Everyone remembers their favorite boxing movie, whether it be Rocky or Raging Bull, and whilst strapping up the hands in preparation for that one-two knockout combination is relevant in the ring, does it make sense for the competitive goalkeeper?

One of our readers John came up with a gob-smacking question that I had not thought about for quite some time:

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We live in a world where that "big" word is considered a good thing, or at least we'd like to think so. We love the big cars, the big house. Being taller can get you the girl...no lady likes the small runt-like guy. Oh, we also love the big paychecks and the big dinners. Did you smell a waft of generalization in the air? Thought so.

When it comes to goalkeeping, the age old question resonates (well at least in goalkeeping circles) around whether being a tall goalkeeper, compared to being a short goalkeeper, has its advantages? It's a great question.

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With a whopping Premiership come and gone, the summer transfer market is hotting up. While we are out with the old goalkeepers, still some remain, but there is also some exciting speculation as to whom may be showing their brooding or bashful face around your favorite Premier League club.

The following is derived from today's article from the Times Online and gives a run down on some of the speculation around the Summer transfer window, and which goalkeepers may be arriving on English soil:

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Goalkeepers can score goals. Not with pizzazz mind you...but we'll give it a go to be certain. The following video shows some fantastic goals scored by some Premiership goalkeepers over the years.

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Colorado Rapids (MLS) goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul is making international headlines again for the country of Senegal. Bouna has been named to the Senegal National Team, who will play in the the first group round of World Cup qualifying in Africa. "I am excited to once again represent my nation," Coundoul said. "I am going to Senegal to try and be the starter."

Senegal will play in Group 6 with Algeria, Liberia and Gambia. The Lions of Teranga will host Algeria on May 31st, travel to Gambia on June 8th and continue on to Liberia on the June 15th before hosting Liberia on June 21st. The final two games of the Group 6 stage will be played in September and October of 2008.

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If you have not seen these yet, it's a quite funny take on the German shot stopper Jens Lehmann. Jokes aside, the video show the quality of his ability whether you like the guy or not, and gives a small fraction of a window view into how high level goalkeeper trainers strut their stuff...

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Keeper Skool reader Matteo contributed an excellent commentary about the best keepers from the EPL. While I can't match his detailed descriptions, what I would like to do is to provide a similar round-up of the Italian Serie A in statistical terms.

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German goalkeeping legend Oliver Khan bid adieu a packed stadium in his last match for Bayern Munich. The 38 year old hung up his gloves after a super 20 year tenure between the sticks. FIFA named Khan as "goalkeeper of the year" 3 times over this period, and it was well deserved for a goalkeeper with 557 Bundesliga games under his belt.

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Back in 1995 I came back home to Australia from a short stint at training with various clubs in the UK, namely Bury FC. Unfortunately during this period I suffered an ACL reconstruction. I'd heard of Elvis DeMarchi from my time at Sydney United, and from the recommendations of other coaches, and through contact with a close friend of mine whom recommended Elvis, decided to contact him for some advice around my rehabilitation.

Elvis proved conscientious and without asking anything of me, or even knowing me for that matter, spent a good few hours on the phone discussing our playing experiences, coaching and the wonderful art form we call goalkeeping.

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Ahmed over at SoccerLens summed up this past year's English Premier League the best:

If you believe the hype, the 2007/2008 English Premier League season was the most exciting and unpredictable season that we’ve had in a long, long time. (Source: SoccerLens.com)

For a definitive wrap up of each team's performance, check out Ahmed's post here.

With that said, it certainly was a stellar season. Manchester United in sublime form, Avram Grant's Chelsea were troopers in the face of adversity (having lost Jose Mourinho), the bottom half of the league was just as intense as the top and we may never see the likes of a campaign such as the one past for a very long time...and hopefully I totally swallow those damned words!

Now what about the goalkeepers this season in the Premiership? I took a poll to the Keeper Skool readers, free 10 week report subscribers and customers to get some real "goalkeeper's" votes on whom they thought were the best shot stoppers this past Premiership season...because goalkeepers know best!

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American born Boaz Myhill has been plying his goalkeeping trade in the UK his whole life. Recently, the young Hull City goalkeeper stunned Watford FC with a save from close range that not even a big cat on steroids would get anywhere near!

Watford FC left-back Mathew Sadler was left unmarked in front of goal where he cracked a marvelous shot which was destined for the top right corner, when Myhill pulled out a jaw dropping parry.

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Sunday morning tea, and a quick chat with Greg Moran, founder of Kaliaaer is always a good way to start my last day of the weekend. We take the piss, and generally get up to some creative wizadry about the new brand and our collective vision to make it the very best goalkeeper gear manufacturer in the world.

Out of the blue, Greg shoots out an Ace, and I subsequently spray my tea all over my brand-spanking new Asus laptop...poor baby.

The new Kaliaaer 3dg^TM is like looking at the sexiest of European automobiles...or women, it is just striking! With bold highlighted colours (in this case fluro orange), the gloves bold lines make you want to buy them, put them in a bullet proof glass case and ogle at them for hours on end. Imagine wearing them!

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I'm not going to laugh...well maybe just a little. In a recent Bundesliga game Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper (I think this is Mathias Hain), was caught pigeon (top right hand corner), from a great free-kick provided by Alexander Frei of Borussia Dortmund.

Now let's not anyone admit of our goalkeeping perfection, because just last week I was caught pigeon from a superb shot just outside my 18 yard box...without the subsequent caning from the ball, that is.

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David James had a stellar season this year with Pompey, and although the England No.1 has from time to time been beat up on the football field, he has come through it many times over to show that he has the resilience to be one of the best goalkeepers in The Premiership.

With that said, David James also has a unique persona that shines through even in a rough situation, something that every goalkeeper should learn how to utilize. One of the key principles behind succeeding as a soccer goalkeeper is that apart from having the ability in spades, it is the way you carry yourself through a rough situation.

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Steve Amoia advised me of the following video, which appeared over at EPL talk. It is a riveting view into what it takes to make it in the English Premier League by two of the USA's very best goalkeepers.

One of the key points that Brad Friedel makes is that there are 300 million people in the United States, though in reality 15 or so players have moved into to the top flight of Premier League Football. 80/20 Rule?

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José René Higuita Zapata was born in Medellin, Colombia, in 1966. He began his long career with Millionarios at the age of 18, and is still playing today for a 2nd Division Colombian side, Deportivo Rionegro. Most of his career was spent with Atletico Nacional of Colombia. He is 5' 9" (1.75 meters) in height, and is affectionately known as "El Loco."

Although he evokes many emotions in fans, along with detractors, one word sums him up for me: Entertainer. With Higuita, as Forrest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." As you will see in the videos, he was a pioneer in terms of defining the role of goalkeeper well outside of the 18 yard box. He has unusual technical skills, along with an intrepid nature. Similar to Jorge Campos, who we have discussed before at Keeper Skool, the goal mouth and box are not magnets for Mr. Higuita.

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