Premier League keepers warned: only fearless, fast reactions can survive today’s rising aerial threat
It’s okay if Long throws “bore” Jamie Carragher; each of us are not the same. We’re loving their comeback, however perhaps the novelty will wear off. But especially some of the terribly poor defence efforts.
Carragher provided an analysis of Brentford’s victory over Newcastle, highlighting the Magpies’ unsuccessful attempts to neutralise Michael Kayode’s catapult.
“Before the game, we asked Eddie Howe about it, and they had a little tactic they set up,” Carragher stated. We are aware that Nick Pope is among the Premier League’s top goalkeepers.
Eddie Howe and the custodian used a strategy whereby the custodian did not play as a custodian but instead assisted his defenders in heading it.
He has the hand-eye coordination of an outfield player. He is not defending the goal, nor is he on the goal line. Carra, Newcastle has created a goalie there.
Do truly perceptive commentators like Carragher fail to identify a custodian when he comes for a high ball because we have become so confused about their role? or at least makes an effort.
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In actuality, the confusion makes sense. It was easier back in the 1980s, when goalkeepers were goalkeepers and men were men, and the long throw was as popular as it is now.
However, keepers have evolved over time from being shot-stoppers to sweepers to playmakers. We lost sight of the starting point of the voyage long after it made a sort of U-turn.
The same may be said of centre backs. Heading bricks used to be a source of pride for many people. That might not be a bad thing.
However, under the high ball, defenders and goalkeepers, particularly goalkeepers, will undoubtedly need to adapt to the new normal.
It’s not only long throws, which have increased by 173% from 1.5 per game the previous season to 4.1 this term. It’s set-pieces of all kinds, and if the amount of crosses keeps going up, size 5s will soon be raining in open play as well.
It’s understandable why so many keepers these days appear disoriented when faced with a high ball.
They’re not prepared for it. Unlike in the past, when the job description concentrated on blocking shots and catching crosses.
Prioritising other aspects of the position made perfect sense as the game progressed towards a shorter, more complex build-up. They now need to make the same adjustments.
Goalkeepers didn’t just stop dealing with high balls; they also changed how they handled those that continued to come.
Due to the influence of foreign goalie instructors, more goalkeepers have remained in their current positions, responding on their line to events rather than taking proactive measures to address issues before they arise.
You can’t cock-up the catches you don’t come for, which is a benefit of that strategy.
Keepers are therefore going straight from one extreme to the other, from remaining comfy and deep to once again being required to rule their boxes.
It will unavoidably result in errors and performances similar to Pope’s at Brentford.
They can’t be expected to come and claim everything with a 100% success record, just as keepers must be allowed the occasional stray pass while they pose as Pirlo.
First of all, only the few remaining psychotic individuals will ever quit their queue if their fear of failing is that intense.
Second, it’s so damned difficult to cope with high balls! You can’t cheat because of the mix of strength and timing needed, as well as the requisite mental and motor speed.
Simply staying at home is much simpler. However, opponents are now challenging goalkeepers in a manner not experienced by the present generation.
Goalmouths are packed like rush-hour Tube trains when it comes to corner kicks. In actuality, pickpocketing and feeling up are much less common on the Underground.
Keepers are being encircled, grabbed, pinned, and blocked at every level from all kinds of set-pieces. Undoing glove straps, gripping arms, standing on tiptoes—it’s a jungle in there.
Additionally, referees are no longer a reliable source of protection. Yes, for a spell there, goalkeepers had more security than presidents—possibly when they needed it the least.
However, several officials without the use of VAR now acknowledge that, due to the volume of balls entering the box, it has nearly turned into a penalty-area purge, having shifted from strictly enforcing contact in the box on set-pieces.
There is just too much going on, particularly when it comes to blocking, to identify a single violation. Thus, practically anything is acceptable.
Some goalkeepers will take great pride in that and battle to the finish line, but those who don’t can’t let themselves be the defenceless victim.
