Schwarzer getting playing time as World Cup looms

Mark Schwarzer's move to Chelsea has proven the need for an elite goalkeeper to be able to backstop a team in the highest tier of football in the world. Schwarzer has built a reputation around being solid, consistent and calm; goalkeepers have to be a constant sign of reliability to get picked and have long careers, and Schwarzer had been the model of consistency for Fulham for a number of years before the switch. With Sketelenburg out injured for most of the season, Fulham's woes have been added to with their goalkeeping options. Given the chance to play against Sunderland last weekend, perhaps due to Mourinho feeling they were up against a weaker side. Argentina's choice Sergio Romero has been playing for Monaco, only as of late, simply out of coaching pressure and Rio looming, and this may have also be a reason.

Either way, with Cech getting injured in the Champion's League match against Athletico Madrid, Chelsea were lucky enough for Shwarzer being given playing time as he has been thrown into the thick of things. It may only be three games, but it could really define the season for Chelsea.

With the World Cup just around the corner, and Schwarzer limiting his chances for selection by going from a team where he would arguably play every single game to being on a team only to bench warm, he really needed some game time to build up his prep and be ready for his international squad. Without matches, he could be incredibly rusty. The reason Julio Cesar took a loan deal to play in Toronto. So with Cech being injured, now is perfect time for Shwarzer to prove he's still 'got it' for club and country.

Manonne recovers with great performance vs Chelsea

With Manonne's one mistake that cost Sunderland a miracle game against Man City, he proved he can deal with the mental overload of the British papers and criticism from anyone and everyone (especially those who don't have goalkeeping insight!). This season in the Premier League there has been quite the amount of goalkeeping concerns and bumbling and bungled efforts that have shown just how tough the pressure of the modern game is on us goalkeepers (not that I play to this level!). To be a goalkeeper, you have to be almost rubber skinned when it comes to the rigours of the psychological 'game within the game'.

Manonne made some spectacular stops including a double save that helped Sunderland get the points against Chelsea at the weekend. To be able to play at this level, you need a bounce-back-ability game in game out to be able to get your team the points. Your team wants the best out of you to achieve the best you can for a season, so you need to be 'in the zone' every single game. Getting down about mistakes only makes things worse as you go into a downward spiral and stop believing in yourself. So a goalkeeper has to be able to let things slide (not performance wise!), and let go of them, like water off a duck's back as they say.

And Manonne has proven this, after being thrown into the fire with Westwood's injury. Showing flickers of brilliance at Arsenal when deputising, the agility and athleticism is there, he has shown he can handle the pressure most recently with the Black Cats. But either way, as a youngster or a amateur goalkeeper, a lot can be learnt about how he dealt with the situation; both personally and professionally. Being a goalkeeper might just be the most miserable position in sports sometimes, and it takes a tough cookie to be their best all the time.

Training from home: reaction balls

Another quick tip is another "train from home" idea. As a goalkeeper you need to have great reactions to be able to make the save. The faster the shot coming at you, the less time you have to react, so the quicker you have to react. Both in moving across to save and in decision making! In game terms, redirections (ball changing direction) and unsighted shots where you have to react at the last second to stand a chance of making the save, like at free kick situations or corners, where the ball could hit the wall and move unexpectedly to a different angle. So it's worth practising to be able to make those last ditch saves.

And another work-from-home training method is: a reaction ball. Popular in other sports like cricket, the oddly shaped ball helps you work on your reactions as it gets your hand-eye co-ordination going.

A basic drill to do at home is to find a wall (possibly in doors, but don't wake the neighbours!) and bounce the reaction ball to one side of you. It'll rebound and then you can catch it with the matching hand. Because of it's shape it shouldn't be an obvious catch, forcing you to react more when catching than otherwise. This should help to work on your reactions.

To make it more difficult, you can close your eyes when you throw the ball/in between the process, so that you have to react unsighted, further pushing yourself to react instinctively.

Spitting on your gloves??

Spitting on gloves has been the norm pretty much since latex and the rest were what (can't see what benefit it would have been for cotton ones at the time!!). It's a neat trick that can help dampen the glove to get some grip back in it, to help hold the ball when catching. A quick trick, it can provide a short term solution and help if you feel your grip is slipping away ('scuse the pun!).

You can see Schmiechel (the younger one at Leicester!) using the trick in the clip below:

But with modern developments, and the new materials used, there is the scientific argument that spit + dirt = bacteria. And not like those yoghurt ads! So bacteria can grow if untreated and can be bad for the gloves in the long run.

The new way of getting grip back during a game is to pour water on the palms from a water bottle and then drying them with a towel (as written about before) to make sure they don't get flooded with water! Which would mean you would get the complete opposite and your gloves would be too damp to catch, with the ball slipping out! But considering you might not have time to grab your water bottle and carefully dry them to a degree, the old ways still work. Worth keeping in mind both sides of the argument, but if the  calls for you to spit on your gloves if you don't have the time to stop your gloves drying up too much (if playing in warm conditions), then so it is I guess!

The local team's goalkeeper rubbing his gloves after spitting on the palms to get some grip back for catching.

Training from home: rebounders

When it comes to training and self improvement, you can make great leaps by taking time out to work on your game when you otherwise don't have the chance for people to shoot on you. This is an aspect that seems to be almost totally lost in certain areas of England and can really help boost your development curve. Training outside scheduled training (i.e. the sessions you need to go to with your squad!), will help you 'up' your game and develop much more quickly, especially if there is a leap in ability of leagues you are planning on, or you want to work towards a trial for instance.

Whilst we're often considered loners and such, there's nothing wrong with working on your game when you're bored and need some fresh air. Athletes do it, Olympians do it; Beckham would stay hours after training sessions with his team to work on his free kicks. So why not a goalie working on improving?!

In days of old, famous goalkeepers would bounce a ball off a wall to work on catching and things like that. But with modernity, urbanisation and cranky neighbours, this can be a bit tricky!

So I'll be posting up a few ideas to give you some thoughts going into off season (in the UK anyway!).

First up is the rebounder!

They can be a little pricey (£40 plus), so best to look out for bargains on Ebay, but for a long term investment really are worth it. Crazy Catch are specialist makers but there also good enough manufacturers around.

Basically a net that has been tightened enough to create a strong rebound effect, they offer the chance for you to work independently (by yourself) on your catching and overall handling. Throwing a ball against the net, you can work on your 'W' shape and catching grip, which will reinforce the muscle memory as you practise.

The following clip should give you a good idea of what to do!

Taping jerseys for tighter fit??

With taping socks to hold  the norm (for goalkeepers as well!), there also seems to be a new kit trend developing across the globe, with goalkeepers taping the upper arm of their jersey to get a tighter fit. Using tape to wrap around the top, it helps give a closer fit to the arm, so no flapping around etc. Not sure where it originates or who started it in the first place but is a random little gear trick that stands out of late.

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/swansea-citys-dutch-goalkeeper-michel-vorm-catches-the-ball-news-photo/484599709

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/eugene-galekovic-goalkeeper-of-adelaide-united-in-action-news-photo/485593835

Manonne's blunder: reflection

With Manchester City imploding against Sunderland, Poyet almost seemed have to have the answer to his prayers in a near-miraculous win against the league challengers. But it will more likely be remembered because of the goalkeeping error by Manonne. In the doghouse now for a bit one expects, it just highlights how much of a job goalkeeping is when it comes to mental strength and the villainous character of costing your team, when the mistakes of your team mates are somehow easier to forgive?!

Couldn't manage to embed the clip, so you'll just have to follow the link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EqwTa9Olqc

Playing against a team like City where you are expecting to face ridiculously pinpoint shots, it's easy for nerves and self doubt to get the best of a goalkeeper and preparing for the need to pull off a spectacular save, only for something simple and easy to save causing all sorts of hell for you. Sunderland fans will be on Manonne's back after this because it could have gifted them three points and a win to go down in the history books. Alas, it wasn't to be and the clip will probably end up on some DVD of goalkeeping horror shows more than anything else.

The worst bit as a goalkeeper is watching it trickle over the line. It wasn't like that goal against Real Madrid where Gomes dove back and the ball had already crossed the line, after it squirmed through his hands. He made about two dives to try and reach it; failing and flailing on the first one and then having to watch the agonising scene of the ball going over the line even though it was millimeters away from him.

These things happen, sh*t happens, that's life (unfortunately but true!). In a culture where being perfect is epitomised by never making mistakes (mainly because they've never had to make them), the balance goes the wrong way, whereas in reality a goalkeeper needs adversity to go from being standard to elite. Why? Because of the mental strength needed to go the distance (like in a tournament/playoff run) and to learn that life isn't always full of daisies!

Manonne really needs just to forget about the whole and carry like it never happened. Life goes on; as a goalkeeper you can't change the past, only the future! And by hard work and dedication. He should just sleep it off and turn up ready and raring to go on the training ground, and show he's 'up for it' in the next fixture he plays in.

Elliot struggling in Krul's absence

For a second choice 'keeper stuck behind an obvious pure talent like , then it is a case of biding their time and hoping for a chance to play to work their way into the squad. Whilst it sounds cruel, injury is pretty much the only thing going to keep out a clear cut starter from playing ahead of you! And with Krul injured (Dutch coaching staff must be putting their heads in the sand right now as a result of !), Elliot is finally getting his chance. But in doing so is proving he isn't up to the Premier League or the same elite status that Newcastle have gotten used to with Krul in goal for them, right now.

With Krul in and out of action due to various injuries (I think there must be a curse on Dutch goalkeepers right now, as all of their top, experienced goalkeepers from Krul to Vorm to Sketelenburg have all been seriously troubled by injury this season), Newcastle need a solid go-to-guy on the bench. A lot like Cudicini at Tottenham, a guy who can happily come off the bench and get the job done. This requires a special kind of mentality as you have to be ready to play 'all out' when the chance does represent itself. I think Rob would make a good Championship goalkeeper (like Kusczak has at Brighton) but a lot of the goals were scored due to errors on his part that were rookie mistakes or at fault tehnically. These kinds of goals are concessions that Newcastle can't afford if they want to push up the table and challenge for European spots as in previous seasons, as in the case of Krul's breakout season.

Goals like the first one where he over commits to the wrong side and foot speed means he can't reach out with a dive to stop the curler into his left post. Or on the last where he is caught out again for a required dive to his right. He could also benefit from working with his back four more appropriately and communicate with them to stop so many defensive breakdowns; reliant on his 'read' skills of the set-up in front of him.

Redhill vs Guernsey FC (15/04/14)

So yesterday I went along to another game at the home of football (Redhill, not Brazil, can't see this attempt at humour going anywhere though...!). The game itself was a pretty interesting spectacle with the away fans bringing a bit of fanfare and ardent enthusiasm with them as they crossed the seas to see their beloved team in action! The away team also got into a

Goalie thoughts/playing style
Guernsey's goalkeeper Chris Tardif is a former pro with experience with Oxford United and Basingstoke amongst others. And... it showed! Even at this level, the amount of difference in thought of technical approach to set plays and technique with the little things adding up to show a total of a more rounded and complete goalkeeper.

His height was obvious, being around the six foot mark; one of the key scouting areas for agents of pro 'keepers now (showing the difference in expectations of pro goalies and goalies at this level to be fair) as well as his stature and physique being pretty muscular and capable of longer drives at goal kicks.

Setting up for free kicks, he seemed to prefer to stay nearer his line in case of a redirection and last second change on the flight of the ball. And set up his defence accordingly, with a line of defenders holding a higher line against the opposition hoping to break out on the release of the spot kick.

His shot stopping qualities were most obvious, but he was very vocal and in tune with the players set up in front of him. One save that stood out was where he dove to his left, committing against a shot that went to his right, only to claw out his right hand to keep the ball from heading into the mesh of the net. This in turn showed great reaction speeds to make a movement changing reflex based save, even at the age of 33.

The save in question.

He was also very vocal. A reflection of the need to be like the leader of an orchestra barking out orders to his squad, he gave commands and talked with his team rather than at them! Like Milan from the Chips game and the Hythe goalkeeper, he liked to roam around his area and set up behind his back four on the angle of the last defender in case he was needed as a passing option. Unlike a lot of the other goalkeepers, he actively played as a 'sweeper', rushing out at the right time to kick clear. A lot like you'll see Vorm doing. That level of extra skill on show being a sign of better things?!

He seemed to get away with a sneaky catch at the edge of the area (a fairly guilty like like that of Roy Carrol suggesting so anyway...), which actually looked to be outside the area. Redhill have gotten lucky against a few times with decisions going against opposition goalkeepers, like Crawley Down's goalkeeper handling outside the area and getting sent off to turn the game around. This was essentially at the death, and had Redhill been awarded the penalty things could have been totally different than the 1-0 loss for the 'Lobsters' based on a ground out win for the away side who scored against the run of play.

Kit
I *think* Tardif was wearing Selsport gloves (think he was spotted in Wrappa classics last season), but wasn't really paying enough attention (oops!). Sponsorship might play into that, otherwise no idea!

Redhill vs Hythe Town (12/04/14)

This weekend gone I went down to Redhill again to see them play visiting side Hythe Town. Hythe's goalkeeper was the busiest of the two goalkeepers and put on a great display to keep the score down.

Thoughts/analysis
Hythe's goalkeeper was solid for them and a real difference maker. Without him and his play on the day the scoreline would have been a lot different had he not performed so well. His team pretty much fell apart around him, making things more difficult as they argued amongst themselves and struggled to play a system, so was called upon to make more saves! It seemed to be a case of him almost having a 'blinder', and could have won man of the match for the away side.

• Managed to spill one low ball but otherwise had great and 'soft' hands; gobbled up rebounds, although was unlucky with a low ball that he spilled, rebounding straight off the body
• Great long balls thrown over arm to start attacks (rather than kicking) just like Schmiechel would; good eyes and reads to spot free players
• Low ready stance but not overly crouched like the Chips' goalie etc.
• Very high line up the pitch out of the box during the game
• Unlucky with the first goal from the penalty - almost went the right way to cover
• Great jump; great height and reach for high balls and crosses versus the current idea of scouts for a tall goalkeeper (urban myth of long arms = good goalkeeper!!)

A long throw (one of many) by the Hythe goalkeeper to start an attack.

Hythe's goalkeeper standing way up the pitch on a high press.

The only ball spilt by Hythe's goalkeeper.

Hythe's goalie with great ability to catch a high ball. Old school technique for the win!

Although it was more of a case of a defensive breakdown, it is important for the goalkeeper to be responsible and not drift off to sleep or lose concentration in an easier game. Greaves got caught out leaving his area to go for a high ball, only to end up making a hash of it. Just as a problem for pro's too, with Casillas experiencing a similar goal against Dortmund in UEFA semi-finals last week.

Here he would have been better being more decisive and gone for a clear than stop and second guess himself, causing further problems...

Greaves caught out in 'no man's land' on Hythe's only goal.

Kit
Hythe's goalkeeper's kit:

• Uhlsport goalkeeping gloves - not sure which model though! Looked like rollfinger gloves...
• Tape round socks, above and below shin pad!

Chipstead at Redhill (03/04/14): thoughts and goalie analysis

Being out injured and having to sit out the end of season (and try not to get to mad at the situation), I thought it would be a good chance to go down to some games to practice on my analysis. Going to watch local games is something done in years gone by, and I think it's an element that is really missing from today's game with youngsters missing out on the chance to learn off their goalkeeping 'elders'. The mentoring role not really there until after juniors due to the separation of junior development and senior squads. I've always enjoyed watching sport (with analysis in mind rather than pure watching - get a little bored!) plus I guess analysing the talent on display is more useful than my always overly self critical analysis, so is a chance to proactively analysis than be my own worst enemy!!

Back in the days of the beginnings of football, of Fatty Foulke and co, this is actually how goalkeepers learned to play the position: by going in person to stand behind goalkeepers to watch them in action and then taking away parts of ways they saw goalkeepers play to add to their own game if they thought it'd be useful. They would then go away and copycat/replicate what they saw and could make use of, at the training ground (and matches, obviously!). Copying is the easiest way to learn, but when working out how well you play and what best suits you, this needs to be done thoughtfully with the self awareness of your physiological abilities (speed, height, reaction speeds, reach etc.).

Game review
Chipstead's goalkeeper get his team mates ordered and  with regular communication. The game was more of a defensive battle in midfield and wasn't exactly high octane end to end stuff. Redhill did well to keep their concentration up and hold their defensive shape, combining to play a system that only saw them concede a single goal at the death. Not bad considering their run of luck against Chipstead earlier on in the season. If Redhill had been more creative up front and more clinical they could have really pushed Chipstead for points, as they were definitely in it for the full 90, giving Chipstead a 'run for their money' so to speak throughout the match.

Playing styles
The idea of these posts is to offer more insight into scouting reports and analysis of goalkeepers. I'll try and keep it short and sweet so you don't have to read through mountains of sentences to get the point!

Milan Stojsavljevic has come through the academy system at Aldershot and has been on loan at Chipstead this season, since the Chips wanted an upgrade in goal. He impressed on a loan spell with Hayes and Yeading where he helped the side avoid relegation.

So here's a summary of the key points to his game:

• Plays much more as a 'sweeper keeper' in the new trend of goalkeeping with greater depth to his overall game
• When the long ball was coming, positioned high but was really attentive and able to readjust quickly as needed to match its flight
• Saved easily with a dive to the right against Redhill's only real scoring chance
• Did more of a 'collecting' job; waiting for the forward to break through the line and then running up high in his box to catch the free ball
• Took free kicks and was happy to come out of his area to play the ball to team mates, changing his position in the box to match the angle for a back pass option
• Took a high positioning outside his area when his team were up the pitch
• Crouched ready stance, which is pretty deep (versus current trends; more like a stance like Joe Hart's): helps be more explosive against low shots but question marks over raised shots under the crossbar...

Readjusting to the long ball.

Taking a free kick.

Setting up with the deep stance.

Andy Greaves (Redhill's current first choice, moving up from their juniors):

• Pretty standard approach but came out to head clear a loose ball, more akin to Casillas or Neuer charging out to intercept than a goalkeeper afraid to come off the line

Kit
Given how much of a kit swot/geek I am, I can't help but try and achieve goaliekitnerdvana by listing anything that stands out each match report. The plan is to give some kit insight each time, so here's the first note takings!

Milan Stojsavljevic :

• Puma King (potentially the Aqua ones due to weather conditions, and think they were a flat cut) goalkeeper gloves, versus the Nike Grip3 gloves he was wearing against Redhill in the first half of the season about October time
• Over the knee shorts
• Sweat band on the right arm
• [brownie points for the mohawk!]

Andry Greaves:

• Adidas Predator gloves with a negative cut (I think!); no change in glove in spite of weather conditions
• Still using his long sleeved jersey and rolling his sleeves up!

Ratings
Feels pretty harsh to rate the goalkeepers given they were only separated by a goal, barely faced any true goal scoring chances and so on, so will probably miss ratings this time round.

But worth pointing out the qualities of Milan as a goalkeeper with more technical grounding at this level given what he will have been taught and learnt in his development days.

Most of  Milan's work is done off the ball. In this sense, he monitors the line and shape every time to 'read' the game to a high level. This shows smart goalkeeping with the intelligence and awareness of watch word to shut down attacks before they have a chance to happen. A lot like Lloris in his playing style, he's not getting to have many saves to make because he's not going to allow them to occur in the first instance!!

Whereas the standard observer or coach would expect goalkeepers to come up with magnificent saves to prove their worth, it is actually in this kind of action where the goalkeeping can come into their own; and this is the way the model for the modern goalkeeper is going. Even at this level!

Handanovic: penalty killer!

Samir Handanovic is well known for his penalty shot stopping abilities, enough to earn various titles and nicknames, and listed as a main asset in his scouting report. Whilst with Udinese he built up quite the reputation for himself with his ability to save his team in this way. Up to his old tricks, he saved a penalty today in action against Sampdoria! With his gigantic size creating a visual barrier as he fills up so much of the goal mouth visible to the shooter. Even if the spot kicker has the accuracy to pick a sure fire spot, they still have to look up to meet the ball, which in turn means they have to face looking up at him and being put off. But there is obviously more to stopping penalties than this, such as learning to react to the shot, intense concentration and 'silent eye' (watching the ball all the way through to focus).

When considering what it takes to be a complete goalkeeper, it is worth remembering to work on these errors too, as you never know when you might be called upon to step up to the goal line and stop whoever it is who is stepping up to the penalty spot against you!

You can work on your reactions, as well as studying penalty takers and learning ways to deal with them, as you face shooters regularly over a season.

You can see him in action below, with a couple of  towards the end of the clip demonstrating his penalty killing abilities (!):

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/inter-milans-slovenian-goalkeeper-samir-handanovic-saves-a-news-photo/484567963

Could a goalkeeper loan have saved Swansea points?

Although the season's not done yet, it's safe to say that Swansea could be ruing the decision to not have brought in cover for the time being. Norwich moved quickly for Lee Camp when Ruddy got injured last season, and it would seem like a good idea for Swansea to have done the same once they knew that local goalkeeping hero Vorm would be out for a substantial time. Camp was good enough to draw attention for claiming a chance for international call-ups (for Ireland), but seems to have settled in more with new club Bournemouth this time around.

Tremmel just hasn't been up to the same standard of Vorm's golden goalkeeping when he has been called into action. Tall; apparently the golden ration for goalkeepers these days according to agents (solid scouts were enough to take on a shorter Vorm based on inarguable shot stopping ability), but Tremmel is unfortunately not a complete goalkeeper with natural enough athleticism or reactions. Vorm has even looked a little shaky of late since his return from a groin injury whilst stretching out to save against Chelsea. Perhaps out of doubt and second guessing worried about further injury.

This might transfer idea sounds silly but in the bigger picture, someone better than Tremmel would have earnt points that would have seen Swansea rise the table rather than have the lacklustre season they have had after a strong start.

Loan deals for goalkeepers are always dodgy territory and grey areas because of the availability of goalkeepers that would want a short term playing contract, and the availability of the right level of goalkeeper with the ability to play to a standard like the Premier League. And even if a loan deal with the perfect fit is made, a scenario like Casillas being forced out by the great play of a goalkeeper on a 'hot streak' like Lopez would cause issues down the line. As it has with Casillas getting benched and finding it almost impossible to reassert himself as first choice. Hence why it's such a no go normally!!

With this in mind, Swansea could have gone for a young goalkeeper with obvious talent looking for playing opportunity. A reserve choice that the coaching staff might want to put out on loan to help speed along their development. So Jack Butland (who is now at Leeds) or similar, for instance, which would be a better fit; the team would get a young, eager goalkeeper looking to prove themselves and it wouldn't be too much hassle for the club and their goalkeeping depth (politics, fallings out etc.). Like Damian Martinez and his chance with the Owls.

Matt Lampson's cancer battle

With sports journalism focusing much more on the performances of the players and their standard of play across the season in the midst of the stats and analysis, it's not often we get the chance to look at the person behind the athlete; often replacing on pitch theatrics for the person that provides them (we're all human after all!). But one story that stands out of late is that of Matt Lampson's recovery from cancer diagnosis and treatment to playing in the MLS. Cancer is obviously going to be tough for anyone to deal with (not to sound trite), and his sense of determination and willingness to battle is something I'm sure team mates of Matt Lampson will be aware of in the dressing. And it shows the fighting spirit of the athlete that we can all find in ourselves when faced with adversity. A young man with a mature head on strong shoulders, I'm sure we will be hearing more great things from him in the near future.

You can read more about  following the link below:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/mls/story/2012/09/24/columbus-crew-goalkeeper-embraces-second-chance/57838996/1

Rimando out with injury

Poor reporting standards by myself, but it would appear that Rimando is actually out injured right now after picking up an injury in the international against Mexico recently. This is a shame for Nick since he will be out for a little while, affecting his international chances it would seem, as well as his domestic competitive matches for Real Salt Lake. Jeff Attinella is filling in for him, drawing praise for his goalkeeping displays right now. It will be a testing time for himself and his team mates, with benching not the same as first team action, and it could be a big impact on season results if Rimando stays out for longer than expected.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/11/real-salt-lake-confident-jeff-attinella-they-turn-backup-goalkeeper-yet-agai

The glove towel

You'll see goalkeepers at pretty much all levels stashing a towel in the inside of their goal, looping it through the netting or just leaving it in a corner. The towel is an important of goalkeeper's supplies in that it is a simple but effective way of keeping your gloves clean, as well as helping get rid of excess water when you spit/put water on your gloves (like certain grips need you to for wet weather conditions etc.).

You should be able to pick them up easily at a pound store or home store. Look for hand towels or wash towels. You won't need anything as big as a bathroom towel lol!! A lot of goalkeeping companies like Reusch produce their own towels, but you can often find cheaper deals which are just as good!

So what is the towel for?

• To wipe away sweat on your face or that has built up around your gloves
• To wipe dirt off your gloves (helps you got more use out of them in the long run), especially on muddy pitches!
• To wipe down your gloves after putting water on them to help with grip (keeping a 'tacky'/sticky grip with the foam)

Here you can see Everton and American international goalkeeper Tim Howard with a towel in game:

And you can also see Palace's Julian Speroni with his towel in the following links:

http://lsp.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/2013-08-10-Crystal-Palace-v-Lazio/G0000Naiwcwn3rPU/I0000bSxj67EKH4o/C0000InfoxEw66Bw

http://lsp.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/2013-07-23-Gillingham-v-Crystal-Palace/G0000s4WwJt9PXGw/I0000K2lfBR28DEs/C0000InfoxEw66Bw

Cesar struggling to adjust to the MLS

In their loss to Real Salt Lake, Cesar was getting the angle right, making all the right moves, only for him to see the shot blocked by his defenders each time. Although he is used to a heavy work load and a defense-first playing style, whilst playing in Italy (where this the focus is on defending) and at Inter Milan, he can be the "go to guy" as shown at QPR behind a weaker defensive line. And by not actively being decisive, or commanding his area as an offshoot of this, this communication issue is causing scoring chances that needn't happen.

It looks like his main problems are in adjusting to playing at a 'lower level' and different tactical approaches and playing styles in America. With the line so high, he has to play higher off his line; stereotypically preferring a low line around the goal mouth, he is having trouble changing technique. And without a pre-season proper in the sense of getting a full chance to adapt before getting thrown into the deep end, it .

He is also having trouble with decision making. A result of being forced into acting rather than reacting to the defensive line because of a change in structure and play, demands on the goalkeeper and communication issues. Defenceless against a chip after pushing up to challenge, he ended up in 'no man's land' in another game, caught out as he went made the decision to go for the ball. This is the place of goalie nightmares and could lead to more confidence problems as they build up and spiral into self doubt.

On the plus side, he is getting involved in the play and is up to scratch. Showing he is comfortable on the ball, involved in the build up of play more so than in the other leagues he has played in due to the American approach, he has proven he is up to being a play maker and a passing option to push up from the back.

But it is the speed and accuracy of the shots, that he is potentially causing him mind games and judgement issues. Therefore affecting his reactions (based on muscle memory) and 'reading' the game to make the right decisions. With a defence first approach, he has to co-ordinate when to make his body react out of reflex to expect the shot. If the ball does get through and is redirected, he'll look silly, but if it doesn't get through, then he's throwing himself around for no reason. Which is going to cause more confidence issues unfortunately...

As you can see in the following clip, this is majorly affecting his play right now:

And because he is using the MLS season to build up for the World Cup, where he wants to represent his country on home turf, he is adding more pressure on himself. By wanting to react to accurate, fast paced shots all game long, as he will expect of the quality for Rio, it has a major knock on effect on how he is playing.

So in summary, Cesar is having more trouble stepping things down a gear to match the expectations:

• he is expecting goal scoring opportunities for him to save directly, whereas his defenders are coached into shot blocking, meaning he doesn't have to react
• he is unsure of how to reposition with a higher line
• he is expecting more accurate and faster paced shots; expecting to make super saves, he needs to worry more about the basics than anything right now, and the rest should follow!

Valdes' injury: assessing the impact

With Valdes out for the season in a horrific injury to his ACL that has ended one of his greatest season's in goal, the Catalan goalkeeper leaves both his club and his national side in between a rock and a hard place.

The injury will put him out of World Cup selection indefinitely, freeing up a space for another goalkeeping option. And with Casillas still lacking game time behind fan favourite Diego Lopez at club level, fans and critics alike will be scratching their heads in confusion all over the planet.

Whilst Spain have the firepower to take on any of the contestants at Rio, the lack of goalkeeping depth could be a major turning point in the summer tournament with the lack of options in their goalkeeping department. Without regular game practice, a goalkeeper (like any other player) can get rusty without it, really effecting decision making which is key at this level of football; causing problem for the defenders as they struggle to know what their role is against each scoring chance. A real reason Cesar left for Toronto.

This leaves Spain short if an injury was to happen, or the coaching staff lost faith in Casillas. Unlike England, Casillas is Spain's incumbent (unquestioned starter) based on his ability in clutch situations and leading them to Euro and World Cup finals wins. Reina has actually been doing well on his loan deal at Napoli, especially in the surprise 2-0 win against Juventus, where his "sweeper keeper" style and accurate distribution meant he set up the second goal.

And with Valdes gone, Reina gets bumped to second choice, leaving a slot open for a third choice 'keeper. De Gea is seen as the heir apparent, with his experience at U21's level, but the depth (which would make a lot of nations jealous) has kept him out of full call-up for a while. Whilst his saves are often jaw dropping, he still needs to develop his overall game, no matter what pundits and fans alike think.

So, in short, how bad is it? And where does this leave the GK Union (and coaches) wanting or wondering?

• Barca could loose La Liga title after Courtois (arguably the best goalkeeper in Europe right now) has helped Athletico steal points in tight games and rise to the top
• Barca need a better goalkeeper to start games than Pinto, but refuse to make an emergency loan
• Spain loses a 'keeper that can play as a sweeper and defend in tight on 1-on-1's which is pretty much the main scoring chance against a side that defends as well as Spain
• De Gea gets the chance to bench warm and extend his season
• Casillas is still rusty and an unexperienced (goalkeeper at this level) might have to endure a baptism of fire for Spain to progress = risky

Rimando impressing

Nick Rimando of Real Salt Lake has been more than impressing enough for national scouts and coaching staff to give him recent call-ups to the international side. Given the chance to start rather than bench as he has been, he is repaying the faith of his coaches. Competing in a friendly against Mexico most recently and having the opportunity to further prove himself and his ability.

And as the World Cup squads reach their final stages of selection across the globe, let's not forget the need for a strong third choice. Anything could happen and it's best not to take things for granted when it comes to relying on a standout first choice. Just like Marchetti having to step in for Italy in 2010 after Buffon's injury. Or Marcus Hahnemann stepping in for Howard. A regular choice as third choice for America, he also knows his role, but more than that, as a team player and leader off the pitch, gives America qualities other teams won't have; making sure there is friendly competition between goalkeepers and they are in a good state mentally (as required for the pressure position of goalie) to play their best in games when selected.

Proving scouts and agents wrong about size
Another noteworthy part of Nick's rise to elite status, is his size. Legendary goalkeepers from previous generations (Banks, Clemence, Shilton etc.) have said time and time again how size isn't everything, and it is more important to have a strong technical game and abilities that can't be taught; such as reading the game and saving intuition and natural reaction speeds. And yet this goes totally ignored by scouts in the pro leagues more interested in visual stature than ability, especially in England right now.

And Nick is dismantling this pointless myth. If a goalkeeper with better technique and ability is overlooked through size, even if his ability to jump and launch off the ground is more than enough, we may as well all put our head in the sand and give up coaching goalies! And Nick is a great inspiration for those of us who don't top 6'6 or more. Determined to prove doubters wrong, take heart and be prepared to go the distance just as he has!


At 5'10, Rimando is not the tallest but this doesn't stop him being one of the MLS's best goalies. Michel Vorm is another goalkeeper disproving the myth about height. Able to reach shots that Tremmel cannot with his technique, even if he is a lot taller, Vorm steals Swansea wins and gets them points, as well as having great distribution (ranked highest in stats atm) and acting like a solid sweeper at times. And the same is true with Rimando as Vorm; like Manny Legace in ice hockey, don't let comments grind you down, keep fighting and the opportunities will come as people notice your true ability!

This gives hope to those who are a little challenged vertically (not sure if that sounds humorous enough, oh well, just trying to make light of the sizesists!), like myself, who aren't six foot and never will be, of the chances of playing to a high level with the use of a natural abilities and athleticism. In America, there is definitely no 'glass ceiling' for goalkeepers and height. For now it is so, but hopefully it will stay the same and stand out from the crowd across the world. Let talent reign and not height be an automatic qualifier!!

With English scouts preferring size and visual presence over true talent and athleticism and agility, it's a struggle to prove coaches at lower levels they are wrong. The system of scouting for money and ignorance  fails to support domestic talent. But this can be countered with learning a higher jump and learning to communicate with defenders when it comes to dealing with crosses.

For a great physical reflection of the size differential, you can see the difference in the following link!

Jimmy and Nick

Considered a little unorthodox in his approach, he is a true competitor and fights for his team mates (without a left hook obviously!). You can see some of his best highlight reel stops below, a great motivational for any goalie, no matter how tall (or small!)!