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Football News: Liverpool FC - Goalkeeping Dilemma Part 3

Liverpool FC - Goalkeeping Dilemma Part 3
Image from: dailystar.co.uk

This is the 3rd and final part of my goalkeeping trilogy! So far we've covered Loris Karius, Alisson Becker, Jack Butland, Simon Mignolet, Keylor Navas and Pepe Reina.

The only other current Liverpool goalkeeper who has a slim chance of staying at the club is Danny Ward. Though I expect him to go on loan, he will probably be given a chance to prove himself in pre-season.

(This final piece will cover 6 of the more unlikely candidates to be our first choice keeper next season, but those who have at least been mentioned in the discussion)

Danny Ward

Mentality:
Ward has fantastic courage and focus. In the most financially valuable game in football (the Championship Play Off final) Ward put in a man of the match performance and didn't let anything get to him. He has brilliant concentration for a keeper of his age and limited senior experience. He needs to prove he can focus when he isn't heavily involved though. 5/10

Handling:
Ward is a genuine throw back. He is one of the only keepers i've seen under 30 who wants to catch the ball every time so he can set his team away on the break. He rarely let's anything slip through his hands. 7/10

Sweeping:
Ward is very comfortable with a big gap between him and his defence because he is fast. He doesn't read the game as well as others, but that should come with age. He just needs to make a quicker decision when he gets to the ball. If in doubt, boot it out! 6/10

Reflexes:
Ward isn't actually a very good shot stopper. I'd definitely say he is average, but nothing more. He is very good at making himself as big as possible, but A composed forward who finds the corners can beat him. Low shots are a particular struggle of his. 5/10

Distribution:
Ward has very good distribution skills to be fair to him. He releases the ball quickly and can get good range on his kicks to launch quick counter attacks. He's not as accomplished as he could be just yet, but you can see how he wants to play as a keeper. 7/10

Presence:
With a lot of it thanks to his handling, Ward is brilliant at commanding his box. It would be great to see how He'd cope with a better quality of delivery than he faced in the Championship, but he certainly has the raw talent. He is also very vocal. 7/10

It is clear to see how Ward pictures himself as a keeper. He knows he isn't a World Class shot stopper, so he has focused on his strengths. Those are claiming and holding on to crosses, and releasing the ball quickly to get his team on the front foot. Overall score 37/60

Thomas Strakosha

Concentration:
Strakosha is still relatively inexperienced for a keeper, and he does seem like he's rushing his decision making at times. He needs to keep his concentration and give himself more time to take the correct course of action. 6/10

Handling:
Strakosha is actually very adept at holding on to the ball from crosses, but seems to parry shots most of the time. His handling is well above average though and he rarely drops an absolute 'clanger'. 7/10

Sweeping:
Long story short, this is his bread and butter. He is very quick, very brave, and according to the player himself, he models his game on his hero, Manuel Neuer. He's arguably the best sweeper keeper in Serie A. 9/10

Reflexes:
Strakosha is also a very good shot stopper. His reaction time to stop close range shots is particularly impressive. Long range shots can catch him a bit more flat footed at times, but he is still a very accomplished keeper in this department. 8/10

Distribution:
When he has time, Strakosha can actually pick out lovely long passes. His goal kicks are superb. He does delay releasing the ball from his hands though. If he can get the ball moving quicker he certainly has the raw ability to make this into a major strength. 7/10

Presence:
Strakosha is a very tall and well built keeper, but with deceptive speed and agility. So although he sometimes comes for crosses he probably shouldn't, he pretty much always gets a decisive touch on the ball by just plowing through the crowd! He does need to work on his communication though. 7/10

Strakosha is now widely regarded as one of the best young keepers in Europe and Liverpool won't be the only interested club. This isn't a cheap alternative by any stretch of the imagination, and if Jurgen Klopp wants a player who could be a perfect fit for his system, Liverpool will have to make a serious offer. Lazio will not want to sell. Overall score 44/60

Nick Pope

Mentality:
In terms of concentration, Pope has been superb. He keeps himself focused on the game despite only being called into action a few times a game (courtesy of Burnley FC's resolute defending). He has a very good attitide to goalkeeping. 8/10

Handling:
I was left bewildered more than a few times last season by how he managed to hold on to the ball. He takes the sting out of shots superbly and when crosses come near him, he plucks them out the sky cleanly. His hands are like dustbin lids. 8/10

Sweeping:
Much like Oblak, Pope plays in a deep defensive system and therefore he hasn't really had to sweep up behind a high line. He is good when faced with a one on one chance but it is hard to know for sure how he'd respond to being 40 yards off his line! 5/10

Reflexes:
Simply brilliant. Pope is the second best shot stopper in Premier League after De Gea. He gets across well, gets down fast, and reacts superbly to close range shots. It's his biggest asset. 9/10

Distribution:
This is another area that is really hard to judge. He isn't really asked to distribute the ball to be honest. It seems more a case of just launching it into 'the mixer' where Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes will challenge for it. No mistakes of note, but nothing special either. 5/10

Presence:
Pope has displayed good organisational skills in his fledgling top flight career. He is also decent at claiming crosses; though he is rarely required to because of how Burnley are set up. Their wide midfielders drop deep enough to seem like second full backs. Could he cope in a team where he'd be expected to take the pressure off of a more expansive defence? 6/10

Pope is an interesting option because he has (so far) escaped all the hype unlike the inferior Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford. He would probably be a relatively cost effective option because of this. You have to at least consider his lack of proven ability as a sweeper keeper and on the ball though. They are vital attributes in Klopp's system. Overall score 41/60

Jan Oblak

Concentration:
Oblak is the only keeper I've never seen make a mistake. Everything he does seems to be the right decision. He is so consistent it is almost robotic. It is even more impressive considering he sometimes has to wait nearly 90 minutes before being called into action. 10/10

Handling:
Again, he never makes a mistake from what I've seen. He catches the ball when he should, but his decision making is stellar. He knows when catching the ball is a risk, and will get good distance and direction to his punches and parries. 10/10

Sweeping:
Quite simply, he rarely has to do it. He is pretty mobile and very good in one on one situations, but whether or not he is quick enough or reads the game well enough to cover his entire half like a genuine sweeper keeper is up for debate. 5/10

Reflexes:
Not quite at the same level as De Gea, but Oblak is a very good shot stopper and fully capable of pulling off a save for the highlight reels. He positions himself early and sets his feet quickly so he can react as fast as possible. 9/10

Distribution:
Part of being a keeper in a counter attacking side is being able to find runners early and with accuracy. Oblak does that superbly for Atletico Madrid. His throws in particular are fantastic. 9/10

Presence:
Second only to Gianluigi Buffon in terms of decision making and calming influence, Oblak excels in this department. He allows Atletico Madrid to play a deep line because they can fully trust him during periods of sustained pressure (when balls are constantly flying into the box). 9/10

I really don't see this happening to be honest. I refuse to get my hopes up regardless. He is at least the second best keeper in the world and although he is unproven as a sweeper keeper, he is so good at every other aspect that I struggle to see him being unable to adapt. Overall score 52/60

Jasper Cillessen

Mentality:
Cillessen is not what I'd describe as error proof or error prone. He has made silly mistakes, though they seem out of character considering his skillset. He has to keep his concentration much better to become top class, regardless. 6/10

Handling:
If there is one thing you have to give to Cillessen, it is his co-ordination. He does have very good hands and catches most looping balls with ease. His technique has been well coached. 8/10

Sweeping:
This is another part of his game which has been well coached. He spots danger early and reacts to it decisively. He's not the most athletic keeper in the world, but he has grown up playing behind a high defensive line. 8/10

Reflexes:
Shot stopping is another chink in Cillessen's armour. He just doesn't have very good reactions, and his footwork seems laboured. Shots go under him far too often for my liking. He's not that far above average in this department. 6/10

Distribution:
Much like with his hands, Cillessen has equally good coordination with his feet. His control is very good for a keeper, and that brilliant first touch helps set him to play a quick pass when playing out from the back. I'm not sure he has the passing range to hit a long forward pass and launch a counter attack, but he will get involved in the play comfortably. 8/10

Presence:
One of my biggest frustrations when I've seen Cillessen play, is how a keeper over 6ft can be beaten in the air by a player not allowed to use their hands! Cillessen is very good from an organisational perspective but he needs to be stronger when trying to command his box. 5/10

Overall, Cillessen is pretty much a personification of modern goalkeeping. He is good on the ball and a natural sweeper keeper, however it has come at a cost of the goalkeeping basics. His basic skills are all above average, but none of them stand out except maybe his handling. Considering He's not played consistent club football outside of Holland, he seems like an expensive risk to me. Overall score 41/60

Thibaut Courtois

Mentality:
Courtois has very good concentration. He reads through balls and crosses well and because of his focus he allows himself longer to make a decision. His ability to focus on the game during long periods of inactivity are part of what makes him a great keeper. However when his goal is bombarded he can get a bit nervy, because he isn't comfortable making saves. 8/10

Handling:
Probably the joint best in the world with Oblak. He played Handball as a kid, as his parents were players themselves, and it really shows. He is so assured when catching shots and crosses. It is fantastic to see a keeper catch a cross on the run, and then release it before they've even stopped. He is proof that encouraging kids to play multiple sports can be beneficial! 10/10

Sweeping:
Courtois is very quick off his line and as discussed previously, his concentration levels help him to read the game very well. This makes him a very adept sweeper keeper. He could be braver in a 50/50 challenge but he normally beats the forwards to the ball outright. 7/10

Relexes:
Alas, Courtois has a slight weakness. His reflexes are not top level. In fact, relative to the rest of his skills his shot stopping is average. If he can't use his speed to position himself early he can be quite easily beaten by a good finish. 5/10

Distribution:
Courtois isn't bad with his feet but his range of passing is pretty average. Fortunately for him, his throws are amongst the best in the game. He can get serious distance to them without compromising on accuracy. 8/10

Presence:
Despite looking a bit lightweight, Courtois is actually a very physical presence who commands his box as well as pretty much anyone. His superb catching skills help him of course, as does his height, but he also gives his defenders a call to avoid unnecessary collisions. 9/10

Overall, Courtois is a very good keeper. He is not as good as some would have you believe, as many people see him in the same bracket as De Gea or Oblak. Truth be told he is actually a level below them. His shot stopping unfortunately holds him back. With only 12 months left on his contract he could well be available but the player wants a move back to Spain. Overall score 47/60

Written by Adam Jones June 14 2018 09:47:04

 

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