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Why Don't Keepers Use Their Feet More?

Morning all,

Great result last night, plenty of articles discussing that so this one is a little off topic and is just something that has crossed my mind.

From the title of the article you're probably thinking I'm talking about keepers such as Neuer, Ederson etc, the keeper of today who is basically an outfield player with great passing ability, but actually I'm talking about goalkeepers using their feet/legs to to save shots that are relatively close to them.

Typically, I can only think of one example now I'm writing the article when I previously had a few others in my head, and I'm afraid the one I can remember is our very own Hugo Lloris. I love him as a keeper and I think we'll really miss him the day he leaves, but I'm talking about his shocking attempt to save Marcos Alonso's winner for Chelsea at Wembley last season.

Now, perhaps he was expecting a much more powerful shot, I get that. But Alonso's shot was a slightly overpowered passback, literally straight at Hugo. But instead of just swinging a boot at it, he tried to dive down almost on top of himself, and inevitably by the time he hits the ground, the ball has squeezed under his body and gone in. He literally could've just stood there like a statue and the ball wouldv'e hit him and not gone in. Sure, it may have rebounded to a Chelsea player with a tap in, but surely anything is better than trying to move your whole body just to let it under you and in anyway?!

I constantly see shots fired low and close to keepers where they could just swing a boot at it and it would 99% likely go up the field, out for a throw etc. But they try to kneel down and catch it, spilling it either in the net like Hugo or straight to the feet of the waiting striker. Why not just use your feet and kick it away?!

Hopefully some of you can provide other examples and may even have noticed this yourselves. Admins if you could multiboard that would be great.

posted on 1/11/18

comment by Nicottino (U14419)
posted 3 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 hours, 36 minutes ago
comment by Ben Hutchinson (U1734)
posted 1 minute ago

I am a professional goalkeeper for an unnamed club.
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Just seen the highlights from last nights Scottish Premiership. The unnamed club is most definitely Dundee.
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This is him being introduced to the crowd when he signed:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wagner+dundee&rlz=1C1AWFC_enGB733GB733&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ-97uurPeAhVLC8AKHYdhBBoQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=sBx-GUTI3eFWLM:

comment by GOODBYE (U1029)

posted on 1/11/18

I'm starting my FA Level 1 in coaching Goalkeepers course soon, I'm a keen believer in goalkeepers playing the sweeper role, in training games we put keepers outfield so they're comfortable with the ball.

Gazzaniga last night for the Son goal played a lovely ball in, you can see him shout as he released the ball.

posted on 1/11/18

Thudd

posted on 1/11/18

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posted on 1/11/18

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posted on 1/11/18

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comment by GOODBYE (U1029)

posted on 1/11/18

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posted on 1/11/18

comment by Mike (U1170)
posted 5 hours, 28 minutes ago
comment by SpursBoy101 (U21819)
posted 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
De Gea is a great example of being good at what I'm talking about. I think Keepers sometimes forget that keeping the ball out of the net is the be all and end all. Lloris' attempt at saving Alonso's shot was just ridiculous. He literally could have controlled the ball with his foot.
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Agreed.

Keepers do regularly do this though, Lloris is just shiyte though and has been overrated for a long time by Spurs fans.
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Seriously dude?

A world class winner? I suppose you have another world class winner who is playing for us who you suggest to play instead of Hugo?

posted on 1/11/18

But instead of just swinging a boot at it, he tried to dive down almost on top of himself, and inevitably by the time he hits the ground, the ball has squeezed under his body and gone in. He literally could've just stood there like a statue and the ball wouldv'e hit him and not gone in.

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It's safer to grab the ball in the moment than try to hit and if say the ball bobbles, then if you are trying to kick it, chances are the bounce of the ball will beat you?
Much safer to go down and put your body behind it and try to get the ball

It happened so many time when the keeper goes for straight leg save and the ball bounces and the poor keeper is left with eggs on his face.

If in doubt, put your body behind the ball and grab it.

My imo.

posted on 1/11/18

In a split second a goalkeeper has to make a choice between hands and feet. If he chooses feet the reach he can achieve is massively limited.

For close range shots that are close to his body it may seem obvious to use feet but the safer bet percentage wise is hands every time (also gives the option to catch the ball)

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