What Makes a Goalkeeper World Class?

Being between the sticks for the League champions? Representing your country? Or playing a blinder amidst a shambolic defence?

 

QPR fans must have been excited when they saw Julio Caesar was on his way to Loftus Road. 'World Class' will most certainly have been banded around. Except Caesar isn't. At least not anymore. He played in a Brazil side with enough attacking flair to distract from a nation rather susceptible when it comes to defending. And at Inter Milan he had a solid back four to rely on. At QPR he has neither. He's hardly excelled so far and don't be surprised if he returns to Brazil in January, citing a desire to force his way back into the national side in time for 2012 as his reason.

In light of recent results and some superb displays from keepers in the lower half of the Premier League here is a list of attributes which add to every keepers value.

 

 

1. “Every goal is like a knife in the ribs”

Gordon Banks

 

Desire- Old or young every keeper needs it. The moment Brad Friedel shows a lack of desire Hugo Lloris will be replacing him. At the age of 41 Friedel is playing with a determination that puts David De Gea to shame. When De Gea lost his place to Lindegaard he showed little interest in getting the jersey back. His body language is too passive and doesn't exactly fill a defence with confidence. Buffon or Neuar would be having none of the sluggish defending plaguing Old Trafford this season.

 

De Gea looks like a lost lamb and though his shot stopping is first class his desire holds him back. Talking of desire Ali Al-Habsi should get a mention. Deemed surplus to requirements at Bolton, perhaps the club's wisest move, he was shipped off to Wigan. He could have sulked or drifted onto another bench but his desire has turned him into arguably one of the most reliable keepers in the league.

 

 

2. "Dealing with the high cross is the yardstick by which top goal keepers are measured".

Alex Welsh

 

Susceptibility to errors- Goals conceded and saves made in a season don't fairly reflect class. Michel Vorm will always make more saves then Cech in a season. But he'll concede more too. A look at statistics from last season, which weigh more heavily on individual judgement, paint an interesting picture. De Gea and Schnezy missed four crosses last season. Vorm missed only one and Al-Habsi two. Ben Forster did not make any individual errors which led to goals. Schnezy made four. Tim Howard and Vorm's penalty save ratio's were 50% and 66%, De Gea and Joe Hart's only 33%.

 

 

 

3. “For a goalkeeper, there is no hiding place”

Brad Friedel

 

Mental strength- When a manager is searching for a new keeper he's always going to take an interest in their mental strength. It's all well and good keeping ten consecutive clean sheets in League 1. But when a big team comes knocking, how is that player going to cope when he drops a shot at Ronaldo's feet in the Champions League Quarter Finals. One look at the face can often tell you a lot about a keepers mental strength. Joe Hart, Gigi Buffon and Iker Casillas ooze confidence. And they've all made a crucial mistake in their careers.

 

To be able to block that mistake out and save a penalty ten minutes later is what really distinguishes one keeper from the next. The likes of Pepe Reina, Tim Howard and Robert Green have had disastrous games, where one mistake has been the catalyst for another. With their belief in tatters, a drop in form will then follow. The best keepers accept the mistake, remind themselves of the numerous incidents where they have saved vital points for their team, and move on.

 

 

 

4. "I always try to pressure the player for as long as he begins to think. As soon as the attacking player must think, I have got him"

Peter Schmeichel

 

Physical presence- You don't have to be a giant to succeed as a keeper, but the bigger usually amount to the better. Peter Schmeichel evolved into a crazed savage beast when any player beat the United offside trap. Off his line quicker then Michael Owen to his next pay check, Schmeichel left the striker with little time to make up his mind. The majority of the time the 'Great Dane' won his one on one battles through intimidation and presence.

 

Making yourself big at the crucial moment is important. Buffon seems to stretch his body out across the entire goal before an opposing free-kick, making the already minute gap for glory even smaller. And any keeper with the confidence to come and punch the ball from a corner is useful. Done right, although often done horrifically wrong, it takes enormous pressure of your defence and ensures the ball is properly cleared. Too many keepers fail to make up their minds at set piece situations.

 

 

 

5. “You don’t feel sorry for yourself, you get on with life”

Jens Lehmann

 

Adaptability- It's all well and good if your Michael Vorm, performing heroics each week for Swansea. But if Arsenal came knocking would his performance stay the same? Many keepers play at a certain level, but cant adapt to a significant step up. Tim Howard wasn't Man United quality but for a team like Everton he excels. This point can be tied in with the mental strength observation. Some players don't have the mental grit to be trusted with keeping for Man United. I'm not fully sure De Gea actually does.

 

Adaptability can differ on a teams playing style also. Teams that want to play from the back will expect a keeper who is confident on the ball and who can distribute on the counter at speed. In Spain and Holland this style is often expected, one wonders how Shay Given would cope abroad. Could John Ruddy move up a gear and play for a top four team, still marshaling and commanding his back four with the same dominance? Or would he be intimidated and humbled with Terry and Luiz in front of him?