Category: Goalkeeper

Top 20 Sweeper Keepers – 2022-23

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Data Analysis, Goalkeeper, Player Analysis

Last season, I broke down positions into twenty-six different roles. The aim of my Role Continuity Evaluation System was to assess performance via what actually matters for a player's own unique set of tasks. As I recently spoke about in 'Data-Driven Decision Making & Player Roles', even two players within the exact same role may have different job descriptions based on their team ideologies and their own unique characteristics. Role Continuity recognizes those differences, by assessing not only data, but by utilizing the eye test to uncover player IQ and decision making.

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Game of Numbers #15 – Jordan Pickford’s positioning masterclass

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Game of Numbers, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Player Analysis, Player Education

Sometimes criticized across his Everton career, Jordan Pickford has enjoyed a formidable past couple of seasons for both club and country. The Toffees might be in serious threat of relegation this season and very well might have gone down last campaign if it had not been for their remarkable keeper. Despite the club's poor form, there's even a genuine argument for Pickford to be the goalkeeper of the season thus far. That argument came to life all the more in Everton's recent match against Manchester United, where Pickford was one of the standout players on the pitch despite his side being completely outclassed. Here are the finer details behind Pickford's stunning nine-save display against the Red Devils.

Finding a goalkeeper for Forge FC

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Data Analysis, Goalkeeper, Most Recent, Recruitment & Scouting

Out of all the CPL clubs, Forge FC have enjoyed the quietest off-season. It feels as though that's for good reason, having just won the CPL Playoffs for the third time in the league's four season existence. It might be the sign of a settled squad and players having no inclinations toward seeking pastures new. But for the Canadian Premier League, this is uncharacteristic. With the season just under two months away from kicking off, Forge are without a back-up keeper, or anyone to challenge the Canadian for a place.

How to organize the defensive line as a goalkeeper

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Player Education

With a wonderful view of the action, goalkeepers must be more than just shot stoppers, and participate actively and vocally in communicating with their mates. They should not be solely responsible for organizing the entire team, but have the ability to do so through the vantage point they have on the field, and often the fearless nature they behold. I've often found that some of the best communicators that I coach are in fact goalkeepers. But before answering the question, let's first discuss whether or not it is actually necessary for the goalkeeper to organize the defensive line.

Why Nick Pope is perfect for Newcastle United

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Goalkeeper, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

It's taken longer than most would have expected for Nick Pope to arise attention in the 2022 Summer Transfer Window, but it now appears as though the Burnley cult hero is days away from securing a move to Eddie Howe's Newcastle United. Back in early June, our readers and contributors picked Pope as the number one player from relegated teams to keep an eye on this summer, and that promise now prepares to come to fruition with the Magpies. Pope would be the perfect player to bring greater stability and solidity to their defensive structures, not to mention between the posts, and at only 10 million pounds, remains an absolute steal. Here is why the Burnley man would be such an astute signing for the Magpies.

Explaining the Sweeper Keeper – Player Role Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Data Analysis, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League

The 'Sweeper Keeper' came to deserved acclaim at the 2014 World Cup, when Manuel Neuer showcased his ability to rush out of his goal, and "sweep" in behind Germany's high-line, almost playing like another centre-back out of possession. Since then, the role of the sweeper keeper has only grown and evolved, becoming a player who is capable in build-up phases, ventures out of their goal to involve themselves in passing sequences higher up the pitch, and completely commands their penalty area by coming off their line and taking control of any situation.

Explaining the Shot Stopper – Player Role Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Coach Education, Data Analysis, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League

While formations may exclude the never-changing goalkeepers from their numbering, we could never fail to recognize the importance of goalkeeping in the game. As a result, we start with one of the most scrutinized positions on a football pitch - that of the keeper. We break goalkeepers down into two broad categories - 'Shot Stopper', and 'Sweeper Keeper'. We can then use these classifications to help distinguish between different types of players, and measure accordingly. Today's article is all about the 'Shot Stopper', defining role expectations and answering the soon to be common question of - 'What exactly is a shot stopper?'

The myth of Nick Pope’s ‘poor’ distribution

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Player Analysis, Premier League, World Cup 2018, World Cup 2022, World Football

Leading up to both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 (which famously took place in 2021), a common commentary surrounded Nick Pope, and the potential reasons for Southgate's favouritsm toward Jordan Pickford. "Pope's distribution isn't as good," was said on repeat, almost as though all the pundits of the English game together as one big monster blob out to slight Nick Pope and find justifications for something that few were willing to admit made little sense. Despite Nick Pope's heroics at Burnley for the past five years, and the potential that he will keep them in the Premier League almost single-handedly for another season, Pickford remains England's firm number one.

David De Gea – Player Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Data Analysis, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Premier League

Manchester United have been abysmal in 2021-22. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. But despite their team woes, a few key individuals have continued to go about their business and perform to reasonably remarkable heights. No one more than David De Gea - who has had one of his greatest seasons in a Manchester United shirt, just one year after losing his place to Dean Henderson. David De Gea has been exceptional in 2021-22, regaining his illustrious reputation as one of the best keepers in the world, and pulling off saves like it's 2015 again. So with that, we bring you our David De Gea Player Analysis, and finally discuss both the strengths and limitations of one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history.

Goalkeepers in the build-up – a new meaning to the ‘Sweeper Keeper’

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Goalkeeper, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League

The role of the goalkeeper continues to evolve in the modern game, with keepers becoming better with their feet by the year. Not only are goalkeepers now a crucial part of their team's build-up structures, but they're coming higher and higher out of their penalty areas to contribute. We recently discussed how Robert Sanchez often joins the Brighton defense as an auxiliary centre-back when the Seagulls play out from the back. But Sanchez is not alone in the art. The likes of Alisson, Ederson and Manuel Neuer all perform a similar function for their teams, adding another number by which their team can shift the ball around and make the opposition sweat. But why exactly is this happening and what are the advantages? Let's explore.

The evolution of the goalkeeper

by Xhulio Zeneli, posted in Goalkeeper

oalkeepers need to have strong psychological skills, and always back themselves to perform. Even when they are full of confidence and everything they touch stays out of the net, that can all change so quickly. If a goalkeeper slips up, it usually results in a goal, and that inherently makes their position so much more difficult than any other.