Profiles in Courage: Hope Amelia Solo

Profiles in Courage: Hope Amelia Solo
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool.

Hope Solo was born in 1981 in Richland, Washington. She is 5 feet 9 inches, or 1.75 meters in height. During high school, she was a prolific striker who scored 109 goals. Although she played goalkeeper at the US Youth National Team levels, she ultimately switched positions in college at the University of Washington. She has been in the US Women’s National Team pool since 2000, and has won 52 caps.

Professional Teams

• Philadelphia Orange of the WUSA.
• Kopparsburg/Goteborg of Sweden.
• Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) of France.

Career Honors

• Parade Magazine All-American on two occasions at Richland High School.
• Four time All-Pac Ten selection at the University of Washington.
• Three time NSCAA All-American at the University of Washington.
• All-time holder for clean sheets, saves, and goals against average at the University of Washington.
• 1054 minutes without conceding a goal at the US National Team level.
• 24 clean sheets for the senior National Team.
• Alternate on the 2004 Athens Gold Medal Team.
• 2005 Algarve Cup Champion.
• Bronze Medal: 2007 World Cup.

A Personal Reflection about Her Father

Her father, Jeffery, died a short time before the June 2007 friendly with Brazil. He had been estranged from his family for most of her childhood, but they were reunited during her college years. He was a military veteran, and had planned to travel to the New Jersey Meadowlands to watch Hope, whom he coached as a child, for the first time as a professional. He was born and raised in the Bronx, and wanted to show Hope and her brother his childhood neighborhood.

“He was so excited to go back to his hometown, to see me in my USA jersey, to show me where he grew up,” she says. “Instead, my mom, my brother and I took the trip to honor him. And we took some of my father (his ashes) with us. We took him to Yankee Stadium. My dad was the world’s only Yankee and Red Sox fan.”

During this same time, Hope lost a high school friend and former teammate, Elizabeth Duncan, due to a car fatality.

Source: USA Today, Solo’s Success as US Goalie is No Accident, 24 July 2007.

Brazil 4 x USA 0: World Cup 2007 Semifinal in China

Although the performance by the Brazilians, especially Cristiane and Marta, was one for the ages, this game will unfortunately be remembered for other reasons. National Team Coach, Mr. Greg Ryan, decided to bench Hope in favor of Brianna Scurry, who he felt was better suited against this type of explosive team.

“Solo, 25, has been excellent defending crosses and high balls, but Ryan wants Scurry for her scrambling. ‘The way the Brazilians play in terms of creating off the dribble in the penalty box and making a goalkeeper make reaction-type saves, I think Bri is the best goalkeeper in the world in those situations,’ Ryan said.”

Source: ESPN, US Calls on Veteran Scurry to play goal vs. Brazil, 26 September 2007.

After the game, Hope Solo was questioned by a reporter. Despite the protests by a US Soccer representative, she, as the Romans say, had no hair on her tongue. While many have questioned and criticized her comments, it was a courageous display. Perhaps in retrospect, a more tactful response would have served her better. But she was entitled to her own opinion, even if it led to a vote by her teammates to ban her from the Bronze Medal game. Hope later apologized on her MySpace page, Coach Ryan was subsequently relieved of his duties, and she is back into the side.

“There’s no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves,” Solo said. “You have to live in the present. And you can’t live by big names. You can’t live in the past.” On Friday, Solo said while she still doubts Ryan’s strategy, she did not mean to hurt Scurry. “Although I stand strong in everything I said, the true disheartening moment for me was realizing it could look as though I was taking a direct shot at my own teammate,” Solo said, according to the Web site. “I would never throw such a low blow. Never.” “I only wanted to speak of my own abilities yet also recognize that the past is the past. Things were taken out of context, or analyzed differently from my true meaning of my own words,” she said, according to the Web site. “For that I am sorry. I hope everybody will come to know I have a deep respect for this team and for Bri.”

Source: ESPN, Solo Sorry, Says She Didn’t Mean to Criticize Scurry, 28 September 2007.

Steve Amoia is the author and editor of World Football Commentaries. He is a featured author on Soccerlens, and also writes for Keeper Skool.

Carson rebounding from tough stretch to revive Villa’s European hope

Last November, Aston Villa keeper Scott Carson faced the biggest night of his short international career. Not only did he have a chance to stake his claim for the #1 shirt for his country, but England’s Euro 2008 hopes were on the line as they faced Croatia at Wembley.

It ended up being a nightmare for Carson and England fans alike, as he gifted Croatia an opener in the eighth minute, and six minutes later, he was beaten again. While England did come back to level the match, the night would end in disappointment, as Croatia scored a late winner to crush England’s hopes of being at this summer’s competition in Austria and Switzerland.

Since that forgettable unforgettable night at Wembley, Carson’s form has been up and down. After recovering from his horror night to post consecutive clean sheets in away matches against Middlesbrough and Blackburn to end November, December, January, February, and March passed without another clean sheet from the 22-year old.

During that time, Villa had trouble maintaining consistency after a strong start to the season, and suffered an especially poor March, where their European prospects took a huge hit as they took only two points from five league fixtures.

The struggles certainly weren’t all Carson’s though, because when you’re not scoring, that gives the defense and the keeper an even smaller margin for error. Villa scored only two goals in that five-match winless run in March, and were blanked against Portsmouth, Sunderland, and Man United to end the month.

However, he’s back on track right on time, as he started a pivotal April for the European hopefuls with his first clean sheets since November in routs over Bolton and Derby, which has allowed Martin O’Neill’s side to close the gap on fifth-placed Everton to a mere three points with three matches to go, with a big encounter at Goodison Park ahead on Sunday. Besides the defensive improvement, the Villains are on fire in net, with 14 goals in their last three fixtures.

Besides what’s at stake for his team, there’s plenty at stake for Carson on a personal level. The #1 spot for England is anything but solidified at this point, so strong performances for Carson down the stretch can put him in a position to make the jersey his own sometime in the near future.

His talent and potential is undoubted. His first Champions League appearance came at 19 in goal against Juventus in a quarterfinal at Anfield, which the Reds won 2-1, on the way to their epic European title. And that match against Croatia, it must be remembered that it was only his second senior cap. His first? Five days before in a friendly against Austria.

There’s a great deal of pressure on him, from trying to do his part to help Villa claim a European place, to being in contention in the national team, to lofty expectations that are not only placed on him by others, but by himself.

This season is only his second as a full-time starter, and naturally there are going to be some struggles, especially when you get thrown into the fire like he has over his short career. Sometimes those struggles are hard to shake, but getting past them is all about keeping your head up, and eventually you’ll be back in top form sooner or later.

It seems that he’s done just that, as he’s regaining his form just when the team needs him to, and while Bolton, Derby, and Birmingham aren’t top-class competition, if he can keep things tidy in net over the final three matches, it will not only bode well for Carson’s prospect, but also Villa’s.

Eddie Griffin is a passionate soccer fan, freelance writer and regularly contributes at Soccerlens.com.

Standing On The Shoulders Of a Giant

(Image Courtesy Of The Daily Mail)

Imagine standing on the shoulders of a giant? From those lofty heights you could go anywhere, and see everything. How does it feel like for Kasper Schmeichel standing in the gargantuan shadow of his father and goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel. In one part of your heart, an immense sense of security and certainty as to your possible future, on the other, an overwhelming sense of urgency, of needing to walk in your fathers footsteps.

Perhaps Kasper feels this way, perhaps not. Though reports are now stating that young Schmeichel is looking outwardly to other clubs, he needs the adventure of playing first team football, which unfortunately is lacking at Manchetser City. At 21 years of age, Schmeichel has many, many years ahead of him, though in no uncertain terms Sven-Goran Eriksson has given young Schmeichel the red light as to his future at City.

“I spoke to Sven last week and explained to him that I want to play first-team football,” said Schmeichel. “He said that he can’t promise me that, so if I am honest it looks like my future might not be at City.”

(Source: Odds Preview, Wed, 16th April, 2008)

It takes many years to develop as a goalkeeper, but sometimes in the rush to be the best we make the mistake of recreating the wheel, trying our luck at club after club (if we are lucky enough) in the hope of getting the illusive number 1 jersey. If we look at longevity as a measure of success, then young Schmeichel could certainly learn from his own father’s illustrious career (8 stellar years with Manchester United, and before this a UEFA Cup semi final appearance with Brondby), or even that of Australian Mark Schwarzer.

Lately i’ve been thinking about the notion of egoism as it applies to footballers. We live in a world where we wish to have only the best, be only the best. As a young footballer myself I remember the impatience I had in my heart. Ability in spades, but no resilience to work my way up the ladder, or even define what this meant in the long term. For a goalkeeper, being able to hold onto a clear goal as to where you want to be over 5-10 years is critical for success.

Young Schmeichel, certainly has choices to go anywhere and certainly be playing first team football wherever he wishes, but would it be regular first team football remains the question? Back to the notion of egoism. What I mean here is a natural condition of the human mind, that of being greater than who we think we are. But the problem here is that at a young age, we usually have not developed the capacity to clearly define who we are or where we want to be in the future.

As a young goalkeeper playing at the higher echelons of football, we get frustrated because it is natural for us to want to be number one…this is ego. Not anything abnormal by any stretch of the imagination, but it does nothing for longevity in ones career. Think of Casillas and his tenure with Real Madrid, he will certainly retire at Madrid in years to come. So, Kasper Schmeichel should think about shaping something for his future, of sticking to his guns and fighting for his position in the best competition in the world.

Yes, it takes time, and can be painful when Schmeichel looks at having to compete with other fantastic talents such as Joe Hart (and of not getting a run throughout the season). On the other side, sometimes when the door is closed by the powers that be, a goalkeeper needs to look elsewhere, so Schmeichels decision to look outward is justified. Though, my thoughts for any of you reading this, is if you are fortunate to have the opportunity to play at the higher tiers of competitive football, be patient. It takes many years to get to the next level, whatever that is for you, you have to define it.

In my mind and heart I still hurt at the notion of not being patient at Sydney United, of not defining my potential football career in terms of many years, instead of the rush and excitement of the present. Goalkeeping is an art form that involves pressure and time, how much you can withstand is the hallmark of great goalkeepers. Schmeichels future is certainly bright, but with the right mind set, and a resilient plan in place, one day I’m certain he may have his own children who will certainly be proud to stand on the shoulders of their own father…a goalkeeping giant.

Profiles of the Legends: Ray Clemence

Profiles of the Legends: Ray Clemence
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Raymond Neal Clemence, MBE, was born in Skegness, England in 1948. He made his professional debut for Scunthorpe United at the age of 17. He was part of the tremendously successful Liverpool side of the 1970s that won five domestic titles, three European Cups, and two UEFA Cups. In some ways, Mr. Clemence was a victim of bad timing at the national team level. During his tenure as the England keeper, the Three Lions failed to qualify for two World Cups in 1974 and 1978. He was also sandwiched between fellow legends Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton, respectively.

Before the appointment of Fabio Capello as the new manager, Mr. Clemence was the goalkeeper’s coach for England from 1996 to 2007. He is presently the Head of National Teams for the Football Association, and also assists Mr. Capello in a special capacity. His son, Stephen, plays professionally for Leister City of the Football League Championship.

Professional Clubs

• Scunthorpe United
• Liverpool Football Club
• Tottenham Hotspur

Career Honors

• 61 international caps for England, along with one appearance as the captain.
• European Cup Champion with Liverpool FC in 1977, 1978, and 1981.
• UEFA Cup Champion with Liverpool FC in 1973 and 1976.
• UEFA Cup Champion with Tottenham Hotspur in 1984 (although he did not play in the final).
• Competed at Euro 1980 in Italy.
• Competed at World Cup 1982 in Spain.
• 665 total appearances for Liverpool FC.
• 335 clean sheets for Liverpool FC.
• Five English League championships with Liverpool FC.
• Two FA Cups (one each with Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur).
• One League Cup with Liverpool.
• Member of the British Empire.

Statistics courtesy of Goalkeeping Greats.

Brief Interview from 1987

Liverpool 3 x St. Etienne 2: European Cup Quarterfinal from Anfield, 1977

Ray Clemence provides his analysis before and after an epic game in the history of Liverpool. Please note the passionate atmosphere at this game which is part of the rich tradition of the Liverpool Football Club. His comments begin at 4:00 on this video. St. Etienne (Saint Steven) was a famous French team from that era. It produced French legend, Michel Platini, who is the current President of UEFA.

On Criticism

“Criticism is just part of growing up as a goalkeeper. We all have to accept if you are going to be a goalkeeper you need to be very thick skinned because you will get more criticism than anyone else. You have to be able to take that criticism. There was a famous quote ‘it is not being knocked down that matters, it is how you get up’ and that is what you have to learn as a keeper.You have to keep picking yourself up, keep dusting yourself down. It is just having the confidence to show those abilities and the mental strength.”

Source: Sporting Life: Clemence Backs Carson, 17 April 2008.

During a Recent Trip to Lesotho with Fabio Capello

As the FA’s Head of National Teams, Mr. Clemence accompanied Mr. Capello during an April 2008 visit to the small southern African country of Lesotho. The FA has been promoting grass-roots programs for many years in this part of the world.

“This programme is very important. There are two aspects to it. One is to encourage African footballers. There are quite a number in the game at the moment. There is a lot of talent out here but the coaching they get is limited. It gives us a chance to give something back to the game. We have been involved in projects like this for 10 years in Lesotho, Malawi and Botswana. We are trying to provide as many level one coaches as we can so they can go out in the communities and coach the youngsters and make them better players. We want them to become self sufficient.”

Source: Sporting Life: Clemence Backs Carson, 17 April 2008.

Steve Amoia is the author and editor of World Football Commentaries. He writes for Soccerlens and Keeper Skool.

Is Mark Schwarzer Still Wanted At Middlesbrough?

It must be hard to stand in the boots of Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Recently Middlesbrough offered an extended contract of only 1 year, as opposed to the 2 year terms he had put forward with his agent. After 12 stellar seasons with Boro, an extra year would have done well for Schwarzer given that the 2010 World Cup is nigh. Whilst, offers come in from Serie A clubs such as Fiorentina, Schwarzer remains in limbo as to whether to stay or leave.

Schwarzer started his leap to Europe with stand out seasons as a 19 year old at Marconi Stallions in the old Australian National Soccer League. In 1998/99 I spent my time training alongside his younger brother at Marconi. Most people would not really consider the old NSL as anything other than the backwater of football, but it is this same league that produced the likes of Viduka, Schwarzer and others plying their trade currently in Europe.

From Australia to the Bundesliga and now the English Premier League, Schwarzer was recently recognized as one of its longest serving players, after Denis Bergkamp, serving up over 364 games with Boro. So, there is definitely a rhyme and reason to his success and longevity. It takes superior resilience over many many years to achieve the playing time and experience that Schwarzer has produced over his tenure for club and country, and it serves as a focal point as to how to view your own goalkeeping career.

Goalkeeping is like a pressure cooker. Over time, and only if you can stand the pressure and waiting game that can be inherent in the position, will you be able to succeed and hold your spot within a team. So it seems quite interesting that Middlesbrough, whether for monetary reasons, or internal politicking will not extend Schwarzers contract for a two year period?

Having a two year period to prepare for the World Cup stands true to principals around periodization in sports science. Many of the top world class events have cyclical preparation periods of around 3 years. Breaking this cycle, especially during club playing time, can have dramatic effects on the overall performance of a goalkeeper at events like the World Cup (you might not think it, but it can). Therefore, having Schwarzer in match readiness is critically important for Australia’s chances moving forward toward qualification for World Cup 2010.

And whom else could fill the boots of Schwarzer in terms of longevity, ability and leadership? Aussie goalkeepers such as Brad Jones, and others whom are developing their skills, still need time to flourish…fantastic goalkeepers without a doubt, but with goalkeeping timing is everything. So, Middlesbrough need to reconsider there contractual agreements for Mark Schwarzer, not only for the success of Middlesbrough, but also for the success of the Australian national team (if they care anything about the Australian National team at all).

The Science Behind The Goalkeeping Save

Have you ever thought about the bio mechanical functions behind making a perfect save? Thought not. In fact, there has been very little analysis at all when it comes to the movements needed to get to the ball effectively. One book, which has given a “slight insight” into the enigmatic science of goalkeeping is Thomas Reilly’s (et. al) stellar work Science and Soccer (and if you have never read it, you should pick it up as a side by side resource with The G-Code).

So what is involved for a goalkeeper during the motions played out in a save? And what can make the goalkeepers save better than what it is? One reader, Simon, asked this vital question:

I am looking for a definition of a goalkeeping save and what it actually is, just wondering if you had any references or quotes I could use?

Cheers in advance

Text book definitions of what a goalkeeping “save” is, or entails, does no good at all in encompassing the many faceted dynamics behind making a save. There have been several key studies that show the bio mechanical advantages that a professional goalkeeper has compared to an amateur or lesser trained goalkeeper. Many of these studies have been aimed at the “penalty” save, rather than a break down of the many different directions and angles a goalkeeper will take to make a save.

Suzuki et al. 1998 showed two key findings between highly skilled and lesser skilled goalkeepers as below:

1. More skilled goalkeepers dived faster and more directly at the ball. Skilled goalkeepers (in this scenario) were able to perform a counter-movement jump to launch into the air and attack the ball more efficiently

2. Less skilled goalkeepers (in this study), could not perform the counter-movement well, and failed to turn their body to meet the ball effectively.

Other key resources in regards to various techniques utilized during the goalkeepers dive have been discussed on many occasions at Keeper Skool, you can read more via the following links:

• The Penalty Save & The Joystick
• Space Equals Goalkeeping Success In Penalty Situations
• How To Power Up Your Penalty Saving Ability

The goalkeeping dive can really best be defined by suggesting that there are a number of bio mechanical movements and cognitive associations aligned with the trajectory and angle of the ball that is also directly related to the goalkeepers positioning within their goal mouth alongside many other external factors outside the goalkeepers direct influence.

In any way you look at it, and there is no real need to be this granular, we can suggest that a great dive or save is really down to experience and overall fitness. Great goalkeeping saves are a result of repetitive goalkeeper specific actions throughout a structured football season. Making a great save is not something that happens “just like that” during a competitive match. Making a great save is usually (whether you think about it or not) a very structured occurrence and a result of proper training and fitness.

Profiles of the Legends: Gordon Banks

Profiles of the Legends: Gordon Banks
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Image courtesy of Don Mullan and A Little Book Company.

Gordon Banks, OBE, was born in Sheffield, England in 1933. He made his professional debut at the age of 17 for Chesterfield. He was 6 feet in height, or 1.83 meters. He was affectionately known as “Banks of England.” Mr. Banks was noted for very quick reflexes and exemplary positional ability. According to a poll by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Mr. Banks was named as the second best keeper after Lev Yashin. In the modern era, England has produced two of the best international goalkeepers: Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton. Ironically, one followed the other for the Three Lions.

Professional Clubs

• Chesterfield
• Leister City
• Stoke City
• Cleveland Stokers (During 1967, Stoke City played a handful of games in the USA in an attempt to promote soccer to North Americans).
• St. Patrick’s Athletic
• Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

Career Honors

• 73 international appearances for England. According to Planet World Cup, he allowed 57 goals.
• Goals against average for England: 0.78.
• Competed at two World Cups: 1966 and 1970. He had 6 clean sheets.
• World Cup Champion with England in 1966.
• Competed at the European Nations Cup of 1968.
• League Cup Winner with Stoke City in 1964.
• Football Writers Player of the Year in 1972.
• Named to 125 Best Living Footballers in 2004.
• Sheffield Walk of Fame in 2006.
• Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Promotional Video for Mr. Don Mullan’s Memoir “A Hero Who Could Fly”

Famous Save Against Pelé at World Cup 1970 in Guadalajara, Mexico

He is forever linked with one of the greatest individual moments in World Cup history. During a group round match, on a powerfully headed ball by Pelé, he somehow made a save for the ages.

“In Banks of England, he wrote:

‘Pele got above the ball and powered it low and hard towards the corner of the net. It was the perfect header. I was now into a dive to my right and as the ball hit the ground just in front of my goal-line I flicked it with my outstretched right hand as it came up.’

The ball, miraculously, rose and cleared the bar for a corner. No one, least of all Pele, could take it in. The Brazilian ace shouted “Goal!” as the ball left his head, so certain was he of scoring. Later, he was to tell everyone that it was the greatest save he had ever seen.

Pictures show Banks outstretched, his body extended and frozen horizontally, as he made crucial contact with the ball. An athlete captured at the supreme moment of his skill.”

Source: International Football Hall of Fame.

“I was already shouting Goooaaalll! when Banks, like a salmon leaping up a falls, threw himself in the air and managed to tip the ball so that it slid over the crossbar! It was, in my opinion, the most spectacular save of the tournament, an impossible play, but Banks made it. And soon afterward he made an equally impressive save on a free kick which again I was sure would be a goal. For me, Banks was the leading goalkeeper of the 1970 games, and quite possibly the leading defender in any position.” Pelé

Source: My Life and The Beautiful Game, Pelé with Robert L. Fish, page 258.

His North American Experience

In 1972, after a car accident, he lost sight in his right eye. He decided to finish his stellar career in the desert of world football. Beginning in 1977, he played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. I am honored to say that I saw him play on a few occasions.

“Despite his handicap, Banks was voted the League’s most valuable goalkeeper in his first season.
The Barnum and Bailey showmanship of the American game, however, wasn’t quite to his taste. Publicity stunts and gimmicks were the order of the day and Banks was quoted as saying:

‘I felt like a circus act . . . Roll up, roll up, to see the greatest one-eyed goalkeeper in the world.’

On one occasion, Banks found himself being driven on to the pitch in a hearse. He then helped to carry a coffin to the centre circle where the team’s manager, dressed as Dracula, jumped out as the public announcer told fans: ‘Lauderdale Strikers are coming back from the dead.’

The reason for this bizarre ritual? The Strikers had lost two games in a row!”

Source: International Football Hall of Fame.

Yes, that was life, or death, in the old NASL…

Rare Video of George Best and Gordon Banks

They played against each other in England, and as you will see from this video clip, internationally. Ironically, they teamed together in North America at Fort Lauderdale. George Best was a legend for Northern Ireland and Manchester United. He was one of the greatest players to ever grace world football.

Statue Will Be Unveiled by Pelé

On 12 July 2008, Mr. Banks will be honored in a very special manner. A statue of him will be unveiled at the Brittania Stadium, home of one of his former clubs, Stoke City. There will be a charity exhibition: Banks XI v. Pelé XI.

“Archbishop Desmond Tutu will also be in attendance, acting as assistant manager to the Pelé XI to celebrate Banks’s charity work in Africa.

‘I hope it’s not an omen, normally they only put up statues of people that are dead,’ joked Banks.

Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes said: ‘Stoke City are honoured to be able to locate the statue of Gordon Banks here at the Britannia Stadium. The charity match will be a wonderful festival and will raise awareness and money for all the causes involved on the day.’

Banks, who played for Stoke between 1966 and 1972, said: ‘It would be absolutely fantastic if the statue can come at the same time that Stoke City get promoted back to the top flight.’ “

Source: BBC Sport: Stoke to Host Banks Versus Pele, 03 April 2008.

Steve Amoia is the author and editor of World Football Commentaries. He writes for Soccerlens and Keeper Skool.

English goalkeeper rotation in recent times

Last week, Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia further cemented Jens Lehmann’s place on the bench by signing a long-term contract extension. The details have not been disclosed due to a club policy stipulating that they will not reveal information about player contracts.

In the spirit of the occasion, I have decided to have a look at some uncertain Premier League goalkeeping situations in recent times and how they precipitated.

ARSENAL

This is a well-documented saga, and seems like an appropriate starting point for any discussion about goalkeeper rotation. Jens Lehmann started the season as the undisputed number one, starting in the Gunners opening day victory against Fulham (although he let in a shocking goal), their first match in the Champions League against Sparta Prague (clean sheet victory), and their August draw against Blackburn.

However, a run of Achilles and elbow injuries to Lehmann allowed Almunia to step in and be the first choice goalkeeper (except in the Carling Cup) well through the present day. Lehmann was reduced to watching from the bench – although he was not quiet about it – and playing in FA Cup matches, which he was promised by Arsene Wenger.

Honestly, I think the story of Almunia v Lehmann would be a much quieter one if the German would just keep his mouth shut. Goalkeepers need to be prepared to act professionally in times of trouble, especially since there is only one spot on the pitch at a time for us. Up until the time Oliver Kahn retired from international football, Lehmann was always after him as well.

My verdict: Having watched both Lehmann and Almunia play for Arsenal, I can understand why Wenger would go with Almunia as his first-choice goalkeeper. Jens Lehmann is not a bad goalkeeper, but I have seen Almunia make far less mistakes. Almunia also seems to have better control of his temper, and is an overall more professional player. If Lehmann ever finally decides to leave the Emirates Stadium like he threatened to but failed to actually do in January, the club will not be greatly affected.

CHELSEA

Three goalkeepers on the books at Chelsea Football Club have seen action in the past year: Petr Cech, Carlo Cudicini, and Hilario. However, this rotation policy is not based on the new manager or a sudden loss of form, but instead on a series of injuries that have come at unfortunate times.

This comedy (or tragedy) of injuries started last season when Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini were both seriously injured in the same match. Cech fractured his skull and Cudicini suffered a concussion, leaving captain and resident big bloke John Terry to put on the gloves.

The last month has been poor for Cech in terms of injuries. Cudicini played almost every match of a busy March fixture list for Chelsea after the Czech suffered an ankle injury. Just as he was set to make his mark on the league again, Cech suffers a facial injury in training and has to have fifty stitches.

Chelsea are lucky that Cudicini has decided to stick around and play in their less significant matches when Cech is healthy. There has been a long debate about whether or not the Italian should find a new club, because he is certainly good enough to be playing regularly.

In a more recent development, Hilario will get a few matches also, with Carlo Cudicini injuring himself in the Champions League clash with Fenerbahce. Eighteen year-old Rhys Taylor will likely be on the bench for Chelsea. One can’t help but feel sorry for Cudicini – finally, another chance to get a good run of important matches and he picks up an injury.

My verdict: Although it is honorable of Carlo Cudicini to stay at Chelsea, his recent form has begun to show signs of the rust a player gets from sitting on the bench too often. Against Barnsley and Olympiakos, he was shaky on crosses, and he has constantly seemed to be less of a goalkeeper than before, at least in my eyes. If he wants to maintain his status as a high-level goalkeeper, he needs to look at moving to another club.

FULHAM

This is another tale of two keepers in West London; although I would like to state that the goalkeeper back-and-forth is anything but responsible for their unenviable position in the table.

The main idea is something like this: Antti Niemi is Fulham’s first choice goalkeeper, and the club buys American veteran Kasey Keller to back him up. Niemi has a poor run of form and Keller takes over. Keller gets injured and Niemi takes over. Niemi plays poorly again, and Keller takes over again, and that’s where things stand at the moment.

I’ll slow it down for the sake of a lengthy explanation. Fulham signed Niemi to a new deal in July and bought Kasey Keller from Borussia Mönchengladbach in August. Tony Warner was the number one at the time because of an arm injury to Niemi. Keller played until Niemi returned, and then Niemi played and Keller watched from the bench and played a reserve match now and again.

After a run which saw Fulham win only two matches out of nine, Keller took over between the sticks. The results still didn’t go Fulham’s way, as has been the story of their season, and Keller picked up an arm injury. Later, after Niemi had a few more matches, Hodgson gave Keller the starting job back.

My verdict: Personally, I don’t know why Roy Hodgson (or Lawrie Sanchez before him) even thinks Niemi is the same class as Keller. Niemi has a tough time controlling the eighteen yard box and is mostly known for the one good season he had, with Southampton. He bases his play more on agility and quickness, but Keller is a better man for the job because the English game demands goalkeepers that control their box like he does.

It has been an interesting season in England, just as it should be. Goalkeeping jobs are won and lost every week, and everybody is being criticized for dropping one shot that didn’t even rebound into a dangerous position. Overall, the pressure on goalkeepers is as high as it has ever been, and managers continually search for the right man to handle that pressure. As the season comes to its most crucial point – when champions are crowned, losers are relegated, and the clubs’ bankrolls adjusts accordingly – safe hands become even more desirable.

How Any Goalkeeper Can Push Their Mental Threshold

Conjuring up the power to stay focused over 90 minutes is an art form, and there are many facets around solidifying mental concentration so that a goalkeeper can stay focused all the way throughout competitive play. Many goalkeepers feel that staying sharp and alert is a progressive thing, it may start slowly throughout the first half and then spring into action in the second half. For others, the mind can drift off when it counts most toward the end of the game.

Following is a note from one of our readers, that got me thinking about how any goalkeeper utilizing a few simple processes can help stay focused for 90 minutes and beyond:

Hi John hope your well!

Just a question regarding the pre-game approach and preparation for a goalkeeper?

There has been times where my body and mind were just too much asleep and my concentration wasn’t up to scratch!

How can I enter a game in the full work mode and literally feel like my body is pumped up like the 2nd half of the game?

Matteo.

The key to staying mentally alert really revolves around a few key principles that stem from both psychological, physical and dietary preparation. The aim is to be able to stay focused throughout the whole game, and throughout the season. Following are a few tips to help keep any goalkeeper stay focused and hungry:

1. Don’t Wait Until Match day: We talk about preparation in The G-Code as a the whole heated effort a goalkeeper takes to plan every facet of his/her training year down to a granular level. Being meticulous about how you go about your training week, building up over pre, in and post season, will allow you to define a structure around every facet of your game.

In our free 10 week course we talk about training diaries and visualization techniques as a hallmark of enhancing good technique. Having written goals, and a running overview of how you feel during each training session allows you to map out a repository of good habits that you can dig into at any point in your career to iron out any weaknesses before match day.

Professional teams utilize video to great effect during training sessions. Being able to sit and strategise with the whole team or your coach around in-game video footage helps to map out training processes that can maximize the efficiency of the goalkeeper and the team unit as a whole. During the week, take the time etc record each training session and study your performance, whilst tracking the strengths and weaknesses of each session in your training diary.

2. Time Your Food: Being able to time your food intake is a precise science, and a year round effort. Staying mentally sharp can be dramatically effected by the amount of food you take, and at what time you take it. Carbohydrates are one of the key components of successful athletes and loading correctly during the training week, will allow the goalkeeper to have sufficient carbohydrate intake in their blood stream to continue powering their performance well over 90 minutes.

Being able to load carbohydrate without doing any drastic depletion, will enable the body to be primed for match day. During the match, consuming electrolytic drinks with some carbohydrates mixed in for good measure will help any goalkeeper’s brain stay hydrated, with enough glucose in the blood to keep mentally focused. Food intake is one of the most overlooked components to greater performance. I believe that every grass roots club should put in the money for a good nutritionist, to help educate their young players how to maximize performance through good food choices.

Food intake does not really stop when the game ends, and this is another misnomer by many soccer players. Keeping well hydrated and replenishing glycogen stores well after the match finishes, for up to 8 hours will also help to clear out any free radicals from the blood and keep you mentally alert for longer. Remembering to replenish lost fluids and consume simple sugars will help prime the body for the coming weeks training sessions all the way until match day.

3. Relaxation Techniques: Another frightening thing to think about is that many players never utilize the benefit of remedial therapies to help relax the body during the training week. Being able to have a nice massage, spa, meditation or even an ice bath after a strenuous routine can help re-invigorate working muscles (including the brain) that are tired and breaking down.

Scheduling some time to rest during the working week, especially in the post season via the above methods get players back on track and primed to action for the coming season. Working on any injuries with a physiotherapist can also help enhance mental focus, as there is a clearly defined goal of recovery when the treatment ends.

So, three key points you can take away, so that any goalkeeper can stay focused and alert come match day and continue to push the threshold of their performance year round. Always, measure and focus every aspect of your training week, whether they be written goals in a training diary or a video diary. Time your foods, and load your carbohydrates properly so that you continue to push the mental threshold of your goalkeeping performance. And, also use the powerful healing effects of remedial therapy to stay primed, and keep the mind fresh come match day.