When you think of the best footballers in the world there is one position that very rarely gets a look in. Goal scorers and creative midfielders – or, preferably, a combination of the two – are usually rated and debated. But goalkeepers are more often absent from the conversation.
There have been some highly rated keepers, of course. Lev Yashin, Gianluigi Buffon, and Manuel Neuer are all considered elite footballers, not just keepers. All the best teams in the Champions League will possess a top shot-stopper. But their importance comes as something of an afterthought.
But times are changing. It should be argued that keepers have always been vitally important to the success of the best teams. But the keeper’s role has changed dramatically in recent years, making them even more indispensable. If you want your team to be successful – on the field or just with your virtual selections – thinking carefully about goalkeeping selection should be a priority.
Modern Goalkeeping
It would be unfair to say that goalkeepers have only just become important. Even before the rise of modern goalkeeping, their position was underrated and undervalued. But now, with a switch in the way keepers are used tactically, they have become a priority – if one is still not fully recognized by all.
All the older roles are still fulfilled, of course. But keepers are now the origin of many attacking movements and can even dictate how a team will set itself up formation-wise. Aimless long kicks up the field are few and far between in the top levels of the game and keepers are much more than just the last line of defense.
Start an Attack
Goalkeepers have definitely taken more of a ball-playing role in recent years. There will be some custodians that are valued for their shot-stopping abilities. But it is seen as a problem if they are also not able to control the ball well and play it around the defense if needed as well.
Joe Hart was one of the first high-profile victims of the way that goalkeeping changed. For a while, he was the England and Manchester City number one and regarded as one of the best in the world. But Pep Guardiola realized that he was not as adept at starting an attack as stopping them – and soon looked elsewhere.
Rounded Game Skills
There were always the stories about keepers who reveled in playing out on pitch in training. It was regarded as something of a joke, as the general consensus was that keepers did not possess ball skills and all they were useful for was big kicks downfield and clearing lines.
Now, if you are looking to recruit a keeper for your team, you will want to know how comfortable they are with the ball at their feet. They need to be able to be alert to the pressure of opposing attackers, without putting their team in danger. There is no way that a keeper can lose the ball to an opponent, so good control is vital.
Vision
A goalkeeper is able to see everything that is going on on the field of play and should be able to direct play accordingly. From their vantage point at the back of the team, a keeper should use their view of the game to direct other players and make teammates aware of any danger.
It is also beneficial to select keepers who think almost like the creative midfielders we were talking about before. Those players can see the game almost in slow motion and understand instinctively how a game will change. These are the skills that we look for in keepers these days and make some stand out from the rest.
Save the Day
A keeper’s role in the modern soccer team has changed dramatically. It is fair to say that they have to be the most multi-talented, with a range of skills, than anyone on the roster. We have covered some of the ways that keepers have to play these days – but just saving shots is still a big part of the game.
Traditional line goalkeepers are able to dominate their penalty box and eliminate any threat from crosses and through balls. If needed, they are also adept at shot-stopping and, crucially, also recovering quickly enough to block any follow up shots. Not all keepers are able to fill both requirements but you need to look for the ones who do for your team.
Confidence Boosting
This is one area of soccer that has not changed. You can have the best outfield players in the world on your team but if you don’t have a goalkeeper who has the full confidence of his teammates, you will always be in trouble. Players need to know that they can rely on the person between the sticks.
That is why being comfortable on the ball is just as important as claiming crosses and stopping shots these days. Because keepers are not allowed to pick up a back pass – and possession in the first third is treated far more importantly – defenders need to know that their keeper is going to be fine with a ball being played back to them.
In and Out of Possession
You will find coaches talking a lot about ensuring that their players know what to do in and out of possession. This is true for the goalkeepers as well – if not more so. A keeper is the one who can switch the ball quickly when in possession, finding the overloads and starting an attacking move.
Modern keepers will take more risks than their older counterparts by moving further up the field when the team is in possession. But they need to act like an old-fashioned sweeper when their team loses possession and have the confidence to defend by any means necessary. Find a keeper who can do all those things and you already have an advantage.
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