With pre-season well under way for teams across the globe, Marc Andre ter Stegen has had a great opportunity to show off his talents and stake his claim for first team football. As yet, I don't have a clear idea who the Spanish side's decided choice is, but ter Stegen is not one to sit on the bench. Having played non-stop for Borrussia Mochengladbach, and starting every single league game for them after fighting his way onto the team sheet, I can't see why he would have gone to all this effort just to warm the bench. A clear competitor (in the mould of notable German goalies throughout history), I still have no idea why Bravo joined, given his vastly differing style of goalkeeping.
ter Stegen is clearly happy to play as a sweeper, as shown by his performances in the Bundesliga and internationally, and this is the exact style of goalkeeper Barcelona want. As a like for like replacement for departing Valdes, he can easily play the ball with either foot, but even more so, is happy to pass like a midfielder from his box. Buzzing with confidence and a high energy/confident goalkeeper, has a higher starting position than Valdes, he should also be able to come out strongly on one man rushes and to intercept far outside his area.
Adding extra dimensions with his accuracy in passing and his ability to pass the ball to either wing with ease because of his comfortable ability to play the ball with left or right, he could go on to have an even greater career than the goalkeeper he has been brought in to replace. A penalty shot killer (see him versus Messi as an example) and strong on 1-on-1's as well as a keen battler, he has a lot to give, and could be challenging the world's top five in the not so distant future.
As you can see in this clip, in a warm-up friendly, you can see how quickly he has adapted to the style and role Barca want him to play in. Pinging the ball out to the wings for attacks to start, he is also clearly happy to maintain possession by playing the goal kick short and then rotating ball possession (like you would see in Dutch 'total football' or at Ajax and under Van Jaal). His defenders are clearly confident in his kicking skills and happy to pass back to him knowing he will get the ball out safely, as you can see numerous times with the defender turning around straightaway to give the ball back to him.
It's also easy to spot how ambidextrous he is, able to pass the ball out with distance, height and accuracy. This helps mark him out and increase his worth as this style of goalkeeper.
I don't think it will be long until he starts challenging Neuer for the sweeper and German crowns, and he clearly has bags of potential going forward this season and into the future. The future of the modern goalkeeper looks bright and I'll eagerly be waiting to see how it all turns out!
ter Stegen is clearly happy to play as a sweeper, as shown by his performances in the Bundesliga and internationally, and this is the exact style of goalkeeper Barcelona want. As a like for like replacement for departing Valdes, he can easily play the ball with either foot, but even more so, is happy to pass like a midfielder from his box. Buzzing with confidence and a high energy/confident goalkeeper, has a higher starting position than Valdes, he should also be able to come out strongly on one man rushes and to intercept far outside his area.
Adding extra dimensions with his accuracy in passing and his ability to pass the ball to either wing with ease because of his comfortable ability to play the ball with left or right, he could go on to have an even greater career than the goalkeeper he has been brought in to replace. A penalty shot killer (see him versus Messi as an example) and strong on 1-on-1's as well as a keen battler, he has a lot to give, and could be challenging the world's top five in the not so distant future.
As you can see in this clip, in a warm-up friendly, you can see how quickly he has adapted to the style and role Barca want him to play in. Pinging the ball out to the wings for attacks to start, he is also clearly happy to maintain possession by playing the goal kick short and then rotating ball possession (like you would see in Dutch 'total football' or at Ajax and under Van Jaal). His defenders are clearly confident in his kicking skills and happy to pass back to him knowing he will get the ball out safely, as you can see numerous times with the defender turning around straightaway to give the ball back to him.
I don't think it will be long until he starts challenging Neuer for the sweeper and German crowns, and he clearly has bags of potential going forward this season and into the future. The future of the modern goalkeeper looks bright and I'll eagerly be waiting to see how it all turns out!
