I wanted to follow up on a topic that EV touched on several weeks ago, the importance of keepers being able to use their feet. The big question right now is this; is the goal keeping position evolving because of Manuel Neuer’s performance at the World Cup last summer? Is the game ready for the sweeper/keeper, or keeper/sweeper if you wish? I am not sure if this change is a good thing, a bad thing, or just the way of the future, but we have become much more integrated into supporting the defense and giving them outlets for back passes when they are under pressure. We have become involved in switching the field of play and even generating the transition from defense to offense with the decisions we are making while we have the ball. I can tell you that at Molde, we train extensively with the ball at our feet and do numerous drills to work on our touch and distribution in almost every session. Everything is done with high expectations, tempo, accuracy, and within a limited amount of touches and time.
The new expectation is that we have the ability to distribute and make effective decisions with our feet. There is a time to “bang it”, and a time to play it with purpose and pace. Depending on the situation, the goal is to hit a specific player or an area of space. The expectation is that the flight of the ball also be specific, a high ball, driven, or short with back spin, whatever the situation may call for. At Molde, we also train often with the field players where we play on the ends during possession. We are used frequently as support players and are forced to make quick, snap decisions using our feet. I cannot stress enough the importance of keepers training their feet and getting comfortable with the ball.
This brings me to an article I read many months ago from Gianluigi Buffon about the pressure on goal keepers to play with their feet. He rightfully says that if this is the new way of goal keeping, then you can also expect there to be more mistakes and for keepers to be caught “out of position” more frequently. He states that this has to be expected and understood if we are going to expect keepers to play this way. I believe that he is exactly correct. If you see what has happened in the last several weeks, more than just a few keepers were beat over the top from long range because of the desire to hold a higher line and be in a position to support the defenders and cut out through balls. If there is a give-away or mistake and your team lose possession, keepers are quickly put in a vulnerable position. It is also putting more pressure on the field players to play the correct ball back to the keepers.
As far as my personal preference, I am all for it. I have always been very good with my feet. I love being involved in the play and am more than comfortable with having the field players use me as their outlet. However, I am not sure the footballing world is ready for the keeper/sweeper, or can understand the new dynamics of it all yet, but for now it seems to be the next wave of the future. Time will tell. ..
If you have any questions, please ask and I will do my best to answer them. Until then...
Keep It Clean
Ethan Horvath (E)