Jeeper Keepers

The inevitable post-mortem on the men between the sticks



Jeeper Keepers

Given: If only…


In my opinion, the three most important attributes a top keeper needs are as follows:

1. Self-belief - All keepers make mistakes, but the greats have a swagger and self-belief about them where their heads don't go down after a mistake. As much as Lehmann had his faults, he believed he was the best, and always had an air of confidence about him.

2. Decision making - We always see with keepers, especially inexperienced keepers, that their decision making is what lets them down. Picking when to come off your line, when to come for crosses, and when not too. Or in our case, when to not pick up a back pass and put your foot through the ball.

3. Command of area - You can be the best shotstopper in the world, but if you don't command your own area with balls in the air then you will be a constant liability. At the end of the day the keeper is the only player who can use their hands, so use them and help your defence out by catching the ball.

For me, none of our keepers currently at the club (not including Szczesny) have these three attributes. Shotstopping I think is an expectation, a basic quality for keepers. But to be a top keeper, you need to be very strong mentally.

For me, Fabianski is just plainly not good enough, not even for a number 2 at a top club in my opinion. Almunia and Mannone are both competent number 2s, but nothing more. Szczesny on the other hand is very much a potential top level number one, he's just not ready yet.

So what to do? In my opinion it is clear Wenger has finally lost faith with his keepers, which is why he attempted to sign Sorenson on deadline day, and why he keeps talking them up in the press, so that they don't completely get their heads down regarding the speculation about them leaving. Stronger characters would thrive under such circumstances, but not our keepers. It's a shame Wenger's realisation is a bit late, as we have missed out on two quality, cheap keepers in the last year and a half in Jaaskalianen and Given.

It's clear we need to sign a keeper in the summer, but who can should we get? What quality keepers are actually available? I would love to see the likes of Akinfeev, and Lloris come in, but more than anyone I would love to see Joe Hart. Top quality keeper in my opinion, and definitely a future England number 1.

Also, Man City can't have two top quality keepers, that’s just selfish!


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