Entries from September 1, 2007 - October 1, 2007
When All Hope Is Lost...
There has been a lot said about Hope Solo's (the US womens national goalkeeper) dismissal from the national team, and there are a few things to point out about professional conduct both on Solo's end and with coach Greg Ryan's decisions.
John Stevanja
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PrintCould Mark Bosnich Be The Comeback Kid?
There has been a whirlwind of press in the local Australian papers about good old Bozza getting back between the sticks, and it leads to some pretty convincing (or concerning) arguments toward the longevity of goalkeepers. From Lehmann, James and Van der Saar to Middlesbrough's Schwarzer, there is a growing trend and preference toward the ageing goalkeeper in the Premiership. Why do goalkeepers tend to peak their skills with age? And will Mark Bosnich make his presence known in the global game again at the age of 35?
Petr Cech: The Best Goalkeeper In Europe, Or, The World?
You can't fault Petr Cech. No, not even a skull fracture can keep the man down. Having recently been voted the best goalkeeper in Europe by UEFA, the question remains...is this larger than life Czech the best in the world?
Goalkeeper Blunders Getting a Little Ridiculous?
It seems that someone in the heavens is playing a cosmic joke with some of the best goalkeepers around the globe of late, with a recent swath of injuries and blunders. Artur Boruc pretty much topped the accolades as probably one of the worst performances this season thus far, not only in the Scottish Premier League...but in any league.
Goalkeeping, River Plate Style.
From Pablo Carizzo to Juan Ojeda, it seems that River Plate have a knack for creating some great goalkeepers. That South American flavour of goalkeeping is extremely dynamic, that "thinking out of the square" type of goalkeeping. In the following video, you'll see some uncanny saves from guys like Carizzo and Ojeda (most notably the latter), and it resonates the point blank, super quick style of South American goalkeeping that any young goalkeeper can take notes from and learn.
Keeper Skool Interviewed on Ziga Zoga!
Following is a pretty long interview with Jason, Chris and Steve over at Ziga Zoga (the fastest growing soccer social network on the web). It is about 70 minutes, and it gives some insights into my views on goalkeeper specific performance. It was my first podcast, hope you enjoy!
Order your copy of Keeper Skool's The G-Code today for $0! Includes our free "10 Weeks To Goalkeeping Success" course. Click Here.
Playing Through The Pain, Can Be Just Plain Stupid!
You gotta love bravado! Every girl goes gooey over a big tough goalkeeper right? But at the end of the day, how much is too much? Jens Lehmann stated yesterday, before today's Champion's League game against Seville that he won't give into the pain of his elbow injury. While it might score brownie points with the team, I think it is an overall stubborn strategy that Lehmann would well regret.
Win a Free Copy of The G-Code!
Yup, you heard it right! Keeper Skool & Soccerlens (the premier news site for football fans) have both been nominated for a Blogger's Choice Award, and to celebrate we are jointly running a special 4-week promotion for all of our fans...and the grand prize is a weekly chance to grab a free copy of The G-Code...
To find out more details about the competiton, and how you could win a free copy of The G-Code, sign up for our free "10 Weeks To Goalkeeping Success" report by clicking here.
Hope you win!
What It Means To Be An "Attacking" Goalkeeper
Nick over at The Offside dug up an old video of goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel scoring a cheeky goal. It made me think about the "attacking" transition in play that goalkeepers have undertaken since the back pass rule was created. Have you adapted to it? Or are some of us still playing the role of a "line hog"? Being able to effectively aid your attacking line shows great initiative and determination. First the video of Schmeichel in action, then some commentary from me.
Powerful Goalkeeping Tips For The 6-a-Side Goalkeeper...
Small things pack a punch, kind of like a tiny Jorge Campos in-between the sticks. If old Jorge was still plying his goalkeeping trade and was placed in the 6-a-Side goal-mouth, then I assume that a giant chaos would ensue. I've played one game of 6-a-side thus far and it is a revelation that I had not payed attention to it for quite some time. Following are some of the things I've learned from 6-a-side:
Turkish Rustu Got The Goods...
Something you have to admire about balls-to-the-wall goalkeeping. One goalkeeper that has always stood out for me, and whom I have admired for quite some time (especially the 1998 World Cup) is Turkish shot stopper Rustu. Looking more like a camp linebacker with the shoe polish under his eyes, Rustu's style is no holds barred, and he does not mind putting his body on the line.
Top 3 Reasons Why Goalkeepers In The Premiership Are Stuffing Up!
I'm hearing a lot of verbal vomit from armchair critics at popular blogs and news sites about the state of goalkeeping in the English Premier League. What gets to me is that there is a lot of talk, but not much understanding when it comes to "why" goalkeepers of Lehmann, James and Robinson's caliber are stuffing up.
With Goalkeeping, Experience Is Everything
Oliver Khan played an immense 535 Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich just the other day...which equates to...hold on a sec...48,150 minutes between the sticks! I get many emails from readers around the world with the same sort of tune, ie. I want to play at the highest level, or trial with the biggest super club on the planet, often ending with United at the end of it (and it ain't Sydney United either)!
