A great performance at Selhurst park by our young pole.I felt it was his best performance since being dropped for Fabianski last season but it got me thinking on the whole what his real weaknesses are, and where can he realistically improve.I am no goalkeeper expert but in general I divide the aspects of a goalkeepers game into 3 parts
Handling
Shot Stopping
Decision making
For me his handling skills are possibly among the best in the league.Under the high ball and set pieces he is soo comfortable, even at a very young age.I cant remember him flapping at crosses and that part of his game comes naturally to him.Him and Hart have always shown undeniable comfort at handling the high ball (What made Mancini select Hart ahead of Shay Given).
This aspect of the game is underplayed as the soo called best keepers in the league like Mignolet and De gea are very much weak in this aspect of the game.It would be interesting to see both keepers perform in europe against italian and french teams that still play the setpiece game to full effect.
Sky released a stat this morning that there are less crosses per game as compared to the last few seasons, which is easy to explain as more teams play narrow and set piece merchants like Tony Pulis are not in our game anymore.
Coming back to Wojciech Szczęsny,the reason for this article is I was not impressed with his performance against Dortmund.I felt he could have got closer to their first goal which was a mishit and who can blame me thinking that if that was De Gea he would have at least got a hand to it. Saturday was the first time in a while Szczęsny has pulled out a match winning save.
For me he seems to battle against the grounders or low powerrful shots.He doesn't seem to get down fast enough. I'm not sure if its a weakness as per say hence can goal keeping experts explain to me what his technical flaw is there. I would hate to say he is a poor shot stopper overall but when compared to say De Gea for such a young keeper he lags well behind.
Obviously there are other parts of his game that are also weak like decision making.Just like Hart he has made a few weird decisions when coming of his line but I'm confident that can be fixed.To be frank in the league only lloris seems ace at timing those runs out of the box.Young keepers take time to master it and I'm not that worried but its his shot stopping that gives me doubts.
what are the weak points of Wojciech Szczęsny game?
Wojciech Szczęsny-What are his weaknesses
posted on 28/10/13
He's not the best shot stopper out there - but that is certainly something that can be worked on. Things like his reaction time and starting position are fairly easy to improve. It does make you wonder what goes on in goalkeeper training sessions.
For example - after De Gea's first season, he was criticised for not being able to deal with crosses - he then spent most of the summer working on that, and is now 'better' at them, not particularly great (sometimes flapping or punching where he could catch), but far better than before.
If Woj's problems have been identified, are they not being worked on, or does he simply not react well to the training methods?
posted on 28/10/13
If Woj's problems have been identified, are they not being worked on, or does he simply not react well to the training methods?
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the first comment of this article answers you perfectly.FOCUS
The kid just doesnt have it at all.He just takes his position as Arsenals number 1 for granted and Wenger in my opinion has been to easy on him.He should be keeping clean sheets in most of the games we have played but cant seem to remain unoticed as a goalkeeper.Must be involved even if it means fecking up.
That first goal against Dortmund was avoidable.To be frank even when the second one went in I was livid.not because I expected him to save it, but because he was so far from the shot, tells you everything about him.
Fortunate to be in the position he is.
posted on 28/10/13
1. Cech
2. Mignolet
3. De Gea
4. Lloris
5. Begovic
6. Vorm
7. Szczesny
8. Hart
That's the order i would rate them at.
posted on 28/10/13
Fair enough, ranking players, especially goalkeepers is a very subjective matter, as stats don't always accurately reflect it! I will say though, I don't think there is another keeper in the league I'd have over DDG - regardless of who is currently better.
posted on 28/10/13
What are Szczęsny's weaknesses?
Goalkeeping.
posted on 28/10/13
comment by Jay - The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed. (U16498)
posted 5 minutes ago
Fair enough, ranking players, especially goalkeepers is a very subjective matter, as stats don't always accurately reflect it! I will say though, I don't think there is another keeper in the league I'd have over DDG - regardless of who is currently better.
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I won't disagree with that comment Jay. I've given De Gea a lot of stick in the past. But fair play, you can really tell he's worked at his keeping.
I just don't understand why Shezzer isn't putting in the effort, like De Gea. Or maybe he is and is just not as talented.
posted on 28/10/13
comment by 魔法の~Arsène Wenger's Magic Hat~帽子 (U6490)
posted 35 minutes ago
I really don't get what people wanted him to do for Dortmund's first goal. He did what was suppose to do, jump forward arms spread wide, one leg straight one leg bent. The guy was in the middle of the area one on one, there is only so much of the goal you can cover.
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This is NOT what a GK should do when shot comes in from inside the box.
Splaying is for 1 on 1s only. It was not a 1v1.
He shouldve reacted and then dived.
posted on 28/10/13
It was a 1v1, there was no arsenal player between the ball and Woj, if he stays on his line the player puts it in he corner. He has to rush out and close the angle. If he waits for the player to hit it before he dives then its already past him.
posted on 28/10/13
Too far to splay, shot was from the edge of the box.
Regardless of whether there was no one in between the shooter and the GK, 1v1 is different.
posted on 28/10/13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygsCimx-iHM
Replay from reverse angle starts at 0:40
You won't see many keepers splaying in such a situation when a shot is taken from the edge of the area simply because it is not the right thing to do.
There was time for him to dive low.