I can't remember a time when any of my coaches formulated a formation strategy with the goalkeeper being a pivotal aspect.  "Johnny, just save the ball...", or "Alright here's the formation...Johnny, your in goals..." Nice, but not good enough. In fact, to not align a goalkeeper with a desired tactic or formation going into a game, hinders overall team performance. Following is an overview of the 4-4-2, and my take on how a goalkeeper should be utilized for it.

Click to read more ...

Hey gang! Just came across a fantastic new soccer specific social network called Ziga Zoga. Now this site has the potential to really blow up on the net if you can dish out some support for Jason and the crew. Although the site is relatively new you will be able to interact with many players and top trainers, like ex Newcastle United goalkeeper coach Simon Smith. Some of the features of Ziga Zoga that I can see would be beneficial include:

Click to read more ...

Gyula....Gyula, I'm getting flashbacks of that scene from Ferris Buellers Day Off? Well, Gyula Grosics did not ditch the football field like Ferris ditched class, but just like Ferris when it came to goalkeeping, he is in a league of his own (not that Ferris was a goalkeeper in any way, he was just so cool in an 80's kinda way). So, with that opening paragraph flying way over your heads, I wanted to school you on the significance of Gyula Grosics and why he made such an impact to the modern art of goalkeeping.

Click to read more ...

The backpass, oh what a nail biting experience it is for any goalkeeper. Again, I stumbled across a post at The Offside which shows Botafogo goalkeeper Julio Cesar kick nothing but air as a back pass goes horribly wrong. Well, I must admit that yes, the goalkeepers role has shifted significantly, and it has made the game of soccer more exciting, but how does a goalkeeper deal with that heart stopping back pass? There are a couple of ways for the uninitiated, let's go through them.

Click to read more ...

The recent U21 European Championship has bolstered Scott Carson's chances at Liverpool, with Rafa Benitez proclaiming that the England International will do well to give Pepe Reina a run for his money in the coming Premiership season. Carson pulled off some phenomenal saves and also proved his worth with some sound penalty taking skills, showing the confidence that will help him excel at Liverpool against some tough opposition. Following is some video highlights from the recent U21 European Championship. The question remains, could Scott Carson be a serious threat to Reina between the sticks. What do you think?

Click to read more ...

I'm going to be biased because I'm a Kop fan at heart, but Liverpool have always had a knack of producing some of the best goalkeepers in England. Ray Clemence resonates some of the best in English goalkeeping, not only at home but possibly in the world. With over 665 games for Liverpool and 314 clean sheets, this veteran played his guts out winning 5 first division championships medals, an FA Cup, 3 European Cups and 2 UEFA Cups, the man has done it all. One of the great things about Clemence's style of goalkeeping was his ability to use powerful momentum to move off his line and attack the ball...he also has mad sideburns and a toothy grin that would make the Cheshire cat envious. 

Click to read more ...

Kasey Keller hits his golden century for the US, and it would be a good time to reminisce over such a phenomenal goalkeeper. Keller played for the University of Portland, F.C. Portland and plyed his trade in the Premier League with clubs like Millwall and Leicester. One of the most mind boggling performances I've seen from a goalkeeper was Keller's performance against Brazil in 1998 where he stopped no less than 10 goals at point blank range. Now plying his trade at Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, let's celebrate Kasey's great ability with a video tribute. Enjoy!

Click to read more ...

We're going to take you back...waaay back into time. A time when goalkeepers could hold the ball for ten minutes before distribution (well, ok...not that long), where long goalkeeper pants were worn by sissy boys, where wearing gloves meant you were a gardener...not a goalkeeper. Yes, I've decided to recoup sales of The G-Code and purchase a used De Lorean to take you back into the annals of goalkeeping history. We will uncover deft defying bravado, goalkeepers with sideburns, and some cool goalkeeping videos to boot, over 20 heart stopping episodes. Get ready, you're in for a seriously ridiculous ride!

Click to read more ...

Wow...is all I could say when I shot past Soccerlens yesterday and saw that Ahmed Bilal had written up a post regarding The G-Code. I just want to say a huge thank you to Ahmed and the rest of the team for their constant support.

Click to read more ...

See the new product display above this post? Hope you do...because we have created a new online store for goalkeeper gloves called Dirty Mits.

Click to read more ...

It's quite disheartening to see a goalkeeper make a mistake, but in this online world we soccer fans call home it seems that the only time a goalkeeper really gets mentioned is when they make a terrible mistake. Just came across this extremely laughable video at The Offside, which shows some very awkward goalkeeper blunders. on a serious note, how do we as goalkeepers recover from a mistake...a blunder which can inevitably lead to the opposition winning the match? Let's look at some key points to prepare the mind for the inevitable goalkeeping blunder.

Click to read more ...

I've been intrigued by The Secret. Yeah, I know it is a load of hog-wash...or at least you would think it is, and I'm sure that each and every one of you have utilized the powerful law of attraction to get what you want out on the football field, you may have never realized it. In fact, many of the concepts outlined in The Secret have been scientifically proven. One of the most powerful concepts a goalkeeper (or any athlete for that matter) can utilize is visualization. If you think it, well, you will be able to hold it in your hand, at least that is what the book outlines.

Click to read more ...

If Vitor Baia was a sculpture, he could be considered on of the seven wonders of the goalkeeping world. I mean, I loved this guy growing up and he epitomised everything that the modern goalkeeper should be. The 37 year old had 80 caps for Portugal, a Champions League trophy and UEFA title stashed away under his goalkeeping jersey as he retires from professional football. Now, Baia will use his chiselled face as the voicew of FC Porto, sliding into his Versace suit and into the corporate world. Following are 4 videos of this Portugese goalkeeping maestro in action.

Click to read more ...

Gregory Coupet is set to stay on with Lyon until 2010 and he seemed to be in two minds about it. It gets to a point in every goalkeepers career when you want to test other waters. Although the article does not go too much into it, there would be a time after a very long professional career where you would want to take on other challenges. I guess the powers that be took some serious change from their pockets to convince him to stay on with the six time French champions.

Click to read more ...

Pull out the gloves, goalkeeping gloves that is, it's going to get a little rough down at Arsenal this season! Good goalkeepers know how to fight, and it seems that young Lukasz Fabianski is ready to show Jens Lehmann why he wants the old war-horse's jersey. The other day we spoke about Polish Fabianski and his recent scooping up by Arsenal. The young guy seems to have what it takes from what we have seen via this video in a recent post but the young pole has stepped up with a cool headed challenge to both Lehmann and Almunia...you better watch out boys!

Click to read more ...

We speak a lot about determination here at Keeper Skool. I hear many of you put it up in the air...how bad you want to succeed. It' possibly one of the most invigorating things I can experience with running this lil' ol' blog about us goalkeepers. I've come across many people looking at increasing their goalkeeping skill, or enhancing their game, but Matteo Fabbris really caught my attention.

Click to read more ...