was because he was holding back Peter Shilton. Shilton fought tooth and nail in his formative international years with Ray Clemence for the number one jersey. Elsewhere in the league the great Pat Jennings plied his trade. From Shilton to the Premiership; and Seaman and Schmeichel came to the fore.
Two giant presences, two huge names with impeccable reputations and the ability to win game after game for club and international sides. But where have all the keepers gone? Admittedly Chelsea are unlikely to be found out on this score in the coming weeks. The giant Petr Cech has shown that his lack of experience is not a problem; his sheer size and presence have more than made up for his relative goalkeeping youth. In reserve they hold possibly the Premiership’s second best goalkeeper in Carlo Cudicini, who has never made the slightest impact on the Italian national squad.
But beyond Mourinho’s side there is a definite problem. Seaman and Schmeichel have never fully been replaced by their club sides, depending to an extent on how Fabien Barthez is viewed - Ferguson may wish he had the eccentric Frenchman in his squad today. Two of the top clubs in the land have serious goalkeeping problems.
At Manchester United, Roy Carroll continues to shred nerves and quicken heart-rates every time the ball comes near the United net. The appalling refereeing error that led to a disallowed goal by Tottenham seems to have overshadowed the sheer failure of Roy Carroll to catch the ball, and then manage to throw it over his own shoulder in a single move. Carroll refuses to sign a new contract with the club, because he believes that Ferguson doesn’t view him as a long term number one. You’re probably right Roy, but that’s your own fault for continually reminding him of your inadequacies.
Tim Howard has been sidelined following errors against Lyon in the early stages of the Champions League this year, yet following an even worse one from Carroll in the return match the Irishman stayed in the sticks. All this leads to the conclusion that there must be something else going on where the young American is concerned. Early promise was shown last season, and maybe the pressure has proved a little too much for him. Otherwise surely he is a better option then Carroll, who can’t kick the ball even remotely in the direction of his own players.
At Arsenal they have been having their own version of musical chairs. Lehmann, who spent most of last season seemingly trying to get sent off, began the campaign in the sticks. But after a rush of blood too many, was replaced by Almunia. It is unlikely that Mr Almunia is popular amongst the Spanish goalkeeping fraternity having dragged their collective name through the mud. He is not however reflective of the norm in Spain, where Canizares, Casillas and Valdes among others prove that there is a considerable goalkeeping force in La Liga.
Almunia was brought to Arsenal from Celta Vigo, but that does not offer the full story. Last season he was loaned out, as he could not get a game for his own club, oh and by the way they were relegated, did I mention that?
Almunia could well find himself back in goal for Arsenal’s weekend trip to Southampton after Lehmann’s performance on Tuesday night. At least Lehmann finally helped decide one issue. He has been stoking the flames in the German national squad for a few years now, professing to be better than number one, Oliver Kahn. At least he has helped to end that dispute in their head to head meeting in Munich.
Manchester United and Arsenal have certainly done themselves no favours whatsoever in their pursuit of honours, and one or both could find themselves pointing to the lack of a real presence between the sticks come the end of the season. So is this just a failure by these big two to recruit the right man? Well not if we glance at the Premiership as a whole it is not.
The best English goalkeeper playing at the moment appears to be Nigel Martyn. But age and circumstance suggest he will never get a look in at international level. He of course holds back Richard Wright, the once great hope of English goalkeeping, who along with the perpetually injured Nicky Weaver have dropped off the radar.
Paul Robinson appears to be the pick of the keepers outside of Chelsea, yet without ever fully inspiring confidence or suggesting he could be one of the world’s best. The fact that the previous England ‘keeper is more famously known as ‘calamity’ than David, suggests the problem runs deep. James continues to baffle in his ability to save and then stumble in a matter of minutes. With the exception of West Ham, who were relegated, he has often found himself surplus to requirements due to his lapses in concentration. James’ former club Liverpool have their own calamity goalkeepers currently, Dudek’s performances and Kirkland’s injuries put them up there as the leading exponents of the accident prone ‘keeper.
So to the rest of the Premiership. Shay Given is a creditable keeper, as is Mark Schwarzer, but again not really for the top clubs. Edwin Van der Saar has almost let his career wind down at Fulham, when holding the attributes to be a big player. Yet his failure at Juventus suggests he maybe lacked the necessary character or drive at the biggest clubs.
So it appears there is little in the way of great goalkeeping talent in the Premiership. When Dean Kiely of Charlton can tell his manager that he will always stay on his line because he doesn’t like coming for crosses, the standard is evident. This is supposedly one of the top goalkeepers in the country, yet he is not confident enough, or just not able, to come and catch a cross - it is ridiculous.
This week, with the resumption of the Champions League, more than ever we are struck by the realisation that this is not a general trend of football. Many in the country, champions of the English game, suggest it affects all. But it is quite simply not true. Over the two nights, Cech, Buffon, Casillas, Toldo, Dida, Valdes and Kahn prove that there are plenty of top talents out there, they just seem to be avoiding the Premiership these days.
Tim Webber
Do you agree that English football is suffering something of a goalkeeping crisis? Let us know your views by e-mailing you@goal.com