It wasn’t that way back that US goalkeepers have been a typical sight within the Premier League, taking part in first-team soccer week after week. Goalkeeper Brad Friedel made 450 Premier League appearances throughout a number of golf equipment together with Liverpool, Tottenham, and Aston Villa. Tim Howard made 399 appearances within the Premier League, which included his time at Manchester United and Everton. Different goalkeepers performed their half too together with Kasey Keller (201 appearances), Brad Guzan (154), Marcus Hahnemann (115), amongst others.
So why rapidly is there such a shortage of American goalkeepers taking part in in the most effective league on this planet? Blame it on their ft.
Trendy goalkeepers are a special breed than Friedel, Howard, Guzan and firm. They should be as expert with the ball at their ft because the defenders lined forward of them. Many groups play from the again, which requires fast precision to maintain the ball transferring from participant to participant, together with the goalkeeper. When carried out nicely, the goalkeeper turns into an integral a part of the sport, taking part in inch-perfect passes on the bottom to guide his group ahead.
Sadly, the present breed of US goalkeepers are failing in that division. A lot in order that opposition groups have capitalized on the poor ball management by American goalkeepers to show that spit-second indecision into goalscoring alternatives.
US goalkeepers want to enhance
The listing of goalkeepers who’ve poor ball-control expertise reads like a who’s who of USMNT goalkeepers. Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath and Drake Callender have all made errors for his or her membership groups. Horvath is now not beginning matches for Cardiff Metropolis, and after watching this instance, it’s not onerous to grasp why. Turner is a superb shot stopper, however he’s no sweeper keeper, which is likely one of the fundamental the explanation why he was moved out of Arsenal and ultimately dropped by Nottingham Forest earlier than transferring to Crystal Palace the place he’s been on the bench.
The identical applies to Steffen, who Pep Guardiola pushed out to Middlesbrough not lengthy after this error so he might usher in Stefan Ortega because the backup for Emerson. Likewise, Drake Callender has come beneath a variety of criticism from Inter Miami followers final season for a number of errors, together with this one.
Taking part in on the highest stage and having first-rate ball management expertise isn’t straightforward. However on this trendy recreation, it’s a noticable distinction that separates the common goalkeepers from the most effective.
To be truthful, you don’t usually see the kind of ball management ability errors which can be made whenever you’re watching video games in CONCACAF or MLS. That’s no slight on these two, however the recreation is performed at a a lot sooner tempo in England. Therefore the explanation why it’s extra prone to see these errors being made there.
For Turner, specifically, opposition groups within the Premier League caught on rapidly to his poor ball management expertise. A lot in order that you may see opponents urgent Turner of their try and make him spill the ball. When a group has a weak spot that’s uncovered like that, particularly within the Premier League, coaches should make the powerful selections which is why Turner, Horvath and Steffen have all been changed at their respective golf equipment.
That’s to take nothing away from their shot stopper talents, however within the trendy recreation, top-level coaches count on goalkeepers to be nicely rounded in all areas.
Why are there so few US goalkeepers who’re good with their ft?
So why then are US goalkeepers not pretty much as good with their ft as different high goalkeepers?
There are a couple of the explanation why. Up to now, there have been a variety of actually good American goalkeepers as a result of they have been raised taking part in American sports activities, all of which require good hand expertise. Aside from soccer, I can’t consider any American sports activities that require professional expertise along with your ft.
With CONCACAF and MLS video games taking part in a slower type of soccer, US goalkeepers don’t get as a lot observe making split-second selections in fast-paced video games. Sure, it may be coached however actual recreation conditions are the easiest way to enhance.
Fortunately, hope is on the horizon. Barcelona not too long ago signed Diego Kochen to a brand new deal that may hold him on the membership till 2028. Amongst his many expertise, 18-year-old Kochen is reportedly very expert as a sweeper keeper. Since he’s gone by means of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, that isn’t stunning.
He could possibly be one for the longer term to guide the subsequent era of US goalkeepers within the high European leagues. In the meantime, there’s all the time the possibility that MLS goalkeepers comparable to Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte and others might adapt to a sooner recreation. Total although, Kochen looks like the most effective wager given his time at Barcelona.
Picture credit score: George Frey / Stringer / GettyImages
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