Klaus wrote:
I think the idea of a ballplaying goalkeeper is very overrated personally. It's an extreme extension of the tiki-taka ideology. van Gaal was the same at United, and I just can't see the huge benefit. We're talking about a few occasions per game maybe where a goalkeeper with the instruction to play it short would pick a difficult pass over hoofing the ball up the field to escape pressure, and in return the risk is so much greater. The math doesn't add up.
The top keepers who are truly good with their feet - Buffon, Neuer, etc - are also outstanding goalkeepers, and that's always going to be their big contribution to the team. The rest is a marginal bonus, comparable to how centrebacks who are good on corners tend to head in a few goals every season. No one has ever bought a defender because he's a mean goalscorer though. Barca might get away with a clown like Bravo in goal because no team will ever press their defensive line anyway, and they concede so few shots, but what does he honestly bring to the table? He has already cost City more points this season than I've ever seen a goalkeeper win a team simply by playing 3-4 extra short passes per game.
Top post.
The whole ball playing goalkeeper concept is ridiculous. A goalie's main purpose is to make sure the ball stays out of the net. The rest is absolutely secondary.
Hipsters like Pep trying to re-invent the role won't change that fact.
What next, play with 11 outfielders and no goalie?? Wouldn't surprise me if some jumped up manager tries to introduce something like that. 😆
Bravo passes it to Suarez of all people, then proceeds to save the shot with his hands outside his area and gets sent off. Absolutely brilliant.
It's like poetic justice for over thinking a simple role in the sport. A penny for Joe Hart's thoughts? 😆
Epic stuff.
Oh and Messi is the best footballer of all time, period.
