The difference is he is a world class goalkeeper, you are just a bloke.

Ha!

Roy Carrol was a bloke.

There is always an element of luck because if a shot is hit perfectly it's simply unstoppable.

There is a lot of guessing/cheating as a keeper

Some guess better consistently so it's not blind luck.

There is always an element of luck because if a shot is hit perfectly it's simply unstoppable.
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Well is it though?

Robin caught his goal perfectly. On the laces, sweet spot and all that - but did he really aim for that gap in between Terry and Courtois?

On a side note I didn't celebrate for a full minute as I couldn't believe it.

Take the Mata free kick when he played for Chelsea that DDG saved. That was the perfect free kick but David saved it

I'm not so sure about the Drogba chance, but when Hazard went through on goal De Gea read him perfectly. He's the type of player that would go for that sly near post finish and De Gea seemed like he knew it from the moment he shaped to shoot.

It's also important to add goalies do a lot of research and Dave probably knew how Hazard likes to finish.

It's not all about guessing in these situations, I'm sure some goalkeepers study body language and things like that to decide where to they dive.

Also, reactionary saves that De Gea makes very few in the world could pull off, he makes many look easy. But if a shot is stuck so sweetly in the right part of the goal, as I said it is simply unstoppable.

Take the Mata free kick when he played for Chelsea that DDG saved. That was the perfect free kick but David saved it
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It's in the history books under "Salmon".

comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 2 minutes ago
Take the Mata free kick when he played for Chelsea that DDG saved. That was the perfect free kick but David saved it
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It wasn't though, was it? If he had it hit harder not giving DDG the time to get across it would have gone it.

The placement was perfect, the shot in it's entirety was not.

That doesn't mean DDG has any right to make the save, it was a worldy.

Busby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4lrjYb-y68

That shot was perfect but it was saved

I'm not so sure about the Drogba chance, but when Hazard went through on goal De Gea read him perfectly. He's the type of player that would go for that sly near post finish
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Sly facker.
I've always wanted to slap him repeatedly.

comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 7 seconds ago
Busby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4lrjYb-y68

That shot was perfect but it was saved
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Less bend, more power and it goes in.

Although as I just said DDG has no right to save it.

But if a shot is stuck so sweetly in the right part of the goal, as I said it is simply unstoppable
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Like Sessegnon's last week. No goalkeeper would have saved that one.

Ronaldo's free kick against Portsmouth years back as well

I disagree Busby. That shot couldn't have been any harder i was by far the greatest save i've ever seen.

comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 2 minutes ago
I disagree Busby. That shot couldn't have been any harder i was by far the greatest save i've ever seen.
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He is 25 yards out though. If he had hit it the same Ronnie versus Pompy, DDG does not save it. Simple really.

That Mata free kick is an extreme and rare example of the difference it makes having a world class GK. But again, the shot, as good as it was, could be improved.

*It's also worth noting that if Mata had actually gone for the other corner, DDG has no chance, as he moves right across his line before the ball is hit.

That kind of related to the OP, as if he hadn't guessed where Mata was going to put it he wouldn't have made the save, equally if Mata goes the other way after the gamble he doesn't save it.

vidicthelegend and Busbybabes

Agreed quite extraordinary shot and save.

The secret is in David's movement.
He is right over by his right post, Mata starts to run up and David moves across to mid goal, the shot is struck and David is already on his way.

No early movement - no save.

^ ^

As you were Busby

comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)

posted 12 minutes ago

I disagree Busby. That shot couldn't have been any harder i was by far the greatest save i've ever seen.
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Try this then!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngE9RCAdWaE

"There is always an element of luck because if a shot is hit perfectly it's simply unstoppable."

What???

A shot could be shot perfectly but straight at a keeper and easily saved. How are you exactly classing a shot as perfectly shot? Often a shot can be too cleanly struck.

How perfectly a shot is struck is irrelevant to where a keeper is positioned which is why not all perfectly struck shots are unstoppable.

Great as that Banks save is, it does get more praise that it probably deserves. Pele heads the ball down too much and Banks' actual connection to the ball in a third of the way between the floor and crossbar, while as you watch his position as the ball is crossed by Jairzinho he isn't that far from the post to make the dive.

I think because it was Pele and the '70 WC it automatically becomes something greater than it really was.

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 11 minutes ago
"There is always an element of luck because if a shot is hit perfectly it's simply unstoppable."

What???

A shot could be shot perfectly but straight at a keeper and easily saved. How are you exactly classing a shot as perfectly shot? Often a shot can be too cleanly struck.

How perfectly a shot is struck is irrelevant to where a keeper is positioned which is why not all perfectly struck shots are unstoppable.
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Okay if the shot is perfect then it is unstoppable. Remove the word hit.

"I thought that was a goal." (Pelé
"You and me both." (Banks)
"You're getting old, Banksy, you used to hold on to them." (Bobby Moore)